In the example below, selling a $1 million home costs $39,150: $9,650 upfront and around moving day, and $29,500 paid from settlement. These are planning allowances, not an average cost for Perth.
Overview
What this article covers
A $1 million sale: what you pay and when
| Selling expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Upfront and around moving day | |
| Marketing, including GST | $5,000 |
| Pre-photography cleaning allowance | $600 |
| Post-move cleaning allowance | $600 |
| Pre-sale gardening allowance, excluding disposal | $1,000 |
| Skip/disposal allowance | $450 |
| Local removalist allowance | $2,000 |
| Cash to have available | $9,650 |
| Paid from settlement proceeds | |
| Commission: 2.5% of $1 million | $25,000 |
| GST on that commission | $2,500 |
| Settlement and disbursements allowance | $1,500 |
| Lender/discharge allowance | $500 |
| Selling costs deducted at settlement | $29,500 |
| Example selling budget | $39,150 |
The first group is money to have available before the sale proceeds arrive, including bills around moving day. The second assumes your agent, lender and settlement agent arrange payment from settlement. Confirm deposits, due dates and any deferred-payment fees with each supplier.
Check whether the quoted 2.5% already includes GST before adding it. Do the same with marketing: if the fee covers it, leave out the separate marketing charge.
How much will you have left after selling?
Subtract the selling budget and your mortgage payout from the sale price. Then account for settlement adjustments and any tax or other liabilities. The deposit paid by your buyer is part of the sale price, not extra money on top.
If you are buying again, allow for the costs of that purchase before using this balance to work out your next deposit.
Before you spend the sale proceeds
Your settlement statement
Ask your settlement agent how rates, water charges and any strata amounts will be adjusted. You may get money back for charges paid in advance, while unpaid bills may come out of your proceeds.
Your tax position
Your main residence may qualify for a capital gains tax exemption. Rental, business use and residency can change the answer. Confirm your position with a registered tax agent rather than treating the whole balance as available to spend.
Your ATO clearance certificate
Australian resident sellers should arrange their ATO clearance certificate and give it to the buyer before settlement to avoid capital gains withholding. This is separate from whether you ultimately owe capital gains tax. Ask your settlement agent about the paperwork early.
The full cost of selling a house in WA
Use this checklist when collecting quotes. Check what each package already covers so you do not budget for the same work twice.
01
Agent commission or fixed fee
Ask what the fee covers, how much it is including GST and when you have to pay. Check whether marketing costs extra.
As agreed in your agency agreement
02
Advertising and marketing
Photography, floorplans, portal listings and a signboard may be a separate bill. Check the listing tier, campaign length and the cost of optional upgrades.
Often before the property is advertised
03
Settlement agent and disbursements
Ask your settlement agent for a quote that lists their fee, searches, electronic settlement charges and any other costs you will pay.
According to your settlement quote
04
Lender and mortgage discharge costs
Ask your bank for a payout estimate, discharge fees and any fixed-rate break costs. The loan balance is separate from these fees.
Usually dealt with at settlement
05
Preparation, repairs and compliance
Price the cleaning, garden work and repairs your home needs. Decide whether painting or hired furniture is worth the extra spend before booking it.
Usually before launch or as work is completed
06
Moving, storage and overlap
Allow for removalists, storage and any temporary accommodation. If buying before selling, check bridging finance and the cost of holding two properties.
Before, during and after the move
07
Rates and strata adjustments
Your settlement agent works out your share of rates and other charges. You may receive a credit for bills already paid, or owe money for unpaid amounts.
At settlement
08
Tax, where applicable
Your tax position depends on how you have used the property and your residency. Ask your tax adviser how much, if anything, to set aside.
Check before you spend the sale proceeds
For a closer look at commission and fixed fees, read our Perth real estate agent fees guide. For campaign inclusions, see real estate advertising costs.
The clean, the garden and the moving truck
The size and condition of your home affect these bills, as does the move itself. We checked the supplier prices below on 9 October 2026. Each covers a particular service; you will need a quote for your own job.
Get two or three quotes for trades and services
We usually recommend getting two or three quotes. Give each business the same list of jobs and ask for a total including GST, materials and waste removal. Compare what is covered, when they can do the work and when they expect payment, as well as the price.
Have the clear-out before you pay to move it
We recommend booking a skip before selling and moving, once you know what you are keeping. Sell or donate usable items first, then dispose of the rubbish. Paying to move unwanted things only to throw them away at the next house adds handling and disposal work you could avoid.
