commissions on sales

[worder]

What is the typical real estate commission in the UK? Is it set by the state, or as in the US, is it negotiable with the seller? Is it paid by the buyer or the seller? Does the same apply to boats' sales as well? thank you much.

[sylvday]

In London, the average estate agent's commission is between about 2 and 3 per cent of the property's price; it is paid by the seller, as it is the seller for whom the agent is acting. The rate is not laid down by law, but each estate agency has its own scale, though in some cases negotiating a lower rate may be possible. Estate agents usually charge less if they have a "sole agency" - ie they are the only agent handling the property; but charge more if the property is put in the hands of two or more agents. I'm sorry but I have no idea of the position with boat sales - but in any case many of these would not involve agents.

[darth vader]

some estate agents in the North of England charge as low as between 3/4 and 1%

i didn't think boats were sold by estate agents (or certainly weren't required to be - but then you don't HAVE to sell a house via an estate agent either)

[worder]

what i meant about the boats was what is the sales commissions on boat sales, in other words, if i own a boat and get a boat dealer to sell it for me, maybe you do n't have that in the UK. if you do and somebody knows, let me know, thanks again, guys.