Real Estate Agent Commission in Perth, Explained

Most Perth agents charge commission of between 2.3% and 2.7% of the sale price plus GST, with some sales closer to the CBD coming in under 2%. In Western Australia there is no rate set by law. The fee is negotiable, it must be written into the agreement you sign with the agent, and it is normally paid out of the sale proceeds at settlement, not upfront.

The percentage is only one part of what you are agreeing to. The clauses around it decide what you actually pay, when, and in some cases whether you pay it twice.

What Perth agents typically charge

Across metropolitan Perth, commission generally sits between 2.3% and 2.7% plus GST. Higher-value suburbs near the city sometimes sit below 2%, because a smaller percentage of a larger price still produces a similar dollar fee. Regional and outer-metropolitan sales usually attract a higher rate.

Here is what that looks like in dollars. Perth's median dwelling value passed $1 million in March 2026, so take a $1,000,000 sale:

• At 2.3%: $23,000 plus GST, which is $25,300 in total
• At 2.5%: $25,000 plus GST, which is $27,500 in total
• At 2.7%: $27,000 plus GST, which is $29,700 in total

What WA rules say about commission

Consumer Protection WA is clear on the basics, and they are worth knowing before you sit down with any agent:

• There is no set fee. The government does not fix a maximum. Commission is agreed between you and the agent.
• It must be in writing. Before an agent can act for you, you sign a written authority, sometimes called an appointment to act. It is a legally binding contract and the agreed commission has to be recorded on it.
• A percentage must show the dollars. If the fee is a percentage, the authority should also show what that percentage works out to in dollar terms.
• Marketing needs a maximum. Expenses such as advertising should be written in with a maximum amount, and initialled by you.

If you have a dispute about fees, you can seek help from Consumer Protection. And if an agent does not hold a valid written appointment, they are not entitled to be paid under it.

How the fee can be structured

There are three common ways, and the written authority can use any of them or a combination:

A percentage of the sale price. The most common in Perth. The fee rises and falls with the price.

A fixed fee. A set dollar amount regardless of the price. Predictable, but it gives the agent no extra reward for pushing the price higher.

A tiered or incentive fee. A lower rate up to an agreed price, and a higher rate on every dollar above it. As an illustration only: 2% up to a figure you both agree is a realistic result, and a higher rate on anything beyond. Set up properly, it pays the agent more only when you are also better off. Set up badly, with the threshold pitched too low, it simply lifts the fee on an ordinary result.

Also check what the commission covers. Some agents bundle marketing into a higher rate. Most in Perth quote commission and marketing separately. Neither is wrong, but you cannot compare two quotes until you know which one you are looking at.

When you actually pay it

Commission is normally paid on completion of the sale. In practice, your settlement agent deducts it from the proceeds at settlement, so you are not writing a cheque before your home has sold. If the property does not sell, commission is not payable.

Marketing is different. Consumer Protection notes that you will usually pay marketing costs even if the property does not sell, unless you have negotiated a "no sale, no fee" arrangement. Settle that point before you sign, not after the photographer has been.

The clauses that cost sellers money

The percentage gets all the attention. These are the parts that catch people out:

The exclusive rights period. This is how long the agent has the sole right to sell. During that period, the agent is usually entitled to commission even if you sell privately or through someone else. A long period with an agent who is not performing leaves you stuck.

The tail after it ends. Many authorities allow the agent to claim commission for a set time after the exclusive period, if the buyer was introduced by that agent during it. If you then switch agents and that buyer comes back through the new one, you can end up owing two commissions on one sale. Know the length of that tail before you sign.

Vague marketing lines. "Marketing as required" is not a maximum. Ask for each item priced individually, with a capped total.

How to negotiate without costing yourself

You can and should ask about the fee. But be clear about what you are negotiating for, because the arithmetic is lopsided.

Take that same $1,000,000 home. Cutting commission from 2.5% to 2.2% saves $3,000, or $3,300 with GST. If the agent who agreed to that discount then gives the price away in negotiation and sells 3% under what a stronger agent would have achieved, you are $30,000 worse off. A cheap fee from an agent who folds on price is the most expensive option on the table.

So ask three questions instead of just "can you do it cheaper?":

1. What comparable sales is your price guide built on? Show me.
2. How did you negotiate your last few sales, and what did they sell for against the first offer?
3. What exactly is included in the fee, and what is the maximum I could pay in total?

An agent who holds their fee firm under pressure is showing you how they will hold your price firm with a buyer. That is worth knowing.

Questions sellers ask about agent commission

Is real estate commission negotiable in Perth?

Yes. Western Australia has no commission scale fixed by law. The fee is agreed between you and the agent, and it must be recorded in the written authority you sign before the agent starts work.

Do I pay commission if my house does not sell?

No. Commission is paid on completion of a sale, usually deducted from the proceeds at settlement. Marketing costs are different and are normally payable even if the home does not sell, unless you have negotiated a no sale, no fee arrangement.

Is commission quoted with or without GST?

It varies, so always ask. Perth commission is commonly quoted plus GST, which adds 10% to the fee. On a $1,000,000 sale at 2.5%, that is the difference between $25,000 and $27,500.

Can I end up paying two agents commission?

It can happen. Many authorities give the first agent a right to commission for a period after the exclusive period ends if they introduced the buyer. If that buyer later purchases through a second agent, both may claim. Check the length of that period before you sign.

Is the agent with the lowest commission the best choice?

Not on its own. A small saving on the fee is easily outweighed by a weaker sale price. Judge each agent on their evidence for the price, their negotiating record and the total cost in writing, then compare fees.

The honest summary

Expect commission of 2.3% to 2.7% plus GST in Perth, get it written into the authority in dollars as well as a percentage, cap the marketing, and read the exclusive period and the tail after it as carefully as the fee. Then choose the agent most likely to get you the best net result, not the one with the smallest number on the first page.

If you would like a straight conversation about what your home is worth and exactly what selling it would cost, I offer a free, no-obligation appraisal with the comparable sales attached and every fee set out in writing. You can also download the free Perth Property Guide, which covers pricing, preparation and marketing in more detail.

General information only. This content is not financial or legal advice. Commission, marketing costs and agency terms vary by agent and property, and you should read your written authority carefully and obtain the costs specific to your situation in writing.