What Brisbane Sellers Really Pay in Commission and Marketing Fees

I've sold a few properties in Brisbane over the years, and every time I'm reminded that the costs catch new landlords off guard. If you're selling a rental or your own place, the two big line items are the agent's commission and the marketing fee. Both are negotiable, and both depend on things most first-time sellers don't think about.

What you'll actually pay in commission

When you sell a residential property in Brisbane, the real estate agent's commission is their fee for getting the sale done. It's almost always a percentage of the final sale price, and in my experience it typically lands between 2% and 3% including GST. Some agents advertise a flat fee, but percentage-based is still the norm here.

I've sold a unit in the inner north and a house out in the Logan corridor. The inner-city agent quoted 2.5% plus GST and wouldn't budge at first; the outer suburb agent started at 2.8% but dropped to 2% after a simple conversation. That's the key: commission is negotiable. In Brisbane's current market, you can often get the rate down to around 2% including GST, especially if your property is in a sought-after pocket or you're selling at a time when listings are light.

You'll also see "tiered" commission structures — e.g., 2% on the first $500,000 and 5% on anything above that. I'm not a fan of these because they can make the final fee harder to predict. I always ask for a flat percentage on the whole sale price, no tiers.

Marketing costs depend on your suburb

Marketing fees are what the agent charges to advertise your property. This covers professional photography, floor plans, copywriting, online listings on portals like realestate.com.au and Domain, a signboard, and sometimes brochures. It does not include the agent's time or negotiation work — that's the commission.

In my experience, marketing packages in Brisbane vary by suburb more than most sellers expect. Out in places like Beenleigh or Redbank Plains, a basic but solid package might run around $4,500. In inner-city suburbs like New Farm, Paddington, or Bulimba, you'll routinely see quotes from $7,000 to $10,000 or more. That's not because the photos are magically better; it's because the portals charge more for high-demand postcodes and agents know buyers expect premium presentation.

One thing I learned the hard way: you don't need the most expensive marketing package to sell well. The biggest driver of sale price and time on market is the agent's skill, not how many glossy brochures they print. A clean, professional listing with great photos and a good agent will beat a flashy package with a lazy negotiator every time.

How to vet an agent instead of just paying for marketing

The real cost of selling isn't the marketing fee — it's choosing the wrong agent and watching your property sit unsold while you keep paying mortgage, rates, and insurance. So before you agree to any commission or marketing package, do this:

Ask every agent for their last 12 months of sales in your suburb. Specifically, I want to see their "list-to-sale ratio": how many properties they listed versus how many they actually sold. If an agent has 20 current listings but only 3 sales in the same period, that's a red flag. It means they're taking on stock they can't move. Compare that with an agent who has 10 listings and 9 sold — that's someone who prices and negotiates properly.

Also ask what their average "days on market" is for properties like yours, and whether they typically sell by auction or private treaty. Auction can work in a hot market but costs more in marketing because you're running a four-week campaign, often with extra signs and print ads. Private treaty (a standard listed sale with an asking price) is usually cheaper on marketing and gives you more control over timing. I've used both; in Brisbane's current conditions, I lean private treaty unless the suburb is red hot.

Don't be afraid to negotiate the commission after you've chosen the agent you trust. I usually say something like, "If I list with you at 2% including GST, I'll sign the agreement today." Most agents will meet you at 2% because a 2% commission on a completed sale is better than 2.5% on a listing that never sells.

The bottom line

Selling a Brisbane property will cost you money — there's no way around truth-in-advertising fees and commission. But you can control how much. Expect commission around 2–3%, negotiate hard for 2%, and shop marketing packages with a sceptical eye. The real value is in the agent's track record, not the size of their marketing budget. Vet the sold volume against current listings, and you'll walk away with more of your sale price in your pocket.