If you're selling a house in WA, your biggest cost is usually your agent's commission. According to internal data, it averages 2.03 per cent of the sale price including GST, or 1.95 per cent in Perth. On a $750,000 sale, that's about $15,225 at the WA average.

On top of that, you'll usually pay for a settlement agent, marketing and a few government fees. Here's what each one costs, and what changes with where you live and how you sell. You can also work out your own costs with our selling costs calculator.

Real estate agent fees in Western Australia

There's no legal maximum on commission in WA, so agents set their own rates and you can negotiate. Some agents quote a higher rate because they include marketing in the commission, while others charge it separately.

Commission can be a fixed dollar fee, a percentage of the sale price, or a mix of both. Some agreements also pay the agent a higher rate on the part of the price above an agreed figure, as an incentive. Whichever you choose, your agreement with the agent must set out how the commission is worked out.

What's the average real estate commission in WA?

According to internal data, the average real estate commission across WA is 2.03 per cent of the sale price, including GST. Commissions can be as low as 1.27 per cent or as high as 3.05 per cent, though parts of the South West average more.

If an agent quotes 2 per cent plus GST, that's 2.2 per cent including GST.

In Perth, the average is 1.95 per cent. It's often higher in regional WA: in Bunbury, for example, it averages 3.13 per cent.

Say you sell for $750,000. Commission at the WA average of 2.03 per cent comes to $15,225. Add $1,290 for a settlement agent and, if you have a mortgage, $225.10 to register its discharge, and you're at about $16,740, before marketing, searches, any electronic settlement (PEXA) fee and your lender's fee.

Before you sign, ask each agent for their rate in writing, and ask them:

• Does the rate include GST?
• Is the auctioneer's fee included, if you're going to auction?
• Is marketing itemised, and what's the maximum?
• If there's a higher rate above a set price, where does it start?

How much does conveyancing cost in WA?

In WA, a settlement agent or a lawyer handles the legal side of your sale (the conveyancing) and the settlement, the day ownership passes to the buyer. If you're comparing settlement agents, several WA firms publish starting prices of $770 to $990 for a sale, and one publishes a fixed price of $1,290 (October 2026).

These prices cover the settlement agent's own fees, before searches and government fees, so treat them as a rough guide. See what conveyancing costs in each state.

The law doesn't require you to use a settlement agent, but Consumer Protection WA advises using a licensed settlement agent or a lawyer unless you're a qualified lawyer yourself.

Settlement agents set their own fees. Before you appoint one, they must give you a written costs disclosure showing the most they'll charge, including all fees, commissions and general office disbursements. They can't charge more unless the work changes significantly and you agree.

If you have a mortgage, Landgate, WA's titles office, charges $225.10 in the 2026-27 financial year to register its discharge, which removes the mortgage from your title. That's on top of your lender's own discharge fee.

Your settlement agent may also pass on the PEXA fee for electronic settlement, which is about $150 to transfer one title in WA (October 2026). Your council and water rates are adjusted at settlement, so you pay them up to and including settlement day.

What other costs do you pay when selling in WA?

Auction fees in Western Australia

Most WA homes sell by private treaty (agreeing a price with a buyer, rather than at auction), but if you choose auction, your agent must have a licensed auctioneer on staff or hire one.

In Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, auctioneers who publish a price charge $700 to $1,100 to call an on-site auction (October 2026). The fee is often already in your agent's quote, so check your agency agreement.

See what an auctioneer costs.

According to Consumer Protection WA, an auction can cost more than a private sale, because you may pay for advertising, auction coordination and the auctioneer.

Preparing your home for sale

If your home feels ready to move into, buyers can be more willing to pay well for it. Jobs to consider include minor repairs, a garden tidy and professional staging.

Expect a clean or a garden tidy to cost tens or hundreds of dollars, and styling a whole home to cost thousands.

