Real estate commission is one of the biggest costs of selling — and the big brands don’t make it easy to compare. Here’s a plain-English look at what the major agencies typically charge to sell a house in New Zealand, and how it stacks up against selling with Megan Hetges: a flat 2% + GST, $0 upfront, No Sale No Fee.
How big-agency commission usually works
Most large agencies use a tiered commission — a higher percentage on the first chunk of the sale price, then a lower percentage on the balance — plus an admin fee and, on top of that, a marketing bill of around $2,500 that’s usually payable up front, whether or not your home sells. Typical published structures look roughly like this (plus GST):
- Ray White — around 4% on the first $300,000, then ~2% on the balance, + admin.
- Barfoot & Thompson — around 3.95% on the first $300,000, then ~2% on the balance.
- Harcourts — around 3.95% on the first $400,000, then ~2% on the balance, + admin.
- Bayleys — around 3.95% on the first $500,000, then ~2% on the balance, + admin.
What that looks like on a $1,000,000 sale
Here’s the all-in cost on a $1M sale — each big brand’s commission plus a typical ~$2,500 upfront marketing campaign, compared with Megan’s flat fee:
| Agency | Approx. total* | You’d save with Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Megan Hetges (Arizto) | $24,947 · $0 upfront | — |
| Barfoot & Thompson | $32,227 | ~$7,281 |
| Ray White | $32,975 | ~$8,028 |
| Harcourts | $35,045 | ~$10,098 |
| Bayleys | $37,288 | ~$12,341 |
On a typical sale that’s roughly $7,000–$12,000 more with a big brand — and up to ~$2,500 of theirs is due before your home even sells. Try the free comparison calculator to see the difference at your own price and pick the brand to compare against.
The Megan Hetges alternative
One flat, competitive fee: 2% + GST commission, a $650 + GST admin fee, and premium Platinum marketing included — all payable only when your home sells. No tiered percentages, no upfront marketing bill, and No Sale, No Fee: if your home doesn’t sell, there’s nothing to pay. You still get the full campaign — pro photography, drone video and premium listings on Trade Me, OneRoof, realestate.co.nz, Homes.co.nz and Hougarden.
Want to see what you’d save? Compare the big brands to Megan at your own price, or book a free, no-obligation appraisal.
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*Competitor figures are indicative estimates based on typical published commission structures plus a ~$2,500 upfront marketing campaign; commissions are negotiable and vary by agent, agency, region and property — check with each agency for their current fees. Megan’s figure is all-in (2% + GST commission, $650 + GST admin, marketing included), $0 upfront, No Sale No Fee. Optional extras quoted separately. T&Cs apply.