Using a real estate agent is important when it comes to buying or selling a home. There are lots of variables to consider, especially in a fast-paced market like Metro Vancouver.

And as a knowledgeable buyer or seller, it’s important to understand who pays the real estate agent fees. As you’ll want to be prepared to have that budgeted into your finances, should the deal go through.

By the end of this article, you’ll understand who may pay the real estate agent fees, the range for our local areas, potential for negotiations and more.

Walk away with the knowledge to apply this to your own specific deal and scenario.

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Who pays commission to the real estate agent?

Short answer: It’s typical in a real estate transaction for only the seller to pay the commission, for selling their property.

However, the seller does not pay that commission directly to the agent.

Real estate agents in British Columbia work for a Real Estate Agency, which is responsible for receiving and handling the commission payments for agents that work for that specific office.

The Agency or Broker may take a slice of the commission from each deal, then the real estate agents get paid their portion for the work they do.

Do real estate agents split commissions?

There are usually one or two real estate agents involved in a deal.

The listing agent, which is representing the sellers.

Then there is usually a buyer’s agent who is helping a potential home buyer navigate the purchase of a property. They bring people who want to buy homes to view the listing, who may often purchase the property.

Once the deal is complete, the commission is usually split between both the Listing agent and the buyer’s agent. As that makes the deal fair for the buyer’s agent, as they spend finding a buyer that is interested in purchasing the property.

In British Columbia, specifically, this is split 55/45. With 55% of the commission going to the Listing agent and 45% going to the buyer’s agent.

However, in an instance where the Listing agent finds a buyer without the help of another agent bringing a buyer to them, the listing agent would receive all the commissions for that transaction.

Recommended Reading: [Guide] Contract of Purchase and Sale For New Home Buyers & Sellers

How much are real estate agent fees in Metro Vancouver?

Common percentage basis commission structure

While commissions for homes can vary by province and local market, for Metro Vancouver, the typical commission structure is as follows:

For the first $100,000, it’s common to see a 3% to 8% commission charged by the agent when selling a home, and an approximate 1% to 4% on the remaining amount.

However, there is no standard commission structure. Real estate agents are free to charge what they like for their services.

Here are a couple of examples related to the Metro Vancouver housing market.

There is a Condo in Richmond that you own. Your agent has listed it for $875,000

The agent is charging 5.5% on the first $100,000; and 3.25% on any amount there after.

= 100,000 x 5.5% = $5,500

Plus, the remaining amount is calculated at the lower rate…

= 775,000 x 3.25% = $25,187.50

Total commission charges equal to: $30,687.50.

This is the number that you’d be responsible for paying in commissions for this particular real estate transaction example.

Flat-Fee Structure

The flat-fee commission structure is not a very common way to pay a real estate agent in BC, but it is an option.

In this type of situation, the seller will pay a flat fee, anywhere from $100 to several thousand dollars for some real estate listing services. Advice and services offered are typically limited in scope and may offer limited representation during the transaction.

Are agent fees negotiable?

Yes, real estate agent fees are negotiable between the seller and the listing agent. Certain real estate agents may negotiate differently depending on their experience and how they can help you.

Are real estate agents fees worth it?

If you reviewed the example commission structure, you might be thinking, wow, is this worth it? While that can seem like a lot of money, here are some awesome things that a great real estate agent will do for you to help you in the selling process.

Selling a home can take several weeks if not months of effort, depending on the market. There are many tasks, such as listing the property, staging the home, coordinating potential buyers from their network and facilitating open houses and individual showings.

Other tasks include, making sure the entire deal is in compliance with local and provincial laws, negotiating on behalf of the seller and finalising documents for a smooth closing.

As you can see, there is significant background work that goes into selling a home in Metro Vancouver. It will be worth your time to have a trusted agent on your side, especially if you have other things like family and work to take care of.

Working with a fair real estate agent

Choosing to work with a real estate agent can be one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to buying or selling a property.

Agent’s expertise is used extensively to help you navigate through the ever changing real estate market.

When you work with a fair real estate agent, they’ll make sure to charge you a fair commission for the effort required to sell your home for what you’re looking for.