There is no single fixed cost to sell a Gold Coast property. Your total comes from the commission you agree to, the marketing you approve, legal and disclosure work, property preparation, lender costs, moving costs and any tax that applies to your circumstances.
The useful number is not just the selling bill. It is the cash you expect to have left after settlement.
Work out two numbers, not one
Start with the total cost of the sale. Then work out the likely amount left after the loan and selling costs are paid.
Estimated sale price − mortgage payout − selling costs = estimated cash left after settlement.
Keep each line separate. That stops a low commission quote from hiding a large marketing bill, and it stops a sale price estimate from feeling like money you will actually keep.
1. Put the commission in writing
Queensland does not set a cap on an agent's commission. The amount is negotiable. The Queensland Office of Fair Trading says the commission must include GST and be set in writing when the agent is appointed.
Use the exact wording in the appointment form. If the commission is a percentage, the basic check is:
Sale price × agreed GST-inclusive commission rate = commission.
If the proposal uses a fixed amount, tiers or a performance component, write out the complete formula. Ask when the fee becomes payable and what happens if the property does not sell. The appointment should also separate fees, advertising expenses and payment dates.
If you are comparing proposals, read the separate guide to real estate agent fees on the Gold Coast. Keep that comparison focused on the written fee and service. This page remains the complete selling-cost budget.
2. Itemise the marketing budget
Do not accept one unexplained marketing total. Ask for each item, its price, whether GST is included, when it is payable and whether it is still payable if the property does not sell.
- photography and floor plan;
- video, drone or twilight work if the property needs it;
- property-portal listing and any upgrade;
- signboard, brochures and print;
- paid digital advertising;
- copywriting or other campaign production.
More items do not automatically make a better campaign. Each cost should help the likely buyer see, understand or find the property. The guide to Gold Coast real estate photography costs explains how to separate the media quote from the larger distribution budget.
3. Allow for legal work and seller disclosure
Ask a Queensland solicitor or conveyancer for a written quote that suits the property. A straightforward house, a body-corporate property, a tenanted property and a sale with unusual title or building issues may require different work.
Queensland's mandatory seller disclosure scheme started on 1 August 2025. In most covered sales, the seller must give the buyer the disclosure statement and prescribed certificates before the buyer signs the contract. That can involve title documents, certificates and professional help, so ask what is included in the legal quote and what will be charged separately.
Start this early. Waiting until an offer arrives can turn a known task into a rushed one.
4. Quote compliance and preparation separately
Compliance work and presentation work are different.
For compliance, check what applies to the property before it is marketed or transferred. This may include current Queensland smoke-alarm requirements, pool documents where relevant, or work connected to notices and approvals. Get the property checked by the appropriate licensed professional. Do not guess the cost from another seller's invoice.
For preparation, begin with cleaning, maintenance and obvious unfinished jobs. Then quote larger work before approving it. A useful list may include:
- cleaning, gardening and rubbish removal;
- minor repairs and maintenance;
- painting or presentation work;
- styling, furniture hire or storage;
- specialist reports or trade work where the property needs them.
Use the before-listing guide to put these jobs in order. Do not assume every possible improvement belongs in the sale budget.
5. Include settlement, loan and moving costs
Ask your lender for a current payout figure and any discharge or administration fees. The loan balance shown in online banking may not be the final settlement payout.
Queensland Government guidance says sellers are responsible for council rates up to and including settlement day. Your legal representative will explain the settlement adjustments that apply to your contract. The official settlement-day guide explains the basic handover and payment process.
Also allow for the move itself: removalists, storage, temporary accommodation, cleaning after removal and the timing gap between properties if there is one.
6. Check whether tax advice belongs in your budget
A home that qualifies fully for the main-residence exemption is generally exempt from capital gains tax. The position can change when the property was rented, used to earn income, inherited, held in another entity, used for business or not treated as your main residence for the whole ownership period.
Read the Australian Taxation Office main-residence guidance, then ask an accountant about your facts before relying on the sale proceeds.
Build the budget before you appoint an agent
Put these lines on one page:
- conservative sale-price estimate;
- current mortgage payout;
- written GST-inclusive commission;
- itemised marketing;
- legal work and disclosure documents;
- compliance and agreed preparation;
- lender and settlement costs;
- moving and temporary accommodation;
- tax advice or tax, if applicable;
- a buffer for costs that are not yet quoted.
Replace every guess with a written amount. If a cost is uncertain, mark it as uncertain instead of quietly leaving it out.
Use the Seller Decision Workbook to plan the full cost before you commit.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the commission inclusive of GST?
- Is it fixed, percentage-based or tiered?
- Which marketing costs are required and which are optional?
- When is each amount payable?
- What remains payable if the property does not sell?
- What legal and disclosure documents are included in the quote?
- What payout figure has the lender provided?
- Which preparation jobs are necessary, and which are simply optional?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sell a house on the Gold Coast?
There is no reliable single amount for every property. Add the written commission, itemised marketing, legal and disclosure work, compliance, preparation, lender fees, moving costs and any tax that applies. Then subtract the full total and the mortgage payout from a conservative sale-price estimate.
Are real estate commissions fixed in Queensland?
No. Queensland does not set a commission cap. The amount is negotiable, must include GST and must be recorded in writing when the agent is appointed.
Do sellers pay marketing costs upfront?
Payment terms differ. Ask the agent to state each marketing expense, its due date and what happens if the property does not sell. Do not rely on a verbal summary.
Does selling a home trigger capital gains tax?
A property that qualifies fully for the main-residence exemption is generally exempt, but rental, business, ownership and occupancy history can change the result. Check your facts with an accountant.
How do I estimate what I will keep after settlement?
Start with a conservative sale-price estimate. Subtract the lender's payout figure and every quoted selling cost. Treat the result as an estimate until the contract, settlement adjustments and final invoices are known.
General property information only. It is not legal, tax, financial or accounting advice. Check the appointment, contract, disclosure duties, loan payout and tax position with the appropriately qualified professionals.