5 Save Thousands on Irish Property Commissions

If you want to save thousands on Irish property commissions, you have come to the right place. Selling your home or renting out a property in Ireland can feel like handing over a small fortune to an estate agent. I have been there myself. A few years ago I listed a three‑bed semi in Dublin and watched 2.5% of the sale price vanish before I even had time to blink. Fair enough, the agent did a bit of legwork, but to be honest I remember thinking there had to be a smarter way. Right so, here is how you can keep more of your hard‑earned cash where it belongs – in your pocket.

Why Traditional Estate Agent Fees Eat Your Profit

The standard commission for selling a property in Ireland usually lands somewhere between 1.5% and 3.5% plus VAT. On a house worth €350,000, that can be €10,500 or more. The CSO reported that the average residential property price nationally passed €320,000 recently, so you could be looking at a hefty chunk. “But sure, you get the marketing and the viewings,” you might say. And you do. But do you really need the full‑service package when you are perfectly capable of showing someone around your own gaff? That is where the opportunity to save thousands on Irish property commissions really starts.

Option One: The Fixed‑Fee Platform (Like Findivo)

Using a fixed‑fee service such as Findivo means you pay a flat amount rather than a percentage. No sliding scale that rewards the agent more the higher your sale price. Grand, isn’t it? You list your property, write your own description, take decent photos (or hire a local photographer for a couple of hundred euro), and handle the viewings yourself. The platform does the heavy lifting when it comes to exposure. According to the RTB, private sellers are perfectly within their rights to market a property without a traditional agent. You just need to follow the rules around letting and selling, but that is nothing a bit of reading won’t sort.

What You Get With a Fixed‑Fee Model

• Your property appears on Findivo.ie and major portals like Daft and MyHome (through the platform’s syndication).
• You control the asking price and the timing of viewings.
• You keep the commission you would have paid – often a five‑figure sum.

I remember a neighbour of mine, a lad called Seamus, sold his two‑bed apartment in Cork through a similar model. He paid a flat €1,500 fee, did three open viewings on a Saturday, and had an offer by Sunday evening. He said “fair enough, I had to negotiate a bit myself, but it was grand.” He walked away with an extra €9,000 that would have gone straight to an agent. To be honest, I wished I had known about this option earlier.

Option Two: Sell Privately and Use a Solicitor

If you are handy with a smartphone and comfortable talking to strangers, you can sell entirely on your own. Place an ad on Findivo.ie, agree a price, and hand everything over to your solicitor for conveyancing. You skip the middleman entirely. The CSO data shows that private sales still account for a small slice of the market, but that slice is growing as more people realise they can save thousands on Irish property commissions by cutting out the agent.

A Few Things to Watch Out For

• You need to be available for viewings at short notice. That can be a pain if you work full time.
• Negotiating the final price can feel awkward. Remember: it is business, not a curry night with the neighbours.
• You will still need a solicitor for contracts and closing. Budget around €1,500 to €2,500 for legal fees.

Practical Tip: Before you list your property privately, ask a local estate agent to give you a free valuation. Tell them you are “considering selling” and get their opinion. Then use that figure as a baseline. It costs nothing and gives you a solid starting point. Just don’t sign any sole‑agency agreement!

Option Three: Negotiate a Lower Commission (Yes, You Can)

Look, not everybody wants to be a DIY seller. If you prefer to have an agent do the running around, you can still save thousands on Irish property commissions simply by negotiating. Agents expect a bit of haggling. Offer them 1.5% instead of 2.5% and see what they say. If they push back, remind them that you have seen fixed‑fee options online and you are comfortable listing with a platform like Findivo. That usually gets their attention. I did this with an agent in Galway once; he came down to 1.75% and included extra photography. Not a bad deal.

The Rental Side of Things: Avoid Letting Agents Too

Most people think about commissions when selling, but letting agents can be just as costly. They typically charge 8% to 12% of the monthly rent plus setup fees. That adds up fast. If you are renting out a property, consider listing it yourself on Findivo’s rental section instead. You handle the viewings, the reference checks (you can use an online service for that), and the lease agreement. The RTB has a standard tenancy agreement template you can download for free. Fair enough, it takes a bit of time, but you could save over €1,000 a year on management fees.

What About Cars and Other Assets?

Findivo also covers cars and other classifieds. If you are selling a vehicle, the same principle applies: skip the dealer and sell directly. The platform charges a tiny listing fee compared to the thousands a dealership would take. You can check out the cars section and see for yourself. Look, we all love a bargain, and keeping your money is the best bargain of all.

Three Final Thoughts on Saving That Commission

Anyway, the takeaway is simple. Whether you are selling your home, renting out a flat, or even moving on a car, the option to sidestep hefty commissions is real. The save thousands on Irish property commissions strategy works best when you do a bit of homework upfront. Take decent photos, write an honest description, price realistically, and be available for viewings. The platforms have made it easier than ever, and with the CSO data showing continued price growth, every euro you keep matters.

Right so, my advice? Start by browsing Findivo.ie and see what other private sellers are doing. You will spot the listings that look professional and those that look like they were taken at a house party. Be the professional one. Your bank account will thank you. And to be honest, the sense of satisfaction when you close the sale without handing over thousands to a middleman? That is priceless.