How commission works | Commission calculator | Best ways to save | Methodology
📊 The data:
We surveyed local agents and found that the average real estate commission in Delaware is 5.44%, which is higher than the national average of 5.37%.
The average total real estate agent commission rate in Delaware is 5.44% of the final sale price. Based on the latest median home sale price in Delaware ($373,329), that translates to a total cost of roughly $20,309.
Home sellers typically cover the total commission fee from their sale proceeds, which is split between the listing and buyer’s agents who handle the sale. In Delaware, the average listing agent fee is 2.72%, while the average buyer’s agent fee is 2.72%.
Real estate agent commissions make up a significant portion of the closing costs for Delaware home sellers. But you don't have to pay the full 5.44% to a traditional agent. If you're selling a home in Delaware, you can use a discount broker to save on realtor fees. In fact, depending on your situation and the agents you work with, you could save 32% on realtor fees, or about $6,421 on average.
⚡ Find top agents and save: Answer these five simple questions to get matched with the best local agents offering reduced commission rates. Compare agents from top brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX, and get a discounted rate through Clever’s partner network.
How real estate commission works in Delaware
| Average listing commission | 2.72% |
| Average buyer's agent commission | 2.72% |
| Total average commission | 5.44% |
There are usually two real estate agents involved in the real estate transactions of a home sale:
- The seller's agent (also called the listing agent), who represents the home seller
- The buyer's agent, who represents the person buying the home
Based on our research, the average real estate commission paid in Delaware for listing agents is 2.72% of the final home price and 2.72% for buyer's agents, for a total of 5.44%.
» LEARN: How do real estate broker commissions work?
Real estate commission calculator for Delaware
Use this commission calculator to estimate how much you'll pay in realtor fees when you sell your home in Delaware. Enter an estimate of your home's sale price, and see how much you'll pay at different commission rates.
Who pays realtor fees in Delaware?
In Delaware, when you sell your home, the commission fees for the buyer's and seller's real estate agents come directly from the final sale price. There's no need to worry about paying these fees upfront.
The seller's agent justifies their commission through services such as conducting market analysis and managing the closing process. On the other side, the buyer's agent earns their commission by finding a qualified buyer who adheres to the contract terms and completes the purchase on schedule.
These commissions won't require any out-of-pocket expenses from you. Similar to closing costs the real estate agent commissions come out of the sale proceeds at the time of closing.
Looking to cut down on realtor commission fees? Clever can help by pairing you with a leading local listing agent who offers a competitive rate of just 1.5%. This strategy puts more of the sale's profit into your pocket.
» SAVE: Sell with Clever for 1.5% listing fees and save thousands in commission!
Why do sellers pay the buyer's real estate agent commission?
Covering the buyer's agent commission can significantly boost interest in your property. By handling this expense, you make your home a more attractive option for buyers, who might otherwise struggle to cover their agent's commission on top of the down payment and closing costs. For many buyers, paying these fees out of pocket is simply not feasible.
Offer a competitive rate for the buyer's agent commission, and you'll find that agents are more eager to bring clients to your doorstep. This strategy can lead to a flurry of offers. Industry insiders suggest setting the buyer's agent commission rate within 0.5% of the local norm, which currently stands at 2.72% in Delaware.
Will the NAR lawsuit change how real estate commission works?
A November 2023 lawsuit found the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Homeservices of America, and Keller Williams Realty guilty of misleading sellers into paying high realtor fees.
The judge agreed with the plaintiffs that sellers should not be on the hook for the buyer's agent commission. It's too early to tell if this decision will change how buyer's agents are paid. We're monitoring the appeal in this case as well as other lawsuits and will keep you updated.
» READ MORE:
How to save on realtor fees in Delaware
Commission rates are not set in stone. In fact, we found that while 2.72% is the average in Delaware, rates typically fall between 4.71% and 6.17%. You can save money by negotiating a lower rate with your listing agent or by working with a discount real estate brokerage.
| Listing commission range | 2.35%– 3.08% |
| Buyer's agent commission | 2.36%– 3.09% |
| Total commission range | 4.71%– 6.17% |
Can I negotiate realtor commission in Delaware?
