QUEENSLAND · 18 MIN READ
Selling a house privately in Queensland.
A complete 2026 guide for QLD and Brisbane homeowners. Seller disclosure, contracts, pricing, marketing, settlement, and how to keep the commission you would have paid an agent.
Quick answer: Selling a house privately in Queensland is legal and well established. You handle the pricing, marketing and negotiation, use a licensed platform to reach the major portals, and a solicitor to manage the contract and settlement. On a median Brisbane house, that keeps roughly $30,000 in commission in your pocket.
Key takeaways
- Selling a house privately in Queensland is completely legal.
- You can advertise on the major portals through a licensed platform such as Unreserved.
- Since 1 August 2025, sellers must give the buyer a disclosure statement (Form 2) and prescribed certificates before the contract is signed.
- A Contract for Houses and Residential Land and a solicitor for conveyancing are required.
- Private sellers can save around $30,000 in agent commission on a median Brisbane house.
- Settlement in Queensland usually happens 30 to 90 days after the contract is signed.
More Queensland homeowners are selling without an agent than at any point in the last decade. The reason is simple: the commission no longer matches the work. On a median Brisbane house worth around $1.23 million in 2026, a typical agent charges roughly $30,000 plus GST and marketing for a job that buyers now do most of themselves online. This guide walks through the whole private sale, from setting a price to settlement day, with the Queensland legal requirements spelled out so you can sell with confidence and keep the money that would have gone to commission.
Why more Queensland homeowners are selling privately
Three things changed the maths. First, the portals took over. Buyers now find homes on realestate.com.au and Domain, not by walking into an agency, which means the part an agent once owned (access to buyers) is something a private seller can reach for a few hundred dollars. Second, Queensland commissions were deregulated in 2014, so the old “standard rate” is gone and sellers are paying closer attention to what they hand over. Third, the tools caught up. AI valuation, online listings, digital contracts and electronic settlement let an organised owner run a campaign that looked impossible ten years ago.
The result is a growing market of for sale by owner sellers in Queensland who want control and want to keep their equity. Selling privately is not about cutting corners. It is about paying for the parts you need and skipping the percentage that no longer reflects the service.
Can you legally sell your own home in Queensland?
Yes. No law in Queensland, or anywhere in Australia, requires you to use a licensed real estate agent to sell your home. The Queensland Government lists selling privately as a legitimate option on its selling a home pages. You take on the work an agent would do, and you make every decision on price, marketing and offers.
There is one practical limit. You cannot list directly on realestate.com.au or Domain as a private individual. Both portals only accept listings from agencies that hold a Queensland real estate licence. To appear where buyers look, you list through a licensed platform that holds the licence and publishes on your behalf. That is what Unreserved does: you get a presence on the major portals and keep control of the sale, without engaging a commission agent. See how it works for the full picture.
Private sale vs real estate agent: what is the difference?
The work is largely the same. The difference is who does it, how much control you keep, and what it costs. Here is the comparison side by side.
| Factor | Traditional agent | Private sale (Unreserved) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~2.45% commission + GST + marketing (around $33,000 on a $1.23M Brisbane house) | One flat fee, typically a few thousand dollars all in |
| Who sets the price | Agent recommends, often anchors low for a quick sale | You decide, backed by data |
| Buyer contact | Through the agent | Direct, so you answer questions the way only an owner can |
| Portal access | Yes | Yes, through the licensed platform |
| Control | Limited once you sign | You hold every decision |
| Conflict of interest | A faster sale can suit the agent more than you | None: your result is the only result |
An agent earns the same percentage whether your home sells for $1.2 million or $1.25 million, so the incentive is a quick sale, not the last dollar. A private sale removes that gap. For the broader numbers behind agent fees, see our guide to real estate agent commission in Australia.
The complete process of selling a house privately in Queensland
The journey runs in a clear order. Price the home, prepare it, get the legal paperwork ready, list it, manage enquiries and inspections, negotiate the offer, then settle. The eight steps below cover each stage. Read it once end to end, then work the steps in sequence.
Understanding your property’s value
Pricing is where private sales are won or lost. Set the price too high and the listing sits, grows stale and attracts lowball offers. Set it too low and you hand a buyer your equity. The goal is an accurate, defensible figure.
