Real estate agency fees: how much do your commissions really cost?

Excerpt:
Real estate agency fees are a crucial cost: discover how they're calculated, negotiated and optimised when selling or buying property in Massy, Palaiseau, Chilly-Mazarin.

Real estate agency fees: understanding their role and impact

Real estate agency fees, sometimes called commissions, compensate the professional guiding owners and buyers through a property transaction. This sum covers all services: property valuation, marketing, organising visits, tailored advice, connecting with serious buyers, negotiating and handling procedures up to final signing.

"Agency fees are essential for expert guidance and to sell confidently at the best price."

Fee amounts: what are the standards?

In France, real estate agency fees usually range from 3% to 8% of the sale price, with an observed average of around 5.5%. Some agencies offer a fixed fee; others use a sliding scale with decreasing rates for higher property values. In Massy, Palaiseau and Chilly-Mazarin, these practices exist: a house or flat valued between €300,000 and €600,000 leads to €9,000 to €36,000 in commissions, depending on the agency's schedule. Every agency must clearly display its fee schedule in the window and on its website.

Who pays the agency fees: seller, buyer or both?

Fee allocation depends on the mandate signed at the time of sale. Usually, the seller pays them. However, if the contract specifies, fees can be paid by the buyer—which can help reduce the buyer's notary fees.

Fee schedules, negotiation, and local specifics

There are two main ways to set commissions:

• A proportional schedule, often using decreasing rates for more expensive assets
• A fixed fee, increasingly common thanks to digitalisation
  In Massy, competitive market dynamics make it easy to negotiate fees—especially for attractive properties or with an exclusive mandate. Before making commitments, get a free property valuation: free property valuation to see your home's value relative to the market.