Real estate commission is always negotiable. Nationwide, the 627 agents we surveyed said these were their most common reasons for agreeing to lower their commission.
| Would you lower your commission for…? | Agents who answered yes |
|---|---|
| Homeowners who also plan to buy with you | 72% |
| Homeowners who are repeat clients | 70% |
| Homeowners with more than one property to sell | 67% |
| Seller’s situation (e.g. divorce or death in the family) | 48% |
| Higher property values | 47% |
| High competition for clients | 37% |
| Homes expected to sell quickly | 37% |
| Periods of low housing inventory | 23% |
| High buyer demand in the area | 22% |
| Houses in excellent condition | 19% |
| Highly experienced home sellers | 13% |
Negotiating realtor fees in Delaware depends on two main factors: your situation and the housing market.
| Factor | You may have an easier time negotiating low rates if... |
|---|---|
| Your situation |
|
| The Delaware housing market |
|
While your personal situation will vary, real estate market conditions in Delaware will impact all home sellers in your area.
In general, in a seller's market where home sellers have more leverage than buyers, listing agents' jobs are easier so they may be more open to lowering their commission rates. The opposite is usually true in a buyer's market.
Not comfortable negotiating with a realtor? Avoid the awkward conversation and let Clever pre-negotiate a lower rate with a top agent for you.
To gauge the current state of your local real estate market, look at these three factors:
- Months of inventory
- Sale to list price
- Home value trends
If all factors indicate Delaware is a seller's market, you may be in a good position to negotiate a lower commission rate with your agent. If market conditions are mixed or favor buyers, it may be tougher to get your realtor to accept a cheaper fee.
The current state of the Delaware real estate market
| Factor | Trends | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Months of inventory | There's 1.0 months of housing inventory on the market | Seller's market |
| Sale-to-list ratio | Homes are selling for 99.00% of their listing price | Seller's market |
| Home values | Home values have risen 35.10% year over year | Seller's market |
Low commission real estate companies in Delaware
Negotiating a lower rate with a professional negotiator can be hard! In many cases, home sellers can save just as much (or more!) by selling with a low commission real estate company.
Discount real estate brokers typically offer full-service support for a reduced commission percentage or flat rate. How they create those discounts will depend on the company's model, with some creating more risks and trade-offs than others.
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Overview: For sellers in Delaware eager to reduce the customary real estate commission without losing out on professional assistance, Clever is a worthwhile option.
✅ Benefits and features: Clever stands out for its ability to halve traditional realtor commission rates. The service prides itself on a no-cost, obligation-free realtor matching service that has earned considerable acclaim.
🏠 How it works: Through Clever, sellers gain access to esteemed local real estate professionals from well-known brokerages, including but not limited to RE/MAX and Compass. This presents a prime opportunity to evaluate different agents while guaranteeing the benefit of a special 1.5% listing fee (matched by Redfin’s offering), irrespective of the chosen agent.
Pros
- Experience the full services of an established agent from a renowned brokerage sans the premium price.
- Secure the expertise of agents willing to provide their services at up to a 50% discount through Clever.
- Boasts the most extensive variety of vetted agents in Delaware to ensure you find the most compatible match.
Cons
- Specific agents or brokerages may not be guaranteed as part of Clever’s network.
- Be aware that additional services such as professional staging, drone photography, and 3D home tours may incur extra costs. These details will be fully outlined in the agent’s listing presentation.