The middle published price for a vacate clean (the deep clean once you've moved out) of a three-bedroom home in WA is about $518, and styling a vacant three-bedroom home in Perth has starting prices of $2,920 to $3,365 (October 2026).

See what pre-sale repairs, home staging and gardening cost.

Most gardeners that publish a price start a small lawn mow at $40 to $55, though one Perth business charges from $150. If you need a handyman, expect $80 to $165 an hour, plus materials and often a call-out fee (October 2026).

If you're moving, WA removalists charge a middle rate of $176 an hour for two movers and a truck on a weekday (October 2026). Our guide has more on what moving house costs.

Marketing costs

Agents quote marketing per campaign, so ask each agent you compare for an itemised quote. Marketing usually covers photography and video, online listings, print advertising and signage, and it may be part of the commission or charged on top.

If marketing is charged separately, your agreement must state a maximum that you initial. According to Consumer Protection WA, you'll pay it even if your home doesn't sell, unless you've negotiated "no sale, no fee". Our guide covers what advertising a property costs.

Commission works differently. If your home doesn't sell, you generally won't pay it, because by law it's payable only when the sale settles.

WA safety rules

Before ownership passes to the buyer, your home needs compliant smoke alarms and at least two safety switches (RCDs) protecting all its power and lighting circuits. A licensed electrician installs safety switches and mains-powered smoke alarms. If you have a pool or spa, its barrier must comply before the sale.

ATO clearance certificate

Every seller who's an Australian resident for tax purposes needs a free clearance certificate from the ATO. Without one, the buyer must hold back 15 per cent of the price at settlement, so apply early: it can take up to 28 days.

Choosing the right agent to sell your house in WA

An experienced agent armed with local knowledge and a strong marketing strategy can be the key to selling quickly and for the highest possible price. Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing an agent in WA.

Check your agent is licensed

Every real estate agent in WA must be licensed and hold a current triennial certificate (renewed every three years), and sales representatives must be registered. Every agent is also bound by a legally binding code of conduct, which includes a duty to act in your best interests.

You can check an agent's licence or a sales representative's registration on Consumer Protection WA's online licence search.

Many agents are also members of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA), the state's industry body, but membership is voluntary.

How to sell your house privately in WA

Selling your house without an agent is legal in WA but can be complex and time-consuming.

Most WA sales use a standard contract, the Contract for Sale of Land or Strata Title by Offer and Acceptance (the O&A), with the Joint Form of General Conditions. A settlement agent or a lawyer can prepare it for you, though only a lawyer can advise you on the law.

You'll also be responsible for:

• Preparing your house for sale.
• Setting your asking price.
• Advertising your property.
• Open days and inspections.
• Negotiating offers.
• Accepting an offer.
• Settlement (you can use a settlement agent or lawyer).

Selling privately saves the commission, about $15,225 on a $750,000 sale at the WA average. It's worth weighing that against your time and effort, and whether you'd get the same price without an agent.

Keeping track of all these costs and processes can be overwhelming, but OpenAgent's ultimate property guide can help you stay organised and on top of it all.

Factors that can alter the cost of selling a house in Western Australia

How much it costs to sell a house in WA is also influenced by these additional factors:

Property type

If you have an unusual property or one that's only going to appeal to a handful of buyers, your real estate agent has to work harder to sell it. Some agents may charge a higher commission rate to reflect that.

Property value

The dearer your home, the lower the commission rate tends to be. In Perth, according to internal data, the average falls from 2.32 per cent on sales up to $500,000 to between 1.77 and 1.85 per cent on sales from $1 million to $2 million.

Method of sale (private or auction)

Selling at auction can cost more than selling by private treaty, because of the auctioneer's fee and the advertising.

Location of property

What you'll pay in commission varies across Perth and the regions. According to internal data, it averages 1.84 per cent in Perth's South East Suburbs and 2.30 per cent in the Peel area, against 3.05 per cent across the South West and 2.81 per cent in the Wheatbelt.

Frequently asked questions