Compare Estate Agent Fees in Ireland

Irish estate agents almost always charge a percentage of the final sale price rather than a flat fee. That structure matters: it means the agent only gets paid when you get paid, and it means their fee rises with your price — which is the main argument in favour of it.

It also means the percentage you agree at the start is the single largest cost of selling, and the one you have most control over.

Dublin sits at the lower end for a simple reason: agents there transact more and compete harder, so they can accept a thinner margin. In counties where a property might sit on the market for months, agents price for that risk.

We have broken the numbers down street by street for the three largest markets: estate agent fees in Dublin, fees in Cork and fees in Limerick.

Two agents quoting 1.5% are not necessarily quoting the same thing. The commission normally covers the core selling service, but the marketing extras are where quotes quietly diverge, and where €500 to €1,000 can appear that you had not budgeted for.

The question worth asking every agent, in these words: “What will I be invoiced for that is not covered by the commission?” The answer separates a 1.5% quote that is genuinely 1.5% from one that is 1.5% plus extras.

Estate agent commission in Ireland is not a fixed tariff. It is a quote, and quotes move when they know they are competing. Here is what works.

Get three quotes and say so. This is the whole game. An agent who knows they are one of three will quote differently from one who thinks they are the only call you made. You do not need to be aggressive about it — simply saying you are speaking to a few agents is enough.

Negotiate on the percentage, not the pound. A quarter-point looks trivial and is not: 0.25% on a €400,000 sale is €1,000 before VAT.

Use the property value as leverage. On higher-value homes, 1% already produces a substantial fee. Agents know this and will often come down without much resistance.

Shorten the sole agency period. Twelve weeks is commonly offered; eight is usually accepted. A shorter exclusive period costs the agent nothing if they perform, and gives you the option to move if they do not.

Ask them to include the extras. If an agent will not move on the percentage, they will often fold in floor plans, a virtual tour or premium placement, which is a real saving in a different form.

Do not pick on fee alone. An agent charging 1.75% who achieves €10,000 more on the sale price has more than paid for the difference. Look at recent comparable sales in your area, not just the quote.

Sole agency gives one agent exclusive rights to sell for an agreed period, at a lower commission rate. Multi agency puts several agents in competition with only the one who sells getting paid, at a higher rate — often 2.5% to 3%.

Most Irish sellers use sole agency with a defined end date, and for most properties that is the right call: you get the lower rate, and a single agent has a genuine incentive to invest in marketing your home properly. Multi agency makes more sense for unusual or hard-to-value properties where reaching different buyer pools matters more than the rate.

The detail that catches people out is the sole selling rights clause, which can oblige you to pay commission even if you find the buyer yourself. Read that clause specifically.

Every estate agent in Ireland must hold a licence from the Property Services Regulatory Authority. Ask for the number and check it on the PSRA public register. It takes a minute, it is a perfectly normal question, and any legitimate agent will give it to you without hesitation.

The PSRA also operates a complaints procedure and a compensation fund, neither of which covers you if you deal with someone unlicensed.

1. What is your fee, and does that percentage include VAT?
2. What will I be invoiced for that the commission does not cover?
3. What is the sole agency period, and what happens at the end of it?
4. What do I pay if the property does not sell, or the sale falls through?
5. What have you sold in this area in the last six months, and at what price against asking?
6. What is your average time from listing to sale agreed?
7. What is your PSRA licence number?

Ask all seven of all three agents. The answers will separate them far more clearly than the headline percentage does.