What will selling your house actually cost?
Commission is the biggest single cost of selling — and it is negotiable, not standard. Put in your own numbers and see what the rate you accept is worth in dollars.
The worked example: on a $440,600 sale (the national median existing-home price — National Association of Realtors, June 2026) at a 5.7% total commission (the average in Clever Real Estate survey of 533 agents, February 2026), the commission is about $25,114. Every single percentage point on that sale is worth about $4,406 — which is why letting several agents quote against each other beats accepting the first rate offered.
Illustrative arithmetic on the numbers you typed. There is no standard commission — rates are negotiable by law, and the surest way to find your market’s real rate is to have several agents quote against each other for your listing.
Common questions about commission
How much money can a home seller save when agents compete? — Listing commission is negotiable, so savings depend on the proposals you receive.
Is real estate agent commission negotiable? — Yes.
Is 6% still the standard real estate commission? — No — 6% is not a standard, and treating it as one is expensive.