How AgentLink collects and verifies commission and marketing rates

Who provides the data

Rates come only from agents AgentLink has invited, and invitations go only to top-selling agents in each suburb.

• How we choose agents: we identify top sellers by their sales volume over the previous six months, using publicly available sales data.
• Invitation only: agents cannot sign up or submit rates without an invitation, so the data cannot be filled by anyone who chooses to take part.
• Suburb assignment: each agent is linked to the suburb where they were identified as a top seller.

Because the data comes from top-selling agents, it reflects what the most active agents in each suburb charge, not every agent in the market.

How agents submit their rates

Agents submit their rates through the AgentLink agent portal. Marketing covers portal listings and preparing the property for sale, such as photography, but not work done on the property itself. For a full breakdown of what commission does and doesn't cover, see Real estate agent fees explained.

• For each of 12 price bands, from under $500,000 to over $10 million, the agent selects the commission range they typically charge.
• For the same price bands, they select their typical total marketing cost.
• Agents can update their rates at any time, at no cost. Changes flow through to our figures.

Rates are recorded as agents quote them to sellers, which in Australia is usually inclusive of GST. Marketing covers portal listings and preparing the property for sale, such as photography, but not work done on the property itself.

How AgentLink earns referral fees

AgentLink is paid by agents, not homeowners, and only when a sale happens. We set this out in full because it explains where our data comes from.

1. Homeowners thinking of selling come to AgentLink.
2. We refer them to top-selling agents in their suburb. Agents receive referrals at no upfront cost.
3. To join and receive referrals, agents must provide their commission and marketing rates for every price band.
4. If an agent sells a property we referred, the agent pays AgentLink a referral fee of 20% of their commission, including GST. Our fee is capped at 20% including GST, lower than the 20% to 30% plus GST variable referral fee published by at least one other agent comparison service.^{^}
5. After settlement, once we have received our referral fee, we pay part of it back to the homeowner as a commission rebate. The rebate comes out of our fee, not the agent's, and terms and conditions apply.

Because our fee is a share of the agent's commission, and commission is calculated on the final sale price, we earn more when your home sells for more. That gives us a reason to refer the agent most likely to get you the best price.

Most agents who receive a referral do not go on to sell that property, and their rates are still included. Whether an agent pays AgentLink a fee has no effect on whether their rates are included in our data.

Free and paid agents.Free agents are referred based on their sales rankings, and that doesn't change even where we agree to waive our fee for an agent. Agents can also take a paid subscription, which gives them exclusive referrals in their area: the homeowner's referral goes only to that agent, rather than to several agents. The 20% referral fee still applies to paid subscribers.

How we verify the data

• Top-seller check: before we invite an agent, we check their sales volume over the last six months against publicly available sales data.
• Invitation-only access: only invited agents can submit rates, which stops anyone outside the program adding figures.
• Agency agreement review: when an agent lists a property we referred, we review the signed agency agreement before we invoice our referral fee. This lets us see the commission agreed on that listing.

How we calculate the published figures

• Commission ranges:agents select from a fixed set of ranges for each price band, so every agent's data is recorded the same way. For each band, the published low end is the median of all reporting agents' lows, and the high end is the median of all their highs.
• Suburb figures:the median across every invited agent reporting in that suburb. We show figures once at least one agent in the suburb has reported. Where only one agent has reported, the figure reflects that agent's reported range.
• State and territory figures: the median across every reporting agent in that state or territory, covering both city and regional agents.
• National figures: the average of the eight state and territory figures for each price band. The Australian Commission Guide also shows the lowest and highest state figures in each band.
• Marketing costs:calculated the same way as commission, using the medians of agents' reported marketing ranges.
• Dollar estimates: we convert commission percentages into dollars using median sale prices from public property data. The national and state guides use median dwelling values from Cotality.
• Low samples: where a state or territory has fewer than 50 reporting agents, the page says so.

We never name the agents behind a figure. Agents share their pricing on that basis, and AgentLink publishes only suburb, state and national figures.

How often figures are updated

Our underlying data changes daily as new agents join and existing agents update their rates. Published guide pages are refreshed every three months, and each page shows the date its figures apply from.

Missing data and outliers

• No gaps in an agent's data: agents must provide commission and marketing rates for all 12 price bands before they can join, so every reporting agent has a complete set of figures.
• No estimates for missing areas:if a suburb has no reporting agents, we don't publish figures for it. We don't estimate or fill in missing data.
• Outliers:we don't currently exclude unusual figures. Because we use medians, a single very high or low rate has limited effect where several agents report, but it can shape the figure in suburbs with only one or two agents.

Limitations

• Agent-reported: figures are what agents say they typically charge. The rate on any individual sale may differ.
• Top sellers only: the data reflects top-selling agents, who may charge differently from other agents in the same area.
• Ranges, not quotes: agents select from set ranges for each price band, so figures show typical ranges rather than exact rates.
• Sample size varies: suburbs and states with fewer reporting agents are less reliable, and figures may change as more agents join.
• GST: figures are recorded as agents quote them, which is usually, but not always, inclusive of GST.

These figures are a general guide, not a quote. Your costs will depend on your property, your suburb and the agent you choose.

Who writes and reviews this research

AgentLink's guides are written by Howie Hill and Callum Docker, who have both worked on both sides of the agency agreement.

• Howie Hill spent 5 years as a real estate agent and was involved in more than 200 property transactions. He now works as a vendor advocate, acting for homeowners to help them choose and appoint the right agent.
• Callum Docker spent 4 years as a real estate agent and was involved in more than 200 property transactions. He also works as a vendor advocate on behalf of homeowners.

Review process: every guide and every set of published figures is reviewed by the other author before it goes live. When Howie writes a guide, Callum reviews it, and the reverse.

Questions or corrections

If you think a figure is wrong, or you have a question about our data, email info@agentlink.au.

Disclaimer

When a property referred through AgentLink is sold, the successful real estate agent pays AgentLink a referral fee of 20% of their commission, including GST. This allows us to offer our service to homeowners at no cost. Homeowners may be eligible for a commission rebate, paid by AgentLink after settlement. Terms and conditions apply.

^ Comparison based on OpenAgent's published disclaimer, which states: "When a property is sold, the successful real estate agent pays OpenAgent an 20-30% variable referral fee (plus GST)." Viewed at openagent.com.au on 30 September 2026.

The commission and marketing figures on AgentLink are a general guide only, based on rates reported by participating agents. They are not a quote, and they are not financial or legal advice.