How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in WA? (2026 Guide)
Selling a home in Western Australia costs more than most vendors expect. Between agent fees, marketing, conveyancing and a handful of costs that tend to arrive late in the process, the total bill regularly lands between 4% and 6% of the sale price. On a Perth property at $780,000, that can mean $30,000 or more leaving the table before you see any net proceeds.
This guide breaks every component down, shows the arithmetic on a realistic WA example price, and explains what sellers can do to reduce the total.
The Quick Answer
For a typical house sale in Western Australia, you can expect to spend:
- Agent commission: 2.0% to 3.5% of the sale price (state average around 2.4%, rising to 2.5–3.5% in regional areas)
- Marketing: $500 to $6,000 (Perth metro $2,500–$6,000; regional properties use a 0.5–1% of price rule of thumb)
- Conveyancing: $700 to $2,500
- Auction fee (if applicable): $400 to $1,000
- Staging, inspection, mortgage discharge: variable — $2,500 to $10,000+ combined
All-in range on a $780,000 Perth property: approximately $25,000 to $38,000, or roughly 3.2%–4.9% of the sale price, before any capital gains tax considerations on investment properties.
All figures are published industry data as at June 2026. Commission rates in Australia are deregulated and negotiable — these are market averages, not regulated fees.
Itemised Cost Breakdown
| Cost component | Typical range (WA) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Agent commission | 2.0%–3.5% of sale price | Metro Perth typically 2.0%–2.5%; rural and semi-rural 2.5%–3.5% |
| Marketing | $500–$6,000 | Metro campaigns $2,500–$6,000; regional: budget 0.5%–1% of price |
| Conveyancing (seller) | $700–$2,500 | Conveyancer vs solicitor and deal complexity drive the spread |
| Auction fee | $400–$1,000 | Only if going to auction; sometimes waived where listing agent is a licensed auctioneer |
| Home staging | $2,000–$8,000 | Optional; typical 3-bedroom fit-out $3,500–$6,000 |
| Pre-sale building and pest inspection | $450–$900 | Seller-commissioned report to pre-empt buyer concerns |
| Mortgage discharge (bank fee) | $150–$600 | Lender's fee to formally close and discharge your loan at settlement |
| Mortgage discharge (registration) | $100–$200 | State land-registry fee to register the discharge — confirm with your conveyancer |
Worked Example: $780,000 Perth Home
An example sale price of $780,000 sits broadly in line with the Perth detached-house market. Here is how the costs stack up.
Agent commission at the WA state average of 2.4%: $780,000 × 0.024 = $18,720
Commission at the top of the metro range (2.5%): $780,000 × 0.025 = $19,500
Marketing (mid-range Perth metro campaign): $4,000 (within the sourced $2,500–$6,000 Perth range)
Conveyancing: $1,400 (typical, within the national $700–$2,500 range)
Mortgage discharge (bank fee + registration): $350 + $150 = $500 (mid-range bank fee plus land-registry charge)
Subtotal (commission at 2.4%, no staging, no auction, no inspection): $18,720 + $4,000 + $1,400 + $500 = $24,620 or 3.2% of the sale price
Add mid-range staging: $24,620 + $4,500 = $29,120 (3.7%)
Add auction fee and pre-sale inspection: $29,120 + $700 + $650 = $30,470 (3.9%)
For regional WA sales at higher commission rates (say 3.0%) or on properties below $500,000 where marketing costs represent a larger share of value, the percentage can move higher still.
The Costs Sellers Often Forget
Several selling costs tend to surface later in the process or are quietly rolled into other charges.
Marketing is not always included in the commission. In WA the standard arrangement is for the vendor to pay marketing costs separately, on top of the agent's commission. A Perth metro campaign covering portal listings, professional photography, a floor plan, a signboard and copywriting typically runs $2,500 to $6,000. For regional properties where no sourced dollar range exists, budgeting 0.5%–1% of your expected sale price is a reliable rule of thumb.
The mortgage discharge process has two fees. Your lender charges a discharge or settlement fee (typically $150–$600) to formally pay out and close the mortgage. On top of that, the relevant state land registry charges a separate registration fee (roughly $100–$200) to formally record the discharge of the mortgage against the title. Both show up at settlement and can catch vendors by surprise.
Pre-sale inspections shift risk to your advantage. A seller-commissioned building and pest inspection ($450–$900 combined) removes much of the negotiating power that buyers gain from unknown structural or pest issues. It does not eliminate the cost, but it moves it to a line you control and price for.
