Private Sale vs Real Estate Agent: A Honest Comparison

0% of the final sale price, plus GST. On a $1,500,000 home, a 2% commission equates to $33,000, including tax.

Additionally, agents require $4,000 to $8,000 for public advertising campaigns. This means a seller loses a significant portion of their property equity to transaction fees.

Under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002 (NSW), agents must provide an exclusive agency agreement before representing you. These agreements lock you into paying their commission even if you find a buyer yourself during the exclusivity period, typically 90 days.

Agents want quick turnarounds to collect their commissions, which can sometimes lead to pressure on the seller to accept lower offers or rigid 42-day settlements. Selling privately allows you to define terms. If you need a 6-month settlement to downsize or relocate, you can negotiate this directly without intermediary pressure.

To bypass agent commissions without the stress of managing negotiations with individual private buyers, many homeowners choose to work with direct institutional buyers like ROAME Australia. ROAME acts as the direct buyer, offering transparent contract terms, flexible settlements, and zero agent commissions.

Peter and Elena owned a terrace house in Balmain. They wanted to relocate to the Central Coast but faced high listing fees.

2% commission plus $7,000 for styling, photography, and online database portal listings. The total cost was projected to exceed $46,000.

Because their property was in high demand but they valued privacy, they decided to bypass agents. They hired a conveyancer to prepare their contract of sale. They submitted their property details to the private exit registry.

ROAME Australia conducted a private assessment and presented a clean, unconditional purchase offer. The transaction settled in 45 days, saving the couple $46,000 in commissions and fees, allowing them to reinvest their full equity in their new Central Coast home.

Executing a private property sale in New South Wales requires strict adherence to the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) and the Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022. Under Section 52A of the Act, a vendor must attach prescribed statutory disclosure documents to the Contract of Sale before the property is marketed or offered for sale.

Preparing these documents through a licensed conveyancer or solicitor prior to negotiating ensures legal compliance and transaction security.

Unlocking the maximum value of your property requires analyzing transactional costs. Traditional real estate agencies in Sydney charge commissions ranging from 1.5% to 3% of the sale price, plus marketing and auction levies. On a property valued at $1,800,000, a 2.5% commission equals $45,000.

When combined with standard $8,000 marketing packages (professional photography, portal listings, floorplans, and auctioneer hire), total out-of-pocket costs can reach $53,000.

In a direct private sale, these costs are bypassed completely. The purchaser pays the full agreed purchase price, and the seller pays only standard legal conveyancing fees (typically $1,500 to $2,500). Sourcing a direct buyer who inspects the property in "as-is" condition also eliminates the need for cosmetic renovations, staging, and styling, saving an additional $10,050.