#1 – Barfoot & Thompson

Barfoot & Thompson is the only company I found who publish their commission rates online. 

They also stand out in that they don’t have an admin fee. 

Here’s how they charge when you sell your house:

• 3.95% on the first $300,000 (or $400,000 for rural properties)
• 2% on any amount above that

All + GST.

But, keep in mind their minimum commission fee is $11,000 (+GST)

And yes, that’s a clunky and confusing way to charge you money.

Here’s a case study to show how it works. 

Jennifer and Matt are selling their home for $800,000 and are considering using Barfoot & Thompson. They crunch the numbers:

For the first $300,000, they’ll pay 3.95%, which comes to $11,850. On the remaining $500,000, they’ll pay 2%, adding up to $10,000. 

That brings their total commission to $21,850. But when you add in GST, they pay $25,127.50.

A solid deal — but they’re wondering, could they do better elsewhere? Let’s take a look.

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• TradeMe vs Opes Partners - what’s the best way to invest in property for me?
• The Truth About Taking Property Investment Advice from Real Estate Agents: An Unbiased Review

#2 – Harcourts

Harcourts has a similar structure to Barfoot & Thompson, but they have slightly different rates. They also charge an admin fee.

Here’s what you’ll pay if you sell through Harcourts:

• 3.95% on the first $400,000
• 2% on the remaining amount
• $550 admin fee

Again, all + GST.

So, let’s say our couple are now considering Harcourts. 

If they sell their home for $800,000 again, they’ll pay 3.95% on the first $400,000, which equals $15,800.

For the remaining $400,000, they’ll pay 2%, adding $8,000. After tacking on the $550 admin fee, and GST, they owe $28,002.50.

Harcourts is about $2,875 more expensive than Barfoot & Thompson. Is the extra cost worth it? That’s up to you to decide.

#3 – Ray White

Ray White Auckland follows a similar pricing model to Harcourts, with one key difference: a $750 admin fee instead of $500.

So, they calculate their commission by:

• First $500k commission charged at $3.95%
• Remaining amount $2.5%
• $750 admin fee

If they go with Ray White, our couple will pay $19,750 on the first $500,000 and $7,500 on the remaining amount. 

Add the $750 admin fee (and GST) and their total cost rises to $32,200.

Now that’s only $287.50 more than Harcourts, but it's $7,072.50 more than Barfoot & Thompson.

#4 – Bayleys

Bayleys has slightly higher commission rates, again. Here’s what they charge:

• 4% on the first $500,000
• 2.5% on the remainder
• $600 admin fee

Again, all + GST.

If Jennifer and Matt choose Bayleys, they would owe $32,215 – only $15 more than Ray White. 

#5 – LJ Hooker

LJ Hooker’s commission breakdown is:

• 3.95% on the first $400,000
• 2% on the remaining amount
• Admin fee of approximately $500

But based on these estimates, the couple’s total cost would likely sit between Harcourts and Barfoot & Thompson. 

Our couple would pay LJ Hooker $27,945 to sell their house for $800,000.

Which real estate agent should you pick?

Jennifer and Matt’s research shows Barfoot & Thompson has the lowest fees, but does that mean it’s the best option? Not necessarily. 

Would an agent from a higher-cost firm get them a better deal? Maybe. 

This information can be a starting point when comparing agents and costs. Just keep in mind it’s not just about finding the cheapest agent: it’s also about who will make you the most money.