Use the comparable sales method. Find homes like yours sold within the last three to six months, ideally within one to two kilometres. Weigh land size, bedrooms and bathrooms, condition, parking and aspect. Favour sales that completed near the asking price over ones that sat for two months and sold under, because those tell you the market was not there at that level.
Free sources include the “sold” listings on realestate.com.au and Domain. For a faster, sharper read, Unreserved’s AI property valuation tool scores your home against comparable sales and weights the attributes buyers in your suburb pay for. Treat any single number as a starting point, then test it against real buyer interest in the first week.
Preparing your property for sale
Presentation moves the price more than almost anything else you control, and most of it costs little. Buyers judge a listing in seconds, and the photos carry that first impression. Work through the high-return jobs: declutter and depersonalise, deep clean, fix the small things that read as neglect, freshen tired walls with neutral paint, and tidy the garden and entry.
Queensland’s climate rewards a few local touches. Show the outdoor living, the breezeways and the shade, because subtropical buyers pay for them. Open the home up to natural light and air for inspections and photography. For a full cost and return breakdown, read our guide on the real cost of preparing a home for sale. Professional styling helps most on empty or dated homes and stays optional once a home is already well furnished.
Getting your legal documents ready
Queensland’s paperwork changed in 2025, so this step matters more than it used to. Get it sorted before you start marketing.
Seller disclosure: the Form 2 statement
Since 1 August 2025, the seller disclosure scheme under the Property Law Act 2023 requires every Queensland seller to give the buyer a completed seller disclosure statement (Form 2) plus the prescribed certificates before the contract is signed. The statement covers seller and property details, title information, encumbrances, zoning, and notices such as a pool safety certificate. You are not required to disclose structural soundness, flooding history or past building approvals, so buyers still do their own due diligence on those.
Get this right. If you fail to give the disclosure before signing, or it is inaccurate on a material matter the buyer did not know about, the buyer can terminate the contract any time up to settlement. Your solicitor prepares the statement and pulls the certificates.
Contract of Sale in Queensland
The standard document is the Contract for Houses and Residential Land, approved jointly by the REIQ and the Queensland Law Society. It sets out the parties, the property and title details, the price, deposit, settlement date and conditions such as finance and building and pest. Every residential contract must carry a cooling-off warning statement directly above the buyer’s signature, and in a private sale that responsibility sits with you. Our contracts of sale guide explains the document in plain English.
Do you need a conveyancer or a solicitor?
Queensland is different from New South Wales and Victoria here. The state does not license independent conveyancers, so paid conveyancing must be handled by a solicitor. Your solicitor prepares or checks the contract, manages the disclosure obligations, runs the title search and handles settlement. Budget about $900 to $2,000 depending on the firm and the complexity of the sale.
Listing your property for sale
Your listing is your shopfront. Strong photography, a clear headline and a description that sells the life in the home decide who clicks and who scrolls past.
How to list on realestate.com.au
A private seller cannot upload to realestate.com.au directly, because the portal only takes listings from licensed agencies. To get there, you list through a licensed platform that publishes on your behalf. Unreserved holds the licence, builds your listing and puts it on the major portals while you keep control of price and offers. This is the single biggest reach a private seller can buy, since most Queensland buyers start their search on the portals.
Other places to advertise your property
Widen the net beyond the big two. Domain, Homely and local Facebook buy-and-sell groups all carry buyers. A quality signboard out front still works, especially for passing local interest. Share the listing across your own social channels, and ask the platform about a featured or premium upgrade if your suburb is busy, since standard listings lose visibility in high-volume markets.
Managing buyer enquiries
Enquiries arrive fast once a listing goes live, and speed of reply shapes the result. Answer within a few hours, because a buyer who waits a day moves on to the next home. Keep a simple log of each enquiry, qualify gently by asking about their timeframe and whether they have finance in place, and book inspections while interest is hot. As the owner, you answer questions about the home, the street and the neighbours with a credibility no agent can match.
Conducting open homes and private inspections
Inspections turn interest into offers. Present the home the way it looked in the photos: clean, light, comfortable and free of clutter. In Queensland, open the doors and let the breeze through, because airflow and indoor-outdoor living sell here.
- Run inspections in small groups so you can talk to each party.
- Have a one-page info sheet ready: floor plan, council rates, body corporate fees if any, and school catchments.
