Selling your own house in WA is legal. It's also more work than most people expect, and less mysterious than agents make it sound.
Most of what an agent charges for is campaign work: photos, listings, enquiries, follow-up, negotiation. WA Consumer Protection confirms owners can sell their own property without appointing a selling agent. The legal transfer (title, lodgement, settlement) sits with a licensed settlement agent either way. That part doesn't change when you sell privately.
So the real question isn't can I do it? It's do I want to run the campaign myself? On a Perth median around $890,000, agent commission typically lands near $22,000. Running the campaign yourself costs $2,500 to $6,000. The gap is what you're paying for someone else to do the work, and whether that trade is worth it depends on what you're actually getting for it.
This guide covers what private selling really involves: the documents you need before serious offers arrive, how the WA contract works, what it costs, and where private sellers come unstuck.
What You Take On and What You Still Outsource
Most sellers assume the agent is managing something they could not replicate: the legal transfer, the paperwork, the compliance. That work actually belongs to a different professional. A licensed settlement agent handles title transfer, document lodgement, settlement adjustments, and coordination with lenders and the buyer's conveyancer. Most sellers should engage one whether or not they use a selling agent.
What a selling agent handles is the campaign: pricing, media, listing, buyer enquiries, follow-up, inspections, buyer qualification, negotiation, and contract coordination. When you sell privately, that campaign work becomes yours. The settlement side does not change.
Responsibility split
| You | Settlement agent |
|---|---|
| Set price and listing strategy | Title transfer |
| Organise media and presentation | Settlement adjustments |
| Manage enquiries, follow-up and inspections | Document lodgement |
| Negotiate price and conditions | Lender and conveyancer coordination |
| Review offer terms before signing the O&A | Settlement deadline management |
WA Consumer Protection recommends engaging a licensed settlement agent or lawyer, unless you are a suitably qualified lawyer yourself. Engage one before serious offers arrive, not after.
Documents You Need Before Serious Offers
Certificate of Title
Your Certificate of Title confirms ownership, encumbrances, and title type. You can order one through Landgate's Land Enquiry Services. Confirm your title type before going further: green title, strata, survey-strata, leasehold, or other. It determines what disclosure you are required to provide.
The O&A and Joint Form of General Conditions
The WA Contract for Sale of Land or Strata Title by Offer and Acceptance (the O&A) is the standard residential contract used across the state. The standard WA pathway pairs it with the Joint Form of General Conditions for the Sale of Land, which sets the default rules for settlement timing, finance conditions, and buyer rights.
Both documents are available through the REIWA Shop. Check current product inclusions before purchasing. Your settlement agent will work with these forms as a matter of course, but it is worth familiarising yourself with them before an offer arrives.
Strata precontractual disclosure
If you are selling a strata or survey-strata property, the Strata Titles Act 1985 requires you to provide prescribed precontractual information to the buyer before they sign. This is usually captured through the prescribed precontractual disclosure statement, commonly referred to as Form 804. Non-compliance can allow the buyer to delay settlement or avoid the contract. Get this right before the O&A is signed.
Rates, approvals and warranties
Prepare a buyer information pack: current council and water rates notices, building approvals for any additions, warranties for major items such as solar, hot water, air conditioning or recent renovations, and a clear list of inclusions and exclusions. Buyers expect this and it is standard in a professionally run sale.
Also check RCD, smoke alarm and pool barrier requirements early. These can become settlement blockers if left until the buyer is ready to proceed.
What the O&A Actually Controls
Once signed by both parties and acceptance is communicated, the O&A is a binding contract. It records the buyer, seller, and property; the purchase price and deposit; settlement date; finance condition; building and pest inspection conditions; chattels included and excluded; and any special conditions added by either party.
