Estate agents in the UK generate an average of £30.93 per day in commission whilst progressing a property sale from instruction to completion, according to research from eXp UK.
The analysis, which combines average estate agency fees, regional house prices and transaction times, estimates commission earnings per completed sale and the daily equivalent during the transaction period.
Nationally, the average estate agency fee stands at 1.42%. When applied to the average UK house price of £270,080, this generates an estimated commission of £3,835 per sale. With the average transaction taking 124 days to complete, this equates to £30.93 in commission revenue per day.
Regional variations in commission earnings
London agents earn the highest daily commission by a significant margin. Despite an average completion time of 130 days, higher property values mean agents generate an estimated £7,848 per transaction, equivalent to £60.37 per day.
The South East ranks second at £40.54 per day, followed by Northern Ireland at £39.60, where the UK’s fastest average completion time of 71 days boosts daily commission. Agents in the East of England (£36.45), the South West (£32.55) and Scotland (£32.44) also exceed the national average.
The North East records the lowest daily commission at £19.81. Whilst homes complete more quickly than in any other English region, lower average property values reduce the estimated fee per transaction to £2,317.
Wales ranks second lowest at £22.35 per day, reflecting the longest average completion time in the UK at 135 days. Yorkshire and the Humber (£23.07), the North West (£24.55) and the West Midlands (£26.03) also fall below the national average.
Impact of transaction timelines
Adam Day, head of eXp UK and Europe, noted that estate agency is results-driven, but agents often wait months before seeing returns for their work. He stated that regional market dynamics significantly influence earning potential, with property values, transaction timelines and local market conditions all playing a role.
Day highlighted that speed matters alongside higher-value markets. The ability to progress transactions efficiently remains important in maximising productivity and profitability. He added that traditional agency models often require agents to share a significant proportion of revenue with employers, regardless of the work involved.
The research comes as buyer preferences shift towards move-in ready homes, potentially impacting transaction timelines across different market segments.
Day stated that the growth of self-employed estate agency has given agents greater control over earnings, allowing them to retain a larger share of fees and build their own businesses. This is particularly relevant in a market where transactions can take four months or more to complete, with each sale representing a significant investment of time and expertise.