When buying or selling a house in The Netherlands, the real estate agent will ask for a commission or a fixed price for their services. The average cost of hiring a real estate agent in the Netherlands is 1.12% of the property's sale proceeds (as of June 2024). This means the average real estate agent's fee for selling a house is approximately €5,180. These are the typical costs associated with selling a house. Aside from the agent's fee, there are no additional costs for selling a house, as the buyer always pays the notary. Different rates apply for purchasing, which are detailed further on this page.
An extensive study on real estate agent rates across the Netherlands over the past year was published in early 2024. This page presents the new rates for 2024.
Download the full study on real estate agent costs (2024) (pdf in Dutch)
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In the Netherlands, real estate agents charge a commission: a percentage of your home's purchase or sale price. You arrange with the agent about this commission in advance, so you know what to expect. Your agent can also charge a fixed amount. Further down this page, you will learn more about the differences between percentages and fixed amounts and their pros and cons.
The settlement with your real estate agent is only when your home has been successfully bought or sold. In many cases, you do pay startup costs in advance, so the agent has a budget to get to work for you. For example, it can be used to ensure that the photos are taken, make a measurement report, or find a suitable home. These costs often lapse after a successful sale or purchase. You only pay these costs if you terminate the collaboration with the agent early.
To determine the cost of a real estate agent, the price range of your house is essential. Generally, agents charge a higher percentage for smaller homes than larger ones.
Here are the costs as a percentage of the sale proceeds by price range:
Price Range | Commission (2024) | In Euros (2024) |
Up to €200,000 | 1.8% | €3,100 |
Up to €300,000 | 1.4% | €3,600 |
Up to €400,000 | 1.2% | €4,200 |
Up to €500,000 | 1.1% | €4,800 |
Up to €600,000 | 1.0% | €5,600 |
€600,000 and above | 1.0% | €7,500 |
To make sure you're up to date on the costs for selling your home with the help of a real estate agent, it's important to know the value of your house. With this tool, we can give you an estimate of the value of your home.
What is my house worth?There are significant differences in the costs of a real estate agent per city. For instance, Amsterdam is one of the cheapest cities for hiring a selling agent, while Utrecht is the most expensive in terms of agent commission.
In Amsterdam, a real estate agent charges an average commission of 1.02% for the purchase or sale of your home. This amounts to an average of €5,520. How much you pay depends on where the property is located in Amsterdam. For example, you pay an average of €6,311 in the center of Amsterdam and an average of €5,552 in Amsterdam East. Discover everything about real estate agents in Amsterdam here.
In The Hague, a real estate agent charges an average commission of 1.12% for the purchase or sale of your home. This amounts to an average of €4,803. How much you pay depends on the property's location in The Hague. For example, you pay an average of €4,537 in the center of The Hague and an average of €4,667 in The Hague Bezuidenhout. Discover everything about real estate agents in The Hague here.
In Utrecht, a real estate agent charges an average commission of 1% for the purchase or sale of your home. This amounts to an average of €4,795. How much you pay depends on where the property is located in Utrecht. For example, you pay an average of €5,332 in the city center of Utrecht and an average of €5,333 in Utrecht Leidsche Rijn. Discover everything about real estate agents in Utrecht here.
In Rotterdam, a real estate agent charges an average commission of 1.02% for the purchase or sale of your home. This amounts to an average of €4,423. How much you pay depends on where the property is located in Rotterdam. For example, you pay an average of €4,466 in the center of Rotterdam and an average of €3,932 in Rotterdam South. Discover everything about real estate agents in Rotterdam here.
In Eindhoven, a real estate agent charges an average commission of 1.15% for the purchase or sale of your home. This amounts to an average of €4,845.
Most agents in the Netherlands (77%) charge a percentage of the sale price. However, 23% of agents charge a fixed amount.
If you agree on a percentage with the agent, the agent has an additional incentive for a higher sale price. This differs with a fixed amount, where the sale proceeds do not directly affect the agent's fee. Data shows that agents who charge a fixed amount often result in lower agent costs.
In addition to the well-known local real estate agent, there is also the option to hire a so-called 'online real estate agent'. These online agents let you handle the most time-consuming sales process, such as writing the sales description, conducting viewings, and sometimes taking photos for Funda.
The costs remain low since you take on these tasks instead of the agent. This is reflected in the fees that online real estate agents charge:
Online agent | Costs |
Makelaarsland | €1,575 |
Zelfverkopen.nl | €1,098 |
Makelaar1 | €595 |
Huysshop | €999 |
Huispromotie.nl | €397 |
Mijnhuisverkoopikzelf | €495 |
Huisportaal.nl | €795 |
Note that online agents usually incur costs upfront, regardless of whether they succeed in selling the property. Therefore, online agents primarily charge (higher) startup costs.
The fees for a buying agent and a selling agent are calculated differently, but there are some similarities. Below, you can read about them.
A selling agent usually charges startup costs at the beginning of the sales process. These costs are used to bring your home to the attention of the right target group, such as starting an advertising campaign.
In addition, you will encounter a commission; a percentage of the sale price of your home that you pay to the selling agent. This percentage varies by real estate office and region/city but averages around 1.1% of the sale proceeds. The commission amount also depends on your home's price range. In general, the higher the price range, the lower the percentage.
Although selling agents usually work with fixed commission rates, you can also (try to) agree on a different commission calculation. For example, a commission calculation that depends on the final sale price.
Example: the agent receives a base commission of €1,500 upon a successful sale. For any portion that the sale price exceeds an agreed-upon sale amount, the agent receives an additional commission of a certain percentage. This gives the agent an extra incentive to sell your home well. It is important to clearly establish these agreements in the assignment beforehand so that no discussions can arise afterwards.
Are you buying a home in the mid or lower segment? Then, you usually pay a fixed amount to a buying agent between €3,000 and €5,000. Ensure to check what is thoroughly and isn't included in this price beforehand. For example, some buying agents include a certain number of viewings. Always put your agreements in writing to avoid any issues later on.
Are you buying a house in the higher segment? In that case, most buying agents charge a commission, meaning a percentage of the purchase price. This commission usually ranges between 1% and 2% if you opt for a full-service package where you are completely taken care of. If you choose 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 to negotiate the best possible price. Always put the agreements in writing.
A commission is the fee a real estate agent receives for assisting with the purchase or sale. This fee is a percentage of the sale amount.
On average, a real estate agent charges 1.12% of the sale proceeds. This is the average agent commission for selling a house.