The risk for private sellers is not the form. It is what gets written into it. Vague special conditions create disputes. "Subject to satisfactory inspection" means different things to different people. So does "seller to fix electrical issues before settlement." Before you sign, make sure every condition is precise and both sides understand what it requires. For special conditions or anything unclear, ask your settlement agent what they can review within their scope. For legal interpretation or bespoke conditions, get independent legal advice before signing. The WA Consumer Protection O&A guidance explains each section.
The deposit
The deposit should not be paid into your personal bank account. In a no-agent sale, WA Consumer Protection says the deposit should be paid to the trust account of the buyer's nominated settlement agent or solicitor, not directly to the seller. Agree the deposit holder clearly in the O&A before signing.
What Private Selling Costs In Perth
Commission isn't a fee for selling your house. It's a fee for running the campaign, and the maths gets uncomfortable when you write it out. Commission is negotiable in WA and rates vary, but for comparison: a 2.5% commission on REIWA's recent Perth median of about $890,000 lands around $22,250 before marketing. Private selling typically runs $2,500–$6,000 all-in. That's a $15,000–$20,000 swing for taking the campaign on yourself. It isn't free money. You do the work. But it's the trade you're actually weighing.
Cost comparison
| Private-sale platform or listing pathway | $900–$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Professional photography and floor plan | $300–$500 |
| Signboard | $150–$350 |
| Settlement agent | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Typical total outlay | $2,500–$6,000 |
Before You Go Live: A Short Checklist
- Confirm your title type: green title, strata, survey-strata, or other.
- Order a Certificate of Title through Landgate.
- Engage a settlement agent or lawyer before serious offers arrive.
- Obtain the O&A form and Joint Form of General Conditions.
- If strata, prepare the precontractual disclosure statement (Form 804).
- Compile rates notices, relevant approvals and warranties.
- Confirm a trust account pathway for the buyer deposit.
- Apply for your ATO Clearance Certificate early. If there is more than one seller on title, each seller should check whether they need their own certificate. Without a valid certificate, the buyer may be required to withhold 15% of the sale price and remit it to the ATO.
- Check RCDs, smoke alarms and pool barrier compliance.
- Organise professional photography and floor plan.
- Choose your listing pathway and confirm what is included.
FAQ
Can I sell my house privately in WA?
Yes. You can sell your own home in Western Australia without appointing a selling agent. You still need to manage the campaign and ensure the contract, disclosure, deposit and settlement process are handled properly.
Can I list directly on realestate.com.au without an agent?
Private sellers cannot upload directly the way an agency does. You need a licensed listing pathway: a private-sale platform or an agency-supported option. Check what each provider includes before paying, as REA tier, listing duration and account management vary.
Do I need a settlement agent to sell privately in WA?
WA Consumer Protection recommends that unless you are a suitably qualified lawyer, you should use a licensed settlement agent or lawyer. Most private sellers should treat this as a necessary cost, not an optional one.
Does WA have a cooling-off period for property sales?
No. WA does not have a general mandatory cooling-off period for residential property contracts. If a buyer wants an exit right for finance, inspection, or any other reason, it must be written into the contract as a condition.
What is the Offer and Acceptance?
The Offer and Acceptance, or O&A, is the standard WA contract form used for most residential property sales. It is used alongside the current Joint Form of General Conditions for the Sale of Land, which sets default rules for settlement, finance conditions, and buyer rights.
What does a private seller need to disclose?
WA does not have one general vendor disclosure statement for every residential sale, but sellers must not mislead buyers under Australian Consumer Law. Strata and survey-strata properties have specific precontractual disclosure requirements under the Strata Titles Act 1985.
How much does selling privately cost?
Budget roughly $2,500–$6,000 for listing access, professional media, signboard, and settlement agent. It can be lower or higher depending on provider choices and property complexity.
Want Control Without Being Completely On Your Own?
KeyHive Guided is built for sellers who want to run their own sale, but still want a named Perth agent available when it matters: price strategy, offer conditions, negotiation pressure and strata disclosure. You stay in control. The backup is there when you need it.
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