Check the bin size, allowed waste, weight limit and hire period before booking. If a gardener or another contractor is already charging to remove waste, agree which rubbish goes where so you do not pay for the same disposal twice.
You may choose to pay for cleaning twice
You may want the house cleaned before the photographer arrives, then again after you move out. If you plan to book both, allow for two bills.
For a four-bedroom, two-bathroom vacate clean, Local Bunch advertises from $429, while Cleaner In Perth lists from $750 for a single-storey home. Both include GST. Carpet cleaning and other extras can be additional. These are vacate-clean prices; ask separately for an occupied pre-sale clean.
Ask whether the price covers windows, the oven, carpets and wall washing, and what access the cleaner needs. These examples assume you choose to hire a cleaner. They do not mean every seller needs a professional bond clean.
Check when the removalist starts charging
McNally Relocations advertises $187 an hour including GST for two movers and a truck. Rubix lists $190 plus GST, or $209 including GST, for its weekday two-mover truck service, with a 2.5-hour minimum and depot-to-depot charging.
Eight billable hours at $209 would cost $1,672. Your move may take more or less time, depending on stairs, parking, how far the furniture has to travel to the truck and whether it needs a second load. Ask for separate prices for packing, boxes and storage if you need them.
Ask: When does the clock start and stop? Is the quote for the whole crew? What happens if the keys to the next home are delayed?
Tell the gardener exactly what needs doing
Write down the actual jobs: mow and edge, weed the beds, prune shrubs, add mulch, remove the waste. All Round Gardens advertises hourly maintenance with a minimum booking. Perth Garden Girls quotes larger clean-ups and prices materials and green waste separately. Ask for a total for your job rather than budgeting from an hourly rate alone.
Ask: How many people and hours are allowed? Does the quote cover taking the green waste away?
Price the painting job before deciding to do it
Two marked bedroom walls and a full repaint are different decisions. ABC Paint & Deco separates walls-only work from ceilings and trim. Perth Property Improver also prices according to the preparation needed and the surfaces being painted. Give each painter the same list of work so you can compare their quotes.
Decide separately whether to pay for staging, pressure washing or your own building inspection. Ask what each would help you achieve. If you hire furniture, check the delivery and collection costs, how long you can keep it and what extra weeks cost. Budget for the services you choose.
Where can you reduce selling costs?
Ask each agent to put their selling fee, marketing and GST in writing. Then compare who will answer buyers, run home opens and negotiate offers. Check what work a lower fee leaves you to do.
With KeyHive Modern Agent, the standard campaign and agency service total $10,500 including GST: $2,500 to launch and $8,000 at successful settlement. Your settlement agent and other selling expenses remain separate.
If you would rather manage buyers yourself, read about selling privately in WA or compare KeyHive’s selling packages.
FAQ
Questions about selling costs in WA
How much does it cost to sell a house in WA?
There is no single fee. Add the agent’s GST-inclusive fee, any separate marketing, settlement charges, lender fees, preparation and moving costs. In this guide’s $1 million example, those allowances total $39,150. That is an illustration, not a WA average; tax, rate adjustments and unusual costs are not included.
What are real estate agent fees in Perth?
An agent may charge a percentage of the sale price or a fixed fee. Ask for the GST-inclusive amount at your expected sale price and a separate list of marketing charges. Compare the service as well as the price; the commission rate is negotiable before you agree to it.
Do sellers pay stamp duty in WA?
Transfer duty, often called stamp duty, is generally a buyer’s cost on a normal property purchase. If you are selling and buying another home, budget for duty on that purchase separately from the cost of selling.
Is paying off my mortgage a selling cost?
The outstanding loan reduces the cash you keep, but it is repayment of an existing debt, not an agent or selling fee. Include it when estimating your available funds, alongside selling expenses and settlement adjustments.
Can I reduce costs by selling privately?
You may reduce agency costs by taking on more of the work. You still need to budget for advertising, settlement, preparation and any lender costs. Compare what you will handle yourself with the support included in a private-sale or Guided service.
What do I pay if the property does not sell?
Check your agency agreement and supplier terms. Marketing, preparation and other work already delivered may still be payable. KeyHive Modern Agent’s settlement service fee is payable at successful settlement; its launch payment funds campaign work.
Does KeyHive’s fixed fee cover every cost of selling?
No. Modern Agent’s $10,500 total includes the standard campaign and agency service. Settlement-agent fees, lender charges, preparation, moving, tax and other third-party costs are separate.
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