What does it cost to sell a house in New Zealand?
Updated 12 Oct 2026 · 5 minute read
The price you agree with a buyer is not what lands in your bank account. Here is every cost between the two, which ones you pay however you sell, and which ones you can avoid.
Costs you pay however you sell
- Legal fees. Your lawyer or conveyancer handles the agreement, the title transfer and settlement. Ask for a fixed quote at the start.
- Paying off your mortgage. Your bank is repaid on settlement day. If you're on a fixed rate, ask your bank now whether there's a break fee.
- Getting the house ready. Cleaning, gardening, small repairs and a rubbish run. Staging furniture is optional.
- Rates and insurance. You keep paying both until settlement day, when the rates are shared out between you and the buyer.
- Moving. Movers, storage and cleaning the house on the way out.
Costs when you sell through an agent
- Commission. A percentage of the sale price, plus GST. On most houses this is tens of thousands of dollars.
- Marketing. Photos, online listings, signs and print advertising, usually paid up front and usually payable even if the house doesn't sell.
Our guide to real estate agent commission shows what the commission comes to at different sale prices.
Costs when you sell privately
- Listing fees. Property websites charge private sellers a fee for each listing. You pay them directly.
- Photography. Optional, but professional photos are usually worth it.
- A For Sale sign, from a local sign maker.
- A platform fee, if you use one. Praedium is $2,000 + GST per house in total: $1,500 + GST to set up, and $500 + GST when your sale goes conditional.
There is no commission. What you'd have paid an agent stays with you.
Optional costs that can help the sale
- A registered valuation, to support your price. See how to price your house.
- A LIM report from the council, or a building report. Some sellers get these in advance so buyers can make cleaner offers with fewer conditions.
A word on tax
Most people selling the home they live in don't pay tax on the sale, but the rules depend on your situation, especially if you've owned the property for only a short time or it wasn't your main home. Ask an accountant before you list.
Work out your own figure
Start with the price you expect. Take off your mortgage, your legal fees, and your selling costs. What's left is what you walk away with. Do it once with an agent's commission and once without, and you'll see the difference for your own house.
How Praedium helps
Praedium's fee is flat: $2,000 + GST per house in total, however much your house sells for. $1,500 + GST is paid when you set up your house, and $500 + GST once, when your sale goes conditional. Listing fees, photography and legal fees are paid directly to those providers, never through Praedium.
Common questions
Who pays the legal fees when a house is sold?
Each side pays their own. You pay your lawyer or conveyancer, and the buyer pays theirs.
Are there costs if my house doesn't sell?
With an agent, marketing costs are usually still payable. With Praedium, you've paid the setup fee, and the second payment is only due if your sale goes conditional or the sale is taken off Praedium after offers have come in.
Is commission the biggest cost of selling?
For most sellers who use an agent, yes. It's usually several times larger than the legal fees and marketing put together.
This guide is general information for New Zealand home sellers, not legal, financial or tax advice. Praedium is not a real estate agent. Every sale is different, so talk to your own lawyer or conveyancer before you sign anything.