Fee structure
- 1.5% listing fee ($3,000 minimum) at closing
- 2–3% buyer’s agent commission at closing
| Weighted avg. | 5.0 | 2,627 |
| Trustpilot | 5.0 | 2,402 |
| 4.8 | 225 |
Website: semya-moya.ru
Phone: 1-833-225-3837
Hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. EST, 7 days a week
Address: 6358 Delmar Blvd, Suite 300, Saint Louis, MO 63130
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Overview: For those in the Delaware housing market looking to cut down on agent fees yet still receive reliable service, Redfin stands out as a solid choice.
✅ Benefits and features: Redfin's 1.5% listing fee is attractively low and can lead to considerable cost savings. Clients who use Redfin for both selling and purchasing in the same year benefit from an extra 0.5% discount on the listing fee. Redfin’s brand recognition comes with a variety of discount real estate professionals at your disposal.
🚩 Potential red flags: Redfin’s operations are heavily influenced by its tech-centric and team-oriented service model, which might not suit everyone’s taste. Although most interactions are managed remotely with a Lead Agent supplemented by a support team, certain sellers might be looking for a deeper, more individual engagement with their agent. Sellers should note that Redfin has a minimum commission fee of $2,000 in Delaware. So, depending upon your home’s value and where you’re selling, you may end up paying more than the advertised 1.5% rate.
Pros
- Significant savings on listing fees
- Well-established brand with a strong lineup of agents
- Remote, team-based approach may be beneficial for some sellers
Cons
- Limited selection of agents compared to Clever
- High-volume, team-centric approach may not be for everyone
Fee structure
- 1.5% listing fee at closing
- 2–3% buyer’s agent commission at closing
- 0.5% listing fee refund if you also buy with Redfin within 12 months
*Not enough available data at this time
Website: redfin.com
Phone: 1-844-759-7732
Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. EST, 7 days a week
Address: 993 Old Eagle School Rd, Suite 417, Wayne, PA 19087
Areas served: Bear, Bethany Beach, Claymont, Dewey Beach, Dover, Fenwick Island, Lewes, Magnoliae, Middletown, Milton, New Castle, Rehoboth Beach, Selbyville, South Bethany, Smyrna, Wilmington, and more.
» LEARN: How do discount real estate brokers offer lower fees?
Next steps
Thinking of selling your home but don't know where to start? Here are some next steps.
Start interviewing local agents
Set up some listing appointments, where an agent visits your home to discuss its estimated value, lay out their marketing strategy, and provide a quote for their fee.
Here's why it's smart to sit down with a few agents before signing with one:
It's completely free to meet with agents: There's no obligation or risk on your end. Just keep in mind that the agent is meeting with you to win your business, and will try to sell you on their service.
You can compare pricing and features: Shopping around helps you find the best fit for your specific needs – in terms of fees, experience, and services provided.
Learn more about your market from an expert: Realtors can provide local data, like how much nearby homes are selling for, how fast they sell, and other current market trends.
Learn about the home sales process: An agent can walk you through the sales process from start to finish, and provide tailored advice for marketing your property to home buyers.
To get started, check out our guide on the best ways to find real estate agents — or you can sign up for Clever’s free agent matching service below to connect with top realtors in your area right now (and save on commission).
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates of only 1.5%, with Delaware's top agents. Contact Clever today to find out how much you can save on commission!
Clever can connect you with top local agents sell your house for a pre-negotiated low rate: just a 1.5% listing fee when your home sells (half the typical rate!).
You can interview your Clever agent matches, get free pricing estimates, and compare marketing plans — all with no strings attached.
Ready to learn more? Click below to take our simple quiz and see your agent matches!
Methodology
We gathered our commission rate data from a survey of 623 of our partner agents. The survey asked about standard local rates for both listing and buying agents. We also asked agents about when and why they're willing to negotiate real estate commissions.
Additionally, we utilized the following data from Zillow and Realtor.com:
- Home values, list prices, and sale prices: Based on Zillow data as of August 2023
- Sale prices and sale-to-list ratios: Based on Redfin data as of February 2023 (unless specified otherwise)
- Months of inventory: Based on Realtor.com data as of February 2023