- Keep your disclosure documents on hand for serious buyers.
- Note who attends and how interested they seem.
- Follow up every attendee within 24 hours.
Negotiating offers like a professional
This is where sellers most often leave money behind, usually because they negotiate with one buyer and no pressure. The fix is competition. When more than one buyer is interested, let each know there is interest without bluffing, and invite their best offer. Hold your number with calm, and remember a buyer who has inspected twice and arranged finance is closer to their ceiling than their opening bid suggests.
Weigh more than the headline price. A clean offer with finance approved, a deposit of 10%, and a settlement date that suits you can beat a higher offer loaded with conditions. Get the accepted terms to your solicitor quickly so the contract can be drawn while the buyer is committed.
Understanding property contracts and offers in Queensland
Once you accept, the contract governs everything. A few Queensland rules are worth knowing before you sign.
Cooling-off period. Residential private treaty sales carry a five business day cooling-off period. It ends at 5pm on the fifth business day after the buyer receives the signed contract, per the Queensland Government’s cooling-off rules. If the buyer terminates inside that window, you may keep a penalty of up to 0.25% of the price. There is no cooling-off period when a property sells at auction.
Conditions. Most offers come with conditions such as finance approval and a building and pest inspection, each with a due date. The sale becomes unconditional once those are satisfied, and that is the point the deposit is fully at risk for the buyer and the settlement clock holds firm.
Settlement and handover
Settlement is the finish line. After the contract goes unconditional, your solicitor and the buyer’s solicitor prepare for the transfer, usually 30 to 90 days from signing, with 30 days a common default. Most Queensland settlements now run electronically through PEXA: the solicitors and banks meet in an online workspace, money and title move at the same moment, and the transfer registers with Titles Queensland the same day. You hand over the keys, the buyer takes possession, and the net proceeds land in your account. No commission cheque comes off the top.
What does it cost to sell a house privately in Queensland?
The costs are small and fixed, not a percentage. Here are the realistic 2026 ranges for a Queensland private sale.
| Cost item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor / conveyancing | $900–$2,000 | Required; Queensland uses solicitors, not licensed conveyancers |
| Portal listing package | $700–$1,400 | realestate.com.au and Domain via a licensed platform |
| Professional photography | $300–$700 | Twilight and drone shots cost more |
| Signboard | $100–$300 | Optional, useful for local interest |
| Building & pest inspection | $300–$600 | Usually the buyer’s cost; some sellers pre-order to disclose |
Note one thing buyers, not sellers, pay in Queensland: transfer (stamp) duty. The Queensland Revenue Office confirms the buyer is responsible for transfer duty, so it never comes out of your proceeds. All in, a private sale in Queensland usually lands between $2,000 and $5,000.
See your exact saving
Run your Brisbane or Queensland sale price through our commission calculator and see what an agent would charge versus a flat fee.
Open the QLD commission calculatorHow much can you save by selling privately?
This is the number that matters. Compare the fixed cost of a private sale against a percentage commission on a median Brisbane house.
| On a $1.23M Brisbane house | Traditional agent | Private sale |
|---|---|---|
| Commission / fee | ~2.45% = $30,135 | One flat fee |
| GST on commission | + ~$3,015 | Included |
| Marketing | $3,000–$8,000 extra | Listing included in package |
| Typical total | ~$33,000–$41,000 | ~$2,000–$5,000 |
On a single median Brisbane sale, that is a saving on the order of $28,000 to $32,000. Queensland commissions have been fully negotiable since 2014, with Brisbane averaging around 2.45% and the wider state closer to 2.7%, so the exact figure shifts with your price and agent. The direction never does. For more on how those fees stack up, see our commission guide.
Selling a house privately in Brisbane
Brisbane has been one of Australia’s strongest markets, with the median house price climbing close to $1.23 million in 2026 after years of strong growth. For a private seller, a rising market is the easy part, because demand is there. The skill is pricing to the very recent comparable sales rather than last year’s, since Brisbane values have moved quickly.
Buyer behaviour in Brisbane and across South East Queensland leans heavily on the portals and on weekend inspections, and interstate buyers play a real role at the upper end. Lead with the lifestyle: the deck, the pool, the breezeways, the catchment and the commute. Price with current data, present the home well, and the larger sale price means the commission you avoid is larger too. The same approach works in the regional centres, from the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to Townsville and Cairns, with local comparable sales doing the pricing work.
