When you sell a house, the house sale commission, the fee paid to the estate agent for selling your property. Also known as estate agent fees, it’s often the biggest cost you’ll face after marketing and legal bills. Most sellers assume it’s a flat percentage, but the truth is messier. In the UK, it’s usually between 1% and 3%, but that number can hide extra charges, hidden clauses, or inflated valuations just to win your business.
What you’re really paying for isn’t just a sign on the lawn. It’s the agent’s time, their marketing budget, their negotiation skills, and their access to buyer databases. But not all agents deliver the same value. Some charge 3% and do little beyond listing your home online. Others charge 1.5% and go the extra mile—hosting open houses, staging photos, and negotiating hard. The real estate agent fees, the cost you pay to a professional who helps you sell your property should match the service you get. And yes, you can negotiate them. Many agents are flexible, especially if your home is in high demand or if you’re selling and buying with the same firm.
Don’t forget the selling a house, the process of transferring property ownership from seller to buyer involves more than just the commission. There’s legal work, surveys, energy performance certificates, and sometimes removal costs. But the commission is the part you can control. Look at what’s included: does the fee cover professional photography? Virtual tours? Floor plans? Or are those extra? Some agents offer fixed-fee packages that make budgeting easier. Others tie their pay to how fast you sell—so you’re both motivated.
The property commission, the percentage or flat rate paid to an agent for facilitating a property sale isn’t set in stone. In 2025, more sellers are choosing online agents or hybrid models that cut costs. You might pay £500 upfront instead of 2.5% of £300,000. That’s £7,500 saved. But be careful—cheap doesn’t always mean better. A low fee might mean less exposure, fewer viewings, and a longer time on the market.
And here’s something most sellers don’t realize: the commission is usually paid by the seller, but it’s often built into the asking price. Buyers don’t see it—they just see the final number. So if you’re thinking of lowering your commission to make your house seem cheaper, you’re not really helping. You’re just shifting the cost around. What matters is net profit after fees, not the headline price.
What you’ll find below are real stories, real numbers, and real advice from people who’ve been there. From how one family saved £6,000 by switching agents mid-sale, to why a flat fee in Manchester beat a big-name London agency, to the hidden costs that sneaked into a ‘no sale, no fee’ deal. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re lessons from the front lines of selling a home in the UK today.
