Straight answers
The questions owners actually ask.
Short answer first, with sources.
How much does it cost to sell a house in Melbourne?Expect agent commission of roughly 1.6% to 2.5% of the sale price (around 2% is common in Melbourne), plus marketing of about $6,500 to $8,000 for a standard campaign or $8,000 to $12,000 for a premium one, plus conveyancing and any repairs or styling. On a $1.2 million home that is roughly $27,000 to $45,000 all up.What is the new 7-day auction reserve rule in Victoria?For auctions and fixed-date sales held from 16 October 2026, the seller’s reserve must be published as a single dollar figure at least seven days before the sale. If it is not, the auction cannot go ahead. Sale prices must also stay published for 18 months.What is a Property Price Statement in Victoria?Since 1 October 2026, the Property Price Statement has replaced the Statement of Information. It shows the agent’s indicative selling price, the three most comparable recent sales, the suburb median and more detail about the home, such as internal floor area.Should I sell my house before interest rates rise again?Not automatically. Most stretched owners are not forced sellers. First ask your lender about hardship options and a broker about refinancing, then compare what you would net from selling now with what holding another year costs. Sell only if that comparison says selling leaves you better off.Will selling before 31 December save me Victorian land tax?Possibly. Victorian land tax is assessed on the land you own at midnight on 31 December for the following year. If a sale settles before then, the property is generally not counted in the next assessment. Signing a contract is not enough: settlement timing is what matters, so confirm with your accountant.Is there stamp duty relief for downsizers in Victoria?There is no general downsizer stamp duty exemption in Victoria. The main levers are the off-the-plan duty concession for eligible apartments and townhouses on contracts signed before 21 April 2027, the pensioner and concession cardholder reduction (which has price caps), and the federal downsizer super contribution of up to $300,000 per person.Can I sell a house before probate in Victoria?You can usually prepare the home and even start marketing, but signing a contract and settling generally depend on probate or letters of administration being granted. The estate’s solicitor will confirm what applies.Should I sell by auction or private sale in Melbourne in 2026?It depends on your home and the buyer pool. Auctions create a deadline and open competition, but under the new rules your reserve must be published a week before. Private sale gives more control and privacy. In the first week of the new reserve rules, Melbourne auction numbers fell sharply as sellers rethought their method.How do I choose a real estate agent in Melbourne?Ask every agent for the same five things in writing: the comparable sales behind their price, their fee in dollars, marketing itemised at cost, how many other campaigns they are running, and how and when they will report to you. Then check their recent local sales and reviews.What should I fix before selling my house?Focus on cheap, visible jobs: repairs, paint, gardens, cleaning and styling. Big kitchen and bathroom renovations rarely return more than they cost, especially when prices are softening. There is no reliable Australian study of pre-sale returns, so be wary of anyone promising a fixed dollar uplift.
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