There are three ways to sell a home in Estonia: with an agent, fully by yourself, or directly to a buyer (a fast-sale service). None is universally right — the choice depends on how much time and experience you have, and how fast you need the money.
With an agent: convenience costs 2–4% + VAT
Agent commission in Estonia is typically 2–4% of the sale price plus VAT, sometimes a fixed fee. On a €200,000 apartment that means €4,000–8,000 plus VAT. For that money a good agent should:
- set a realistic price and sales strategy with you;
- arrange photos, portal listings and marketing;
- answer enquiries and run viewings (including while you are at work);
- negotiate the price and carry the deal to the notary with all paperwork.
An agent is a worthy choice if you lack time or sales experience, the property is complicated (inheritance, tenanted apartment) or you live elsewhere. A bad agent, however, is the most expensive option of all — before signing, ask what their price recommendation is based on, and avoid long exclusivity without performance obligations.
Selling yourself: you save the fee, you pay with time
Selling yourself, the commission stays with you — and so does all the work. Direct costs are small: portal listing fees (tens of euros per month), optional professional photos (€100–200) and the notary fee, usually split with the buyer anyway. The real cost is your time: pricing, the listing, every enquiry and viewing, negotiating with strangers.
The biggest FSBO mistake is the wrong asking price. An overpriced listing sits for months and goes stale — buyers start asking what's wrong with it. Before listing, sanity-check your price: the free calculator gives a range based on Land Board transactions in a minute, and the regional price pages show your area's median.
The third way: selling directly to a buyer (fast sale)
A fast-sale service means a buyer (usually a real estate company) makes you a concrete offer within days and closes as fast as you want — no listings, viewings or agent fees. The price is below market (typically 5–15%) because the buyer takes on the risk and resale effort. It makes sense when speed and certainty are worth more to you than the last price percent: moving abroad, dividing an inheritance, loan pressure.
How to decide
- You have time and price matters most → sell yourself, but price with data, not gut feeling.
- Short on time or experience, standard property → a good agent will likely earn their fee back.
- You need money within weeks or want none of the hassle → request a fast-sale offer and compare it with the market price.
Whichever path you choose — start by knowing your home's actual market value. Value your property for free, and if you wish, we'll also make you a concrete purchase offer to compare calmly against the alternatives.