Staging is optional but common at the middle market. Full home staging — furniture hire and styling for four to six weeks — runs $2,000–$8,000. A typical three-bedroom Perth property sits in the $3,500–$6,000 range.
Capital gains tax (CGT) applies to investment properties. If the property is not your principal place of residence, a CGT liability may arise on the sale. This guide covers the selling costs above the line; CGT treatment is a separate matter and depends on your specific circumstances. Speak to a registered tax agent or accountant before making any decisions.
How to Reduce the Selling Costs
Negotiate the commission rate. Western Australia's commission rates are deregulated — the 2.4% state average is a market average, not a floor. Perth metro agents will often accept lower rates for properties at higher price points, and vendors with a straightforward property who have done their own preparation may have more room to negotiate than they expect. Compare multiple appraisals and ask directly about the rate.
Understand what is included in any quoted fee. Some agents quote a bundled fee that includes basic marketing; others quote commission-only and invoice marketing separately. Clarify before you sign, so you are comparing like with like.
Use a purpose-built marketing package. A portal listing, professional photography, a floor plan and a signboard cover the core buyer-reach bases at reasonable cost. Premium add-ons (aerial photography, social media campaigns, luxury print brochures) can add $1,000–$3,000 and have variable returns depending on the price point.
Consider the sale method. Private treaty avoids the auction fee ($400–$1,000) and does not require an auctioneer. Auctions can drive competitive bidding in the right market conditions, but the fee is an additional line. See Auction or Private Treaty: Choosing the Right Sale Method for a fuller comparison.
Compare conveyancers. Conveyancing fees in WA range from $700 to $2,500 for a straightforward residential sale. A licensed conveyancer handles the standard residential contract; a solicitor is typically needed for complex titles, disputes or unusual structures. Get at least two quotes.
The AgentBridge Alternative
Instead of paying a listing agent's commission, some WA sellers are choosing to distribute their property through a buyers agent network. AgentBridge simultaneously briefs a national panel of 80+ buyers agents, each of whom holds an existing book of qualified buyers and matches the property to active client briefs.
How the fee compares on the same $780,000 example:
AgentBridge charges a distribution fee, not a commission. For a property in the $600,000–$1,500,000 band, the total distribution fee is 1.75% of the sale price:
$780,000 × 0.0175 = $13,650
Against the traditional route at 2.4% commission ($18,720), the saving on the fee alone is $5,070. Against a 2.5% commission, the saving is $5,850.
Add the marketing costs: in the traditional model, marketing ($4,000 estimated) sits on top of the commission. Under the AgentBridge model, the property brief and distribution to the network is included in the distribution fee — the seller does not separately fund an open-market advertising campaign.
The AgentBridge distribution fee includes a referral share paid to the buyers agent who introduces the eventual buyer. That share comes out of the collected fee — it is not an additional cost to the seller.
For properties below $300,000, a flat distribution fee of $5,000 applies.
For more on how the model works, see How Property Distribution Works for Sellers and Developers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical real estate agent commission in WA? Published industry data as at June 2026 puts the WA state average at around 2.4%, with a realistic range of 2.0%–3.5%. Perth metro agents typically sit toward the lower end (2.0%–2.5%); rural and semi-rural WA tends to attract higher rates (2.5%–3.5%). Rates are deregulated and negotiable. See Real Estate Agent Fees in WA for a full breakdown.
Is marketing included in the commission in WA? Typically, no. WA agents usually charge commission as a separate percentage and invoice marketing costs (portal listings, photography, signboard) on top. Always confirm what is and is not included before signing an agency agreement.
Do I pay conveyancing when selling (not just buying)? Yes. The seller pays for their own conveyancing to prepare the contract of sale, manage vendor disclosure obligations and handle the legal side of the settlement. Seller-side conveyancing in WA typically costs $700–$2,500. See Conveyancing: Contract to Settlement for more.
What is the total cost to sell a house in WA? For a typical Perth home at around $780,000, expect to spend $24,000–$30,500 before optional extras like staging or an auction fee. As a rough percentage, 3%–5% of the sale price covers most scenarios. Use the Cost of Selling Calculator and the Agent Commission Calculator to model your own numbers.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or taxation advice. Costs are sourced from published industry data as at June 2026 and may vary. Confirm current figures with the relevant provider before relying on them. If this property is an investment, speak to a registered tax agent about any capital gains tax obligations before proceeding.
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