Real estate agency fee on a sale — how much it is and what it covers

Karolina Borowska-Dębosz · 21 August 2026

The question about the fee usually comes up at the start of the first conversation, and rightly so, because it is a real part of the cost of selling. Below we explain how a real estate agency's fee is set, what it depends on and exactly what it covers.

How the fee is set

The agency fee is most often an agreed percentage of the sale price, payable once the transaction is completed at the notary. That means if the property is not sold, the seller does not pay for the agency's work. Less often a fixed fee is used, usually for properties of an unusual value.

The level of the fee depends on the scope of the cooperation, the type of property and whether the contract is exclusive. With an exclusive contract the rates tend to be more favourable, because the agency can be sure that the cost of preparing and promoting the offer will not be wasted.

What an agency charges to sell an apartment in practice

This is the question clients ask most often, in exactly this form. The answer is: the fee is agreed individually and written into the agency contract before the cooperation starts. There is no room for ambiguity — we present the terms of settlement at the first meeting, before the property goes on the market.

What the agency fee covers

The fee is not a charge for posting a listing. It covers a property valuation based on transaction prices, preparing the offer with photos and a description, publication on listing portals, handling enquiries and viewings, checking the legal status of the property, gathering documents for the notarial deed, negotiations with the buyer and being present when the contract is signed.

The greatest value, though, is often something that does not appear on the list: a properly set asking price. A property listed too high loses interest in the first weeks and in the end sells for less than if it had had a market price from the start.

Who pays the fee — the seller or the buyer

It depends on the rules adopted by the agency and on the wording of the contract. In some transactions only the seller pays the fee, in others each side settles separately for the services carried out for them. What matters is that the rules are clearly written into the agency contract before the cooperation starts.

What to look for in a contract with an agency

It is worth checking three things: the amount of the fee and when it is payable, how long the contract runs together with the rules for ending it, and the scope of the agency's duties. A sound contract says plainly when the agency is entitled to the fee and what it has to do to receive it.

Summary

A real estate agency fee is usually a percentage of the sale price, payable after the transaction is completed, covering the whole process — from the valuation to the notarial deed. It is worth discussing the amount at the first meeting and having it written into the contract.

If you are planning to sell a property in Niepołomice, Wieliczka, Bochnia or the surrounding area — call us. We will value the property free of charge and present the terms of cooperation before any documents are signed.

Contact the nearest office: office in Niepołomice · office in Wieliczka · office in Bochnia