Common mistakes Queensland private sellers make
- Skipping or rushing the seller disclosure. Since August 2025, an incomplete or inaccurate Form 2 can let the buyer walk before settlement. Get your solicitor onto it early.
- Overpricing on emotion. Your home is worth what a buyer will pay, not what it means to you. Price to the comparables.
- Weak photography and copy. The listing decides who inspects, and every missed inspection is a lost bidder.
- Accepting the first offer out of relief. Check whether other buyers are still circling before you say yes.
- Going without a solicitor. Queensland conveyancing and disclosure are not a place to improvise. The fee is small against the risk.
- Slow follow-up. Buyers need several touchpoints. Reply quickly and chase every inspection.
Queensland private sale checklist
Work this list top to bottom and you will not miss a step.
- Research comparable sales and set a defensible price.
- Prepare and present the home, then book professional photography.
- Engage a solicitor and prepare the seller disclosure (Form 2) and certificates.
- Have the Contract for Houses and Residential Land drafted, with the cooling-off warning statement.
- List on the major portals through a licensed platform, and add a signboard and social posts.
- Respond to enquiries fast and run small-group inspections.
- Follow up every inspection within 24 hours.
- Negotiate on price and terms, then send the accepted offer to your solicitor.
- Manage the cooling-off period and the contract conditions.
- Complete settlement through PEXA and hand over the keys.
This guide is general information about selling property in Queensland, not legal, financial or tax advice. Rules and figures current to mid-2026. Confirm your situation with a Queensland solicitor, and see the Queensland Government and ATO for current requirements. Your main residence is generally exempt from capital gains tax; an investment property may not be.
Frequently asked questions
Can I legally sell my own house in Queensland?
Yes. No Queensland law forces you to use an agent. You can sell privately and run the pricing, marketing and negotiation yourself. The only thing you cannot do is list directly on realestate.com.au or Domain, which is why private sellers use a licensed platform to reach those portals.
What documents do I need to sell a house privately in QLD?
A seller disclosure statement (Form 2) with the prescribed certificates, given to the buyer before signing, a Contract for Houses and Residential Land with the cooling-off warning statement, a title search, and a solicitor to manage it all.
How do I list my property on realestate.com.au in Queensland?
Through a licensed agency or platform. Private individuals cannot upload directly. Unreserved holds the licence, builds the listing and publishes it on the major portals on your behalf while you keep control.
Do I need a conveyancer when selling privately in Queensland?
You need a solicitor. Queensland does not license independent conveyancers, so a solicitor handles the contract, disclosure and settlement. Budget around $900 to $2,000.
How much does it cost to sell a house privately in Queensland?
Usually $2,000 to $5,000 all in: solicitor, a portal listing package, photography and a signboard. There is no percentage commission.
How long does settlement take in Queensland?
Commonly 30 to 90 days after the contract is signed, negotiated in the contract, and run electronically through PEXA.
Can I sell my Brisbane property without an agent?
Yes. Brisbane owners sell privately the same way as the rest of the state, and with a median house near $1.23 million, the commission saved is substantial.
What is included in a Queensland contract of sale?
The parties, property and title details, price, deposit, settlement date, conditions such as finance and building and pest, and the cooling-off warning statement above the buyer’s signature.
Is selling privately cheaper than using an agent in Queensland?
Usually by tens of thousands. A private sale costs $2,000 to $5,000; a typical agent on a median Brisbane house charges around $33,000 plus marketing.
How do I work out what my home is worth before selling?
Start with comparable sales nearby from the last three to six months, then sharpen it with Unreserved’s AI valuation tool, which weights the features buyers in your suburb pay for.
The bottom line
Selling a house privately in Queensland is legal, well supported and, on a median Brisbane price, worth around $30,000 to you. Get the seller disclosure and contract right with a solicitor, price to current comparables, present the home well, reach buyers through a licensed platform, and negotiate with patience. Do those things and you keep the commission while running a campaign that looks every bit as professional as an agency one. For a wider walk-through of the whole journey, see our selling your home guide.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ben Williams
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Ben spent 15+ years as a licensed estate agent and conducted over 2,000 auctions before founding Unreserved. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Property & Valuation) from RMIT and is licensed across VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, and WA.
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