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**No, you do not pay any sales commission if the property is not sold.**

In Singapore, under Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) regulations and standard industry practice, agent commission is **strictly success-based**. It only becomes payable upon the legal completion of the sale. If no buyer is found or you withdraw the listing, zero commission is due.

However, to protect yourself completely, here are the exact contractual rules you need to know:

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### 1. What About Marketing Expenses (Photos, Staging, Portal Ads)?

* By default, agents absorb all marketing expenses (PropertyGuru/99.co ad credits, professional photography, virtual tours, social media boosts) as their own business risk.
* Under CEA’s prescribed **Estate Agency Agreement (EAA)**, an agent **cannot** demand reimbursement for advertising or administrative costs unless you explicitly agreed in writing to pay for specific disbursements beforehand.
* *Rule of thumb:* Check the EAA form before signing. Ensure the sections regarding "expenses/disbursements" state **$0 / Nil**.

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### 2. The Difference Between Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive

* **Non-Exclusive Agreement:** You can engage multiple agents or terminate anytime with zero obligations. If you decide not to sell, simply inform the agents to pull down the listings.
* **Exclusive Estate Agency Agreement (usually 1 to 3 months):** You commit to only one agency for that fixed window.
* If you decide not to sell, you cannot be forced to accept any offer.
* You can let the exclusive period lapse naturally, or issue a formal written notice of termination.
* **The "3-Month Holdover" Protection:** Standard CEA exclusive agreements contain a tail/holdover clause. If an agent introduces Buyer A to your house during their exclusive period, and within 3 months of contract termination you secretly sell the house directly to Buyer A to avoid paying fees, the agent is legally entitled to claim their full commission. As long as you genuinely pull the property off the market and do not sell to anyone they introduced, you owe nothing.

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### 3. How to Protect Yourself Before Engaging Any Agent

1. **Insist on the Standard Prescribed CEA Agreement:** Never sign a customized private contract created by an agency; use the official CEA Form 1 (Exclusive) or Form 2 (Non-Exclusive).
2. **Clarify Commission Conditions Upfront:** The standard clause specifies commission is payable strictly upon completion.
3. **Keep Options Open:** If you are skeptical and testing market waters, opt for a shorter 1- or 2-month exclusive period rather than the standard 3 months.

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Gan Eng Joo Onassis 颜荣裕, REALTOR®

MSc BIT (Middlesex, UK); BBA (UniSA)

CEA Reg No: R021244C | Mobile: (+65) 88899918 

Email: onassis@sgagent.com

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Hi,
I would be glad to assist you.
Feel free to contact me at
wa.me/6597100155
Hope to hear from you soon.
Pei Mobile: (65) 9 7 1 0 0 1 5 5.
Email: peicheng.tan@propnex.com
Associate Group Director
Propnex Realty Pte Ltd Read More

Hi there!

Generally speaking, property agents work on a success-based commission arrangement. If your property is not sold and no transaction takes place, there is ordinarily no sales commission payable, subject to the terms of your agency agreement.

However, I would like to share another perspective that homeowners should also consider.

**Selling a property should be a serious decision, not simply an exercise to test the market.**

When you appoint an agent to market your property, there is considerable work involved behind the scenes. Apart from arranging viewings and following up with prospective buyers, agents also invest in advertising, photography, videography and other marketing activities. These expenses can be substantial and are often borne by the agent.

Of course, circumstances can change, and homeowners have every right to reconsider their plans.

However, if an owner simply decides not to sell after an agent has committed significant resources to marketing the property, I personally feel it is only fair to consider reimbursing the agent for reasonable marketing expenses incurred.

**This is not the same as paying sales commission.** Whether any reimbursement is contractually payable depends on what was agreed between the homeowner and the agent beforehand.

My advice is to be upfront about your intentions before appointing an agent. If you're still uncertain about selling, have a discussion about your property's market value and available options first, rather than proceeding immediately with a full marketing campaign.

A good working relationship requires mutual respect. Just as homeowners expect their agents to be professional and committed, agents should also be able to expect genuine selling intentions from the homeowners they represent.

Ultimately, both parties' time, effort and resources deserve to be respected.

Hope this helps!

Geryl Lim
CEA Reg No: R014783H
 9278 7772  Read More

1. Generally, you do not pay sales commission if your house is not sold. However, always check the terms of your estate agency agreement before signing.

2. Out of goodwill and consideration for the agent, you may consider reimbursing reasonable advertising expenses if you decide not to proceed with the sale, provided the agent shows proof of the actual costs incurred. Put yourself in the agent's shoes and appreciate the time, effort and money invested in marketing your property.

3. If you are still unsure, start by obtaining a property valuation and discussing the market outlook before committing to a full marketing campaign.

4. Consider a short exclusive appointment or a non-exclusive arrangement, and clarify the termination terms and any potential costs in writing.

5. There is nothing wrong with being cautious. Selling your home is a major decision, and you should feel comfortable before committing. Clear communication protects both you and your agent.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin

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Hi,

I would be most glad to assist you further and pls feel free to let me know if you need any assistance. Have a good day ahead. By the way, nope u don’t have to pay any commission in this case.

Regards
Aaron Chong
 9730 8455 
aaronchong2774@yahoo.com.sg Read More