The cost of a real estate agent

In the Netherlands, a real estate agent costs, on average, 1.1% of the sales revenue of the property (2024). In other words: the average real estate commission in the Netherlands is 1.1%. On average, selling a house costs around €4,900. These are the average real estate agent fees you pay for selling your house. Besides the costs for the agent, there are no other costs for selling a house. The notary is always paid by the buyer. Different rates apply for purchasing. You can read more about this on this page.

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• Average commission of a real estate agent
• Rates of agents in major cities
• Prices of internet agents
• What an agent charges in each city
• The differences between the costs of a selling agent and a buying agent

Because sellers have received over 24,000 price proposals from local agents via My Selling Agent, we now know everything about the rates that agents charge.

We know that commissions vary greatly by city and type of property. In addition, there are differences in real estate agent fees per price range and per real estate association (NVM or non-NVM).

1. Average Commission of a Real Estate Agent (2023)

To find out what an agent (or selling agent) costs, the price range of your house is important. The reason is: agents ask for a higher percentage for smaller properties than for larger ones.

See below the costs as a percentage of the sales revenue, per price range:

2. Commission of Agents in Major Cities (2023)

Besides the price range, there are also big differences in the cost of an agent per city. For example, Amsterdam is one of the cheapest cities to hire a selling agent, and Utrecht is the most expensive city in terms of real estate commission.

• Amsterdam agents charge 1.00% of the sales revenue
• Agents in The Hague: charge 1.18%
• Agents in Utrecht: charge 1.15%
• Agents in Rotterdam: charge 1.15%

3. The Rates of Internet Agents (2023)

In addition to the well-known, local agent, there is also the option to engage a so-called 'internet agent'. These online agents let you perform the most time-consuming parts of the sales process yourself, such as writing the sales text, guiding viewings, and in some cases, taking the photos for Funda.

Because not the agent, but you get to work on this, the costs remain low. This is reflected in the fees that internet agents charge:

Note that with an internet agent, the costs are usually incurred upfront, regardless of whether they succeed in selling the property. In essence, internet agents thus charge (higher) startup fees.

4. Real Estate Commission by City (2023)

Below is a list of all the cities about which we have sufficient information. The list is alphabetical. Next to the city is the amount that an agent typically costs for selling your house.

Most agents do not charge a fee, but a percentage of the revenue. The average percentage (also known as: real estate commission) is on the far right of the list.

Example: You want to sell a house in Amstelveen. The average commission charged in Amstelveen for selling a property is €4,466 or 1.0% of the sales revenue. These amounts include VAT and startup fees. So, this includes everything you have to pay to an agent.

Read more below about real estate agents in the big four cities:

Real estate agent in Amsterdam

Real estate agents in Rotterdam

Real estate agent in Utrecht

Real estate agent in The Hague (Den Haag)

5. What are the Differences Between the Costs of a Selling Agent and a Buying Agent?

The way the fees for a buying agent and selling agent are calculated have a number of similarities and differences. Below you can read what these are. 

Costs of Selling Agent

A selling agent usually charges startup fees at the start of the sales process. These costs are used to draw attention to your property among the right target audience, such as starting an advertising campaign.

Additionally, you will deal with a commission; a percentage of the selling price of your property, which you pay to the selling agent. This percentage varies by real estate office and by region/city, but on average amounts to 1.1% of the sales revenue. The amount of the commission also depends on the price range of your property. In general, the higher the price range, the lower the percentage.

Although selling agents usually work with fixed commission prices, you can also try to agree on a different commission calculation. For example, a commission calculation that depends on the final selling price.

Example: the agent receives a basic commission of €1,500,- for a successful sale. For every part that the selling price exceeds an agreed sale amount, the agent receives an extra commission of X%. This gives the agent an extra incentive to sell your property well. It's important to clearly set these agreements in advance in the assignment, so there can be no disputes afterwards.

Costs of Buying Agent

If you're buying a property in the mid or lower segment, you usually pay a fixed amount for a buying agent. This usually amounts to a fee between €3,000 and €5,000. Inventory in advance what is and isn't included in this price. For example, a certain number of viewings may be included with some buying agents. Always put your agreements in writing, so there can be no hassle afterwards.

If you're buying a house in the higher segment, most buying agents charge a commission, i.e., a percentage of the purchase price. This commission usually ranges between 1% and 2% if you opt for a full-service service where you are fully taken care of. If you take partial services, this amount will obviously be lower.

You can also negotiate a different rate with a buying agent, such as a rate that depends on the final negotiation result. The better the purchase price, the higher the rate. This motivates the buying agent extra to negotiate as good a purchase sum as possible. Always put the agreements in writing.

Read more about buying a house in The Netherlands:

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Property in The Netherlands

Introduction to the Housing Market in the Netherlands

A step-by-step guide on selecting estate agents in the Netherlands

Frequently asked questions about agent rates

• What is commission?

  Commission is the fee an agent receives for their help in the buying or selling process. This fee is a percentage of the selling amount.

• What is the average commission of an agent in 2024?

  On average, an agent charges 1.1% of the sales revenue. This is the average commission an agent asks for selling a house.

  On average, selling a house costs €4,930. This includes VAT.

  Besides the costs for the selling agent, there are no other costs for selling a house. The notary is always paid by the buyer. If you spruce up the property for sale, of course, you'll have to pay these costs yourself.

• What is the average commission of agents in the big four cities in 2024?

  Amsterdam: 1.00% The Hague: 1.18% Utrecht: 1.15% Rotterdam: 1.15% Are the costs of an agent deductible? The agent fees mostly consist of the agent commission. Sometimes there are also startup costs or cancellation fees on top of that. VAT of 21% is levied on the agent commission and any other agent fees. Unfortunately, all these agent fees are not deductible from taxes.