Brisbane property guide
Selling your home in Brisbane: what you need to know
Selling your house is probably the biggest cheque you'll ever cash. Brisbane in 2026 is rewarding sellers who turn up prepared, price it honestly and pick a good agent. Here's the run-through, from your first valuation to handing over the keys.
Published 26 February 2026 · 14 min read
Step 1: Work out where you stand
Before anything else, get a real number on your house. Use online estimates for the rough shape, then get two or three local agents through for free in-home appraisals. Cross-check the lot against recent sold prices within a kilometre. If your three sources disagree wildly, dig until you understand why.
Step 2: Pick your window
Spring (September to November) usually pulls the biggest buyer pool. Autumn (March to April) is the second-best window. Avoid school holidays and the December–January gap unless your suburb has a specific summer dynamic. Weigh momentum too — a strong campaign in February can outperform a tired one in October.
Step 3: The agent question
Your agent is the single biggest variable in what you walk away with. Look for real suburb-level expertise, recent sales near you, honest communication and a clear plan. Don't pick on commission alone — saving 0.5% is meaningless if the result is 50 grand lower.
Get a free Brisbane property valuation
In about two minutes, see what your home is realistically worth based on recent comparable sales.
Get my free valuationStep 4: Auction, private treaty or EOI
Auctions work for the kind of house lots of people would compete for in a hot suburb. Private treaty suits the more specialised end. EOI sits in the middle. Settle the price guide and reserve with your agent using recent comparable sales as the spine of the conversation.
Step 5: Get it ready
Declutter, repaint anything tired, tidy the garden, fix the small stuff. That's where the dollar-for-dollar return is best. Professional staging is worth it on higher-value homes. Don't ignore the street view — it's the first photo and the first walk-up impression.
Step 6: The marketing campaign
A standard Brisbane campaign covers professional photos, a floor plan, drone shots, listings on realestate.com.au and Domain, social ads and signage. Talk through the timing — when the price reveals, whether to go off-market first, how the open homes will run.
Step 7: Negotiation and contracts
Offers come in, your agent runs the negotiation. Don't fixate on the headline number — the deposit, the settlement period and the conditions all matter. A strong unconditional cash offer often beats a higher one full of finance and inspection clauses.
Step 8: Settlement
Contracts signed, settlement usually 30–60 days later. Use the gap to plan the move, sort the utilities and line up whatever's next — another Brisbane house, the reno, or whatever comes after.