Real Estate Commission WA: Average Rates & Agent Fees (2026)

Average real estate commission in WA

In Western Australia, real estate commission typically runs from 2% to 2.8% of the final sale price, with 2.4%the most common rate. Commission is charged as a percentage of what your property sells for, it’s paid by you, the seller, at settlement, and it is negotiable.

WA sits a little above the rates you’ll see quoted in the larger eastern-state capitals. In high-value markets like inner Sydney and Melbourne, agents often compete on a lower percentage because the dollar amount on an expensive home is already large. Across much of Western Australia, where median prices are lower than those premium eastern markets, the percentage tends to run a touch higher to land on a workable fee. The national typical sits around 2%, and WA’s typical 2.4% reflects that gap.

Within WA itself the rate moves with the property and the location. Higher-value homes in sought-after Perth suburbs can attract rates at the lower end of the range, while smaller sales and regional listings, where the agent’s time and costs are spread over a smaller fee, often sit nearer the top. None of this is fixed, which is exactly why comparing local agents matters.

Worked examples by sale price

Because commission is a percentage, the dollar figure climbs with the sale price even at the same rate. Here is what the WA range works out to across a spread of sale prices, at the lower end (2%), the typical rate (2.4%), and the higher end (2.8%).

These figures exclude GST, which is usually added at 10% on top of the commission. For an exact figure on your own sale price, including a WA setting, use our commission calculator.

How commission is structured in WA

Most WA agents quote a single flat percentage of the sale price, so a 2.4% rate on a $700,000 sale is simply $16,800 before GST. Some agents instead offer a tiered or performance-based structure, where the rate steps up on the amount achieved above an agreed target price. A performance clause can be worth asking about, because it ties the agent’s reward directly to getting you a stronger result.

Whichever structure you’re quoted, the standard arrangement in WA is no sale, no fee. Commission is only payable once the property sells, and it’s deducted from the sale proceeds at settlement, so you don’t pay it up front.

What the commission usually covers:

• Appraisal and pricing strategy for your home and the local market
• Listing and campaign management from first inspection through to settlement
• Open homes and private inspections, hosted and managed by the agent
• Negotiation with buyers on price and terms, on your behalf
• Regular updates on enquiry, feedback and offers

What is almost always charged separately, on top of commission:

• Marketing and advertising, including listings on the major property portals
• Professional photography, floor plans and video
• Property styling or staging, where you choose to use it

Because these sit outside commission, two agents on the same headline rate can still cost very different amounts once the marketing package is added in. Always ask for the marketing budget in writing alongside the commission quote.

Is commission negotiable in WA?

Yes. Real estate commission in Western Australia is deregulated, which means there is no government-set rate and agents set their own pricing. The percentage you’re first quoted is an opening number, not a fixed fee, and most sellers don’t realise how much room there is to discuss it.

How to negotiate well in WA:

• Compare two or three agents. Get written quotes from agents who actively sell your type of property in your suburb. Competing quotes give you both leverage and a realistic sense of the going rate locally.
• Negotiate on the rate and the marketing.The commission percentage is only half the cost. The marketing and advertising budget is the other half, and it’s often where the bigger savings sit, so push on both.
• Be wary of the cheapest quote.The lowest rate isn’t the same as the lowest cost. An agent who negotiates a stronger sale price can easily earn back a slightly higher rate many times over, while a bargain agent juggling too many listings can cost you far more in a weaker result.
• Confirm whether GST is included.Ask every agent whether their quoted rate is before or after the 10% GST, so you’re comparing like with like.

For context on the wider market, the Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) publishes Perth and regional market data, and WA agents are licensed and regulated through Consumer Protection within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Checking that an agent holds a current licence is a quick, sensible step before you sign anything.

Commission vs the rest of your selling costs

Commission is the single largest cost of selling in WA, but it isn’t the only one. Marketing and photography, conveyancing or settlement agent fees, any styling and presentation work, and your mortgage discharge fee all sit on top. If the property is an investment rather than your home, capital gains tax can be larger again.

To see commission in the context of the full bill, read the full cost of selling, which walks through every line item with a worked example. For how commission and fees compare across the rest of the country, the national agent fees guide sets out the rates and inclusions state by state.

Get the right agent and rate

The cheapest commission rarely produces the best net result. The seller who keeps the most usually starts by picking the right agent, then negotiates the fee, not the other way around. Here’s the order that works:

1. Get a real appraisal. Before you talk fees, get an accurate read on what your home is worth. The how much is my house worth guide covers the three ways to value a home and how to land on a figure you can trust.
2. Choose the agent on merit. Our guide to choosing a selling agent covers the interview, the track record to look for, and the over-quote trap to avoid.
3. Size the cost. Run your likely WA sale price through the commission calculator so you know what commission means in dollars before any conversation.
4. Then negotiate.With the value, the agent shortlist and the dollar figure in hand, you’re in the strongest position to negotiate both the rate and the marketing.