How to Sell Your House and Avoid Agent Commissions

Real estate agent commissions are the single biggest cost of selling a home. On a $350,000 house, a 6% commission means $21,000 out of your pocket. That money goes to the listing agent and buyer's agent — not to you. If you want to keep more of your equity, selling directly to a cash buyer eliminates commissions entirely.

Chitty Buys Houses is a nationwide cash home-buying service that buys houses in any condition, helping homeowners sell fast without repairs, fees, or waiting.

How Much Do Agent Commissions Actually Cost?

According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical commission structure has historically been 5-6% of the sale price, split between the listing and buyer's agents. Here is what that looks like at different price points:

• $200,000 home: $10,000-$12,000 in commissions
• $300,000 home: $15,000-$18,000 in commissions
• $400,000 home: $20,000-$24,000 in commissions
• $500,000 home: $25,000-$30,000 in commissions

And commissions are just the start. Add closing costs, repair demands, staging, photography, and months of carrying costs while listed.

What Are Your Options for Avoiding Commissions?

You have three main paths:

• FSBO (For Sale By Owner): You handle everything — pricing, marketing, showings, negotiation, and legal paperwork. You save the listing agent's commission but may still pay the buyer's agent. Read our FSBO guide for the full picture.
• Flat-fee listing: A service lists your home on the MLS for a flat fee ($300-$500) instead of a percentage. You still handle showings and may pay the buyer's agent 2-3%.
• Sell to a cash buyer: Zero commissions, zero fees. The offer you accept is the amount you receive at closing. No listing, no showings, no negotiation.

How Do Net Proceeds Compare?

Here is a real-world comparison for a $300,000 home:

• Traditional sale: $300,000 sale price - $18,000 commissions - $8,000 closing costs - $10,000 repairs - $6,000 carrying costs = $258,000 net
• Cash sale: $255,000 offer - $0 commissions - $0 fees - $0 repairs - $0 carrying costs = $255,000 net

The difference? About $3,000 — in exchange for 3-5 months of work, stress, and uncertainty. For homes needing major repairs or in pre-foreclosure, the cash sale often nets more. See our full Cash Buyer vs. Realtor comparison.

When Does Avoiding Commissions Make the Most Sense?

• You need to sell quickly — relocation, divorce, financial hardship
• Your home needs repairs that would eat into listing proceeds
• You do not want to deal with showings, open houses, and negotiation
• You want certainty — a guaranteed sale with no risk of financing falling through

Keep Your Equity — Get a Cash Offer

Why pay $15,000-$30,000 in commissions when you do not have to? Call Chitty Buys Houses at (888) 913-9906 or request your cash offer online. Zero commissions, zero fees, close in as little as 7 days.