Understanding the Costs of Selling a Property in Australia

Selling a property in Australia involves multiple costs, not just sales commission or legal work. And for Queensland sellers in 2025, compliance and disclosure requirements now directly influence total selling expenses. Understanding where these costs come from helps sellers budget accurately and avoid last-minute surprises.

Today, digital platforms like SearchX are transforming this part of the process so sellers can reduce cost, reduce risk, and maintain confidence throughout the sale journey.

Key Costs When Selling a Property

Below are the most common selling expenses:

Real estate commission

Agent commission generally ranges between 1.8% to 2.8% depending on location, sale strategy and agency.

Marketing expenses

Photography, video, signboards, floorplans, aerial content, and premium listing placement can cost approximately $1,800 to $6,000+.

Conveyancing / legal fees

In Queensland, fixed fee conveyancing is common and generally sits between $800 and $2,000.

Seller Disclosure Costs (QLD Form 2)

From 1 August 2025, sellers must supply a compliant Form 2 disclosure pack before the buyer signs the contract. This pack must include specific prescribed searches and certificates. Ordered manually through multiple agencies, these searches can cost anywhere from $700 to $1,800.

SearchX simplifies this significantly by packaging all required searches in one place, preventing duplicate ordering and inaccurate search selection, reducing wasted spend.

Mortgage discharge fees

Banks typically charge between $200 and $600 to discharge a mortgage.

Capital Gains Tax (investment properties only)

If the property is not your primary residence, CGT may apply. This is assessed federally and based on the gain made.

Other Adjustments

Body corporate levy adjustments, council rates or water usage adjustments may apply depending on settlement date.

Breakdown Example

How Disclosure Impacts Costs in Queensland

Under the Property Law Act 2023, Form 2 must be accurate and complete. If you provide missing attachments, outdated searches or incorrect data, the buyer can terminate anytime before settlement.

This is where the cost can escalate, not just in dollars, but in lost time and lost buyers.

Using SearchX allows sellers and agents to:

• Avoid duplicate search ordering

• Prevent incorrect search selection

• Reduce total search spend

• Deliver compliant disclosure packs faster

The ability to centralise disclosure preparation means fewer reworks, lower professional fees and reduced settlement risk.

Tips to Reduce Selling Costs

• Negotiate agent commission early

• Stick to marketing that matches your property tier and suburb

• Use fixed-fee conveyancing

• Prepare disclosure early

• Use SearchX for compliant Form 2 searches and packaging

Hidden Costs to Watch For

• Building or pest issues raised during inspection

• Delayed settlement leading to extended holding costs

• Body corporate special levies

• Disclosure errors leading to contract collapse

Case Example

A seller in Brisbane manually sourced searches for Form 2 from four separate authorities. One certificate expired by the time they issued the disclosure pack, and the buyer terminated. 

When the seller relisted, they used SearchX. The disclosure pack was automated, corrected and issued within 48 hours.

Conclusion

Selling property involves more than just sales expenses. Under QLD’s new disclosure regime, the accuracy of Form 2 also influences how expensive the process becomes. SearchX helps sellers remain compliant, avoid wasted spend, eliminate rework, and protect their sale outcome with certainty.