Should you sell your house privately in Cairns?

What does selling privately involve?

• Setting the price, from your own research on recent sales
• Photos and a listing on the property portals, usually through a private-sale service
• Answering enquiries and running every inspection yourself
• Negotiating with buyers, often through their buyer’s agent
• Giving the buyer a seller disclosure statement (Form 2) before the contract is signed, as required since 1 August 2025 (Queensland Government, Seller disclosure scheme, updated 21 July 2025)
• Working with a conveyancer or solicitor on the contract and settlement

How much can you save?

The main saving is commission. On the Cairns median house price of $730,000 at the average rate of 2.60%, that is about $18,980. (OpenAgent, Cairns real estate agents, October 2026) You still pay for the portal listing package, photos, signage and legal work.

What are the risks of selling without an agent?

• Price. Underpricing costs more than commission; overpricing means a long, stale listing.
• Disclosure. If the disclosure statement is missing or wrong, the buyer may be able to end the contract, up to settlement. (Queensland Government, Seller disclosure scheme, updated 21 July 2025)
• Negotiation. Buyers’ agents negotiate for a living. Most private sellers don’t.
• Time and safety. You handle every call and show strangers through your home.
• Buyer finance. Without someone checking a buyer’s position, contracts can fall over late.

When is an agent worth it?

An agent tends to earn their fee when your property is hard to price, when buyers are mostly from outside Cairns, when you want an auction, or when you don’t have the time. Selling privately can work when you already have a buyer, or the property is easy to compare with recent sales next door.

Not sure which way to go? A free appraisal from Tony Williamson gives you a price to test either way.

Last updated 3 November 2026