You probably know that your real estate agent will make a commission on any sale. Whether you’re buying or selling your home, there is a fee for the service that must be paid, and both agents involved, the listing agent and the buying agent, will take a cut, although it is up to them to determine what percentage of the commission each person receives. However, it can be confusing trying to determine who is paying what. In a general sense, the buyer always pays because the commission is part of the final sale price. But since the money comes of the sale price, you could also argue that the seller is ultimately responsible for the cost of commission. What is more important to understand, though, is that you can negotiate the price of commission, no matter which side you’re on. And there are several ways to do it.
Request a reduction. The price of commission and the degree to which it can be negotiated will vary not only by the sale in question, but also by the agents involved. However, the best way to find out if you can get a reduction is to ask. In some cases the agent will offer a discount in order to get your business. Or there may be other circumstances that will allow you to negotiate for a deal of some sort, but you won’t know unless you ask.