Save a few thousand euros or miss out on thousands?

10 August 2026 · 6 min read

What does an estate agent cost? Or rather: what does an estate agent bring in?

When you decide to sell your home, the same question comes up sooner or later: which estate agent should I choose? For many sellers, that search starts with the commission. That makes sense. Nobody likes to pay more than necessary. Yet in practice we see that this very focus on the lowest commission can sometimes be a costly mistake.

Because the most important question is not: what does an estate agent cost? The most important question is: what will a good estate agent ultimately bring me?

The biggest misconception: a home sells itself

Many people think homes sell by themselves these days. The home goes online, viewings follow and eventually a buyer turns up of their own accord. But if every home sold itself, comparable homes in the same street or neighbourhood would achieve roughly the same sale result. Practice often shows something different.

Two homes that look very similar on paper can end up selling for thousands of euros apart. Not always because of the home itself, but because of the way the sale is prepared, presented, priced and negotiated.

Selling a home does not start on Funda

Many sellers mainly see the visible part of the sale: professional photos, an attractive presentation, a listing on Funda and viewings. But the real sale starts much earlier. Choices have to be made beforehand that directly affect attention, viewings, offers and the final sale price.

• Which asking price generates maximum interest?
• Which target group suits the home best?
• How is the home presented most effectively?
• When does the home go on the market?
• How are interested parties followed up?
• How is the bidding process managed?
• How are price, terms and handover negotiated?

These are not details. These are precisely the areas where an experienced selling agent proves their worth.

Cheap can turn out expensive

Suppose your home sells for €450,000. Agent A charges €1,500 less commission than Agent B. At first glance, Agent A seems more attractive. But what if Agent B, through a better strategy, stronger presentation, better follow-up and better negotiation, ends up achieving €10,000 more in sale proceeds?

Then the higher commission has more than paid for itself. In this example, you end up with €8,500 more. And that is what it is all about: the net result at the bottom line.

The highest valuation is not always the best advice

Another pitfall is chasing the highest valuation. Of course every seller likes to hear that their home is worth a lot. But a high valuation is not automatically the same as good sales advice. In fact, an asking price that is too high can work against you. It can lead to fewer viewings, a longer time on the market, price reductions, doubt in the market and a weaker negotiating position.

That is why at Makelaarshuis Helmond we believe in honest advice. Not telling you what you would like to hear, but what you need to know to make the best decision.

Why local market knowledge matters

A home in Helmond calls for local knowledge. A home in Brandevoort calls for a different sales strategy than a home in Dierdonk, Stiphout, Mierlo-Hout, Brouwhuis, Rijpelberg, Helmond-Noord or the city centre. The right sales approach depends on the type of home, neighbourhood, target group, maintenance, energy label, competing listings and current demand. A standard approach is rarely the best approach.

Why more and more sellers choose Makelaarshuis Helmond

Makelaarshuis Helmond has been active in Helmond and the surrounding area for many years. In that time we have helped hundreds of buyers and sellers with one of the most important financial decisions of their lives. Our strength lies not in a slick sales pitch, but in an honest, personal and results-driven approach. We look at value, target group, presentation, pricing strategy and negotiation.

Our clients particularly value our accessibility, honest communication, knowledge of the local housing market, personal guidance and professional presentation.

A good estate agent pays for themselves

We do not believe an estate agent is paid simply to put a home on Funda. A good estate agent is paid for knowledge, experience, strategy, presentation, guidance, negotiation and results. In the end, it is not about what an estate agent costs. It is about what an estate agent delivers.

Conclusion: do not automatically choose the cheapest estate agent

A successful sale does not start with the lowest commission. A successful sale starts with the right strategy. Of course it is sensible to look at costs. But above all, look at what you are left with at the bottom line. An estate agent who costs a little more but achieves thousands of euros more is not more expensive in the end. They are more valuable.