It is the first question almost every seller asks, and it is almost never answered with a clear number. Here it is: in Spain estate agency fees are not regulated. There is no official tariff and no professional body that sets one, which means two things. First, that every agency charges what it decides. Second, and far more useful to you, that everything is negotiable once you know what you are buying.
The real range in 2026: 3% to 7%, plus VAT
Industry sources publishing 2026 data put sale fees between 3% and 7% of the final deed price, with an average sitting just under 5%. The bottom of the range tends to correspond to stripped-down services or to high-value properties, where the percentage falls because the base is large; the top end goes with complex transactions, low prices or full-service management.
You then have to add 21% VAT on top. It is the detail that gets forgotten at the kitchen table and reappears at the notary: when someone says «we charge 5%», they are almost always quoting the net amount. Ask for the final figure including tax, and ask for it in euros rather than in percent. A percentage is abstract; a euro is not.
Table: what you would pay on €200,000, €300,000 and €450,000
These are the amounts with VAT included for the most common price brackets in Alicante city, where the average square metre closed August 2026 at €2,721 according to idealista:
| Fee | €200,000 | €300,000 | €450,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% + VAT | €7,260 | €10,890 | €16,335 |
| 4% + VAT | €9,680 | €14,520 | €21,780 |
| 5% + VAT | €12,100 | €18,150 | €27,225 |
| 6% + VAT | €14,520 | €21,780 | €32,670 |
The fee is not the only cost of selling: there is capital gains tax on the profit, the municipal plusvalía, the energy certificate, the registry cancellation of any mortgage and the notary. To see the net amount you actually keep, use our selling costs calculator and the guide to costs and taxes when selling in Alicante.
Who pays the fee and when it falls due
In Spanish practice the seller pays, because the seller instructs the service and signs the agreement. Some agencies charge the buyer and others split it; none of the three is unlawful, but all three must be in writing before your home is advertised anywhere.
On the when, the standard is that the fee falls due on signature of the public deed: you have sold, you have been paid, and then you pay. Some agreements bring that moment forward to the deposit or the private contract, which can make sense if the deal collapses through the seller's fault, but it is a clause to read slowly and understand before signing, not afterwards.
What the fee of an estate agency in Alicante covers, and what it does not
A percentage with no breakdown means nothing. This is what should be inside it, and what to ask about expressly if you cannot see it:
- A valuation with comparables from your area, not a figure plucked from the air.
- Professional photography, a dimensioned floor plan and video or a virtual tour.
- Listing and positioning across portals, plus paid campaigns where needed.
- Enquiry filtering and attendance at every viewing.
- Document gathering: land registry extract, energy certificate, building inspection, community debts, occupancy licence where applicable.
- Negotiation, deposit contract and attendance at the notary through to completion.
What it normally does not cover: the energy certificate when issued by an external technician, registry fees, the municipal plusvalía, income tax and mortgage cancellation costs. Those are your costs as a seller, whoever you work with.
Why the cheapest percentage usually ends up costing more
Picture a flat that can sell for €300,000. One agency charges 3% and another 5%. The difference is €6,000 plus VAT. Now picture the first one listing it with phone photos, no floor plan and no filtering of viewings, and having to cut the price to €282,000 four months later to get the listing moving. You saved €7,260 in fees and lost €18,000 in price. The calculation that matters is not how much the person selling your home charges, but how much they sell it for and how long they take.
That is why the useful conversation with an agent does not start with the percentage: it starts with an evidenced asking price, a written marketing plan and a reporting commitment. The percentage is the last line, not the first.
What you should not be charged up front
Simple rule: if an agency's business model consists of charging you before it sells, its incentive is not to sell. Be wary of advance payments for «featured listings», «photo packs» or «market studies» when they are presented as compulsory in order to take on the instruction. Nor does it make sense to pay a penalty for withdrawing the property if the agency has done nothing in three months.
It is reasonable, on the other hand, to agree who bears a specific external cost — an energy certificate, a registry extract — as long as it is quantified in writing and optional. And remember that if you signed the instruction away from the office, you have 14 calendar days to withdraw as a consumer.
Related reading: the 8 signs of a good agency, sole agency or multi-agency and how long it takes to sell a home.
We work on a sole-agency basis and agree fixed fees in writing before anything is published. If you want a concrete figure for your property, request the free online valuation or talk to this estate agency in Alicante and we will give it to you with the comparables in front of us.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an agency charge to sell a flat in 2026?
Between 3% and 7% of the final sale price plus 21% VAT, with a sector average just under 5%. Agency fees are not regulated in Spain: each agency sets its own and they are negotiable, so what matters is that the percentage and what it covers are put in writing.
Does the agency fee include VAT?
No, VAT is added at 21%. The percentage you are quoted is almost always net of tax, so a 5% fee on 300,000 euros is 15,000 euros plus 3,150 euros of VAT: 18,150 euros in total. Always ask for the final figure with VAT included.
Who pays the fee, the buyer or the seller?
In Spain it is usually paid by the seller, who is the party instructing the service. Some agencies charge the buyer or split it between both sides, but whatever is agreed must appear in writing in the instruction agreement before the property is advertised anywhere.
When do you pay the estate agent?
Normally the fee falls due on completion of the public deed before the notary, that is, once the sale is done and the seller has been paid. If you are asked for money up front to advertise or photograph the property, that is a condition worth reading very carefully.