What does a real estate agent cost in 2026? Commission and additional costs
Read more.You ask two real estate agents for a proposal. One quotes a percentage, the other a fixed amount. In one proposal the photos are included, in the other they are listed separately. Which offer is cheaper? You only see that when you put the amounts and the services side by side.
What does a real estate agent cost in 2026? There is no fixed rate. Together you agree what support you will receive and what fee goes with it. Below we explain how commission works, what a percentage means in euros and which arrangements you will want to check in advance.
Real estate agent costs: the short answer
The cost of a real estate agent consists of a fee for the agreed services, possibly supplemented by separate costs. Think of property photography or extra advertising.
When selling, the fee is often calculated as a percentage of the sale price. Agreeing a fixed amount is also possible. NVM gives a commission between 1% and 2.5% as an example, but does not prescribe any rates. That range is therefore not a mandatory standard or an established average for 2026. Source: NVM
For a useful comparison, you want to know three things:
- What do I pay in total, including VAT?
- Which services and sales tools are included?
- Which costs could arise if the assignment does not go as expected?
So always ask for a written proposal that sets out these points clearly.
What is commission and how is it calculated?
The fee for the real estate agent’s work is called commission. In advance, you agree how it is calculated, which services it covers and when you have to pay.
A percentage of the sale price
With a percentage, the fee moves with the final sale price. If you agree, for example, 1.2% including VAT and you sell for €500,000, the commission is €6,000.
Check what the percentage is applied to. Is it the full sale price? Are there additional arrangements, such as a bonus above a certain sale amount? Have a calculation made for those as well before you sign.
A small difference in percentage can mean hundreds of euros at a higher sale price. That is why it helps to always see an amount alongside the percentage.
A fixed rate
With a fixed rate, you agree an amount in advance for a defined package of services. Within that agreement, the fee does not change if the home is sold for a different amount.
Here too, the content remains important. Does the real estate agent, for example, handle all the viewings, or do you do those yourself? Are photography and advertising included? And what happens if you later need additional services?
A fixed price makes the fee predictable. Whether the proposal suits you also depends on how much support you are looking for.
Calculating commission: what do you pay in euros?
With the same sale price, you can clearly see what different percentages mean.
| Sale price | Agreed commission including VAT | Commission amount |
| €500,000 | 1.0% | €5,000 |
| €500,000 | 1.2% | €6,000 |
| €500,000 | 1.5% | €7,500 |
These are fictitious calculation examples, not i4 Housing rates. Any separately agreed costs are not included.
The calculation is simple:
Sale price × commission percentage ÷ 100 = commission amount
Note the difference between including and excluding VAT
With a consumer rate, it should be clear what amount you pay including VAT. If a proposal nevertheless states a percentage excluding VAT, have the total including VAT confirmed.
The difference is considerable. At €500,000, 1.2% including VAT is €6,000. At 1.2% excluding 21% VAT, that becomes €7,260. The same percentage then means a difference of €1,260. Source: NVM on rate agreements including VAT
Which costs could be added?
Some real estate agents include the presentation of the home in their fee. Others charge a separate amount for it. Possible cost items are:
- professional photography and video;
- measuring and making floor plans;
- listing and additional visibility on property platforms;
- advertisements or other marketing activities;
- requesting documents.
If there is an item such as ‘start-up costs’, ask what exactly it covers. Are all the components necessary? Can you choose from different presentation options? And is your approval needed in advance for extra spending?
In your selling budget, also allow for work you have carried out yourself, such as painting or repairing a leak. These are expenses related to the sale, but they are not real estate agent commission.
An overview of what is included, optional and payable separately prevents you from comparing a low basic rate with a more comprehensive overall package.
What do you get for the cost of a selling agent?
With the sale of your home several decisions follow one another. Which asking price suits the market? What needs to happen before the photography? Which buyers do you want to reach? And how do you assess an offer with conditions?
A selling agent can, among other things, support the pricing, preparation, presentation, viewings, negotiations and further handling. Which services your real estate agent carries out is something you agree in advance.
At an introductory meeting, above all ask for an explanation about your home. How is the sales strategy tailored to the type of home, the target group and your schedule? A concrete answer gives more insight than a general promise of the best return.
What support can mean in practice
In August 2026, a client of i4 Housing described how Marc van Dijk helped think through the sale price and the timing of the listing on Funda. He also helped when a small leak came to light. The client also appreciated the presentation of the home and the communication.
This client experience shows what work can lie behind a sale. It is a single experience, not a guarantee for the time to sell or the return on another home.
What does a buying agent cost?
Here too, with buying support you agree a fee and a package of services. That can be a fixed amount or a percentage. There is no rate prescribed by NVM. Source: NVM on buying support
The scope of the assignment makes a difference. Are you looking for support from the first orientation? Or have you already found a home and want help with the assessment, negotiations and purchase agreements?
Check, among other things, how many viewings are accompanied and what happens if a purchase falls through. Also ask which surveys and external costs fall outside the fee. A structural survey or appraisal, for example, can be a separate assignment.
How to compare real estate agent quotes
Place proposals side by side based on the same expected sale price. Then go through these points:
- The total amount: what do you pay including VAT and known additional costs?
- The services: who handles the preparation, viewings and negotiations?
- The presentation: which photos, floor plans and publications are included?
- The communication: when do you get feedback and how will you discuss progress?
- Additional assignments: which tasks cost extra and when do you give your consent for them?
- The terms: what applies if you stop, postpone or the property does not sell?
Have unclear arrangements clarified before you sign the assignment. That way you know not only how much a real estate agent costs, but also what you can expect from the collaboration.
When do you pay the real estate agent?
For a sale, it is usually agreed that the commission is settled at the transfer of ownership at the notary. Separate costs, for example for photography, can be invoiced during the assignment.
The moment of payment is not the same as the moment the right to a fee arises. Check both in the service agreement. Also make arrangements about costs incurred in advance. Source: NVM on calculating and paying
Frequently asked questions about agent costs
Can you negotiate the commission?
Yes, the fee is open to negotiation. Discuss the services as well. A lower rate can go together with a more limited package of services. Have an adjusted price and the related arrangements confirmed in writing.
Do you pay costs if your home is not sold?
That depends on the assignment and its terms. With a ‘no cure, no pay’ arrangement, you generally pay no commission if no purchase agreement is concluded. Separately agreed costs may still be due. No sale therefore does not automatically mean you pay nothing.
What do you pay if you withdraw the instruction?
Costs incurred and any agreed cancellation fees may apply. Ask in advance how these are calculated. If you want to stop, ask the real estate agent to state which amounts are still outstanding under your agreement.
Is an agent with a fixed fee always cheaper?
No. That depends on the level of the rate, the sale price, the services included and additional costs. Calculate both proposals using the same assumptions. Also take into account which tasks you may have to carry out yourself.
What does guidance for your home cost?
Do you want to sell your home in Wassenaar, The Hague or the surrounding area? At i4 Housing, we first discuss your home, your timeline and the guidance you are looking for. Then we make clear which services we propose and which costs go with them.
Our team combines certified real estate agents and appraisers with knowledge of marketing and communication. So you can also ask us how we tailor the presentation and sales approach to your home.
Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation introduction. Then we will discuss what is needed to prepare your sale well.