Negotiating commission selling 2 multi-family properties

Member since 2024 · 1 post · 2 votes

I’m selling a triplex and duplex at the same time. I’m getting proposals with 6% commission. Do I have leverage selling 2 at the same time and both being multifamily? Any advice would percent I should counter them? This is in Bradenton , FL.

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Kiernan LaFaver

Real Estate Agent · Central New York · Member since 2023 · 207 posts · 96 votes

9mo

So there is no set fee. If an agent wanted to do it for 2% or 4% (just for example sake) they absolutely could. This is all up for negotiation. At the end of the day, you are essentially the one that offers the commision fee, for both the selling agent and if you're offering anything to the buyer agent. If you are selling multiple properties at once, especially as a package, I would ask each agent you interview about a lower fee, given the situation. There's absolutely no harm in doing so. The whole process is just negotiation. I'm an agent, and I honestly would entertain some sort of commision structure for selling multiple properties at once. I see no issue with you trying to leverage selling two properties at once

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Kiernan LaFaver
Real Estate Agent · Central New York · Member since 2023 · 207 posts · 96 votes
9mo
So there is no set fee. If an agent wanted to do it for 2% or 4% (just for example sake) they absolutely could. This is all up for negotiation. At the end of the day, you are essentially the one that offers the commision fee, for both the selling agent and if you're offering anything to the buyer agent. If you are selling multiple properties at once, especially as a package, I would ask each agent you interview about a lower fee, given the situation. There's absolutely no harm in doing so. The whole process is just negotiation. I'm an agent, and I honestly would entertain some sort of commision structure for selling multiple properties at once. I see no issue with you trying to leverage selling two properties at once
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Moris Eureka
Member since 2026 · 14 posts · 2 votes
9mo
Nikki — yes, you do have leverage, but it’s less about the number of units and more about how clean and marketable the deal is.

Selling two multifamily properties at once can be attractive to the right agent if:

• Pricing is realistic

• Financials are organized

• Properties are straightforward to market

Rather than focusing only on commission %, you might also compare:

• Marketing strategy

• Buyer pool (retail vs investor)

• Track record selling small multifamily locally

Sometimes a slightly higher fee with a strong agent results in a faster, cleaner sale and better net outcome. Everything is negotiable — just make sure you’re comparing total value, not just commission.
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Bill B.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
9mo
Why aren’t you negotiating/agreeing to simply the seller’s agent fee right now?
What if the buyer doesn’t have an agent or uses the selling agent and now you’ve agreed to pay that one agent 6%.
What if your best buyer’s agent wants a 5% commission and you agree. Do you think there’s any chance your agent will take 1%?
You’re only negotiating against yourself for the least you’ll pay. Are you using a PM? If so do they have a real estate arm? My PM has listed my last 2 Properties for 2% and the agent lowered his commission to 1.5% without me asking when the buyer’s agent wanted 3%. (We had discussed 4 - 4.5% total being the goal and it was out only serious offer.)
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- Hunter Loomis
  Real Estate Agent · Tampa · Member since 2024 · 17 posts · 6 votes
  9mo
  Quote from @Bill B.:
  
  Why aren’t you negotiating/agreeing to simply the seller’s agent fee right now?
  What if the buyer doesn’t have an agent or uses the selling agent and now you’ve agreed to pay that one agent 6%.
  What if your best buyer’s agent wants a 5% commission and you agree. Do you think there’s any chance your agent will take 1%?
  You’re only negotiating against yourself for the least you’ll pay. Are you using a PM? If so do they have a real estate arm? My PM has listed my last 2 Properties for 2% and the agent lowered his commission to 1.5% without me asking when the buyer’s agent wanted 3%. (We had discussed 4 - 4.5% total being the goal and it was out only serious offer.)
  What Bill Said!
  One thing to be careful of is negotiating only the seller’s side commission upfront—you may just be negotiating against yourself.
  
  For example, what happens if the buyer is unrepresented or ends up using the listing agent? You’ve effectively pre-agreed to pay that one agent the full 6%.
  
  Or, say your strongest buyer comes with an agent who wants 4–5%. Is your listing agent realistically going to reduce their side to 1–2% to make the deal work? In practice, that flexibility often matters more than the headline rate.
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Amber Stout
Lender · Tampa/Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2014 · 357 posts · 148 votes
9mo
I think you could have leverage selling 2 at the same time. The % split is always up for negotiation, however it's not always best negotiating that the lowest possible. This is a pretty specific type of sale. A triplex + duplex is going to attract investor buyers, not retail, so you really want an agent who already works in that space and knows how to market numbers, not just photos. If the agent already has a pool of investor buyers, it could be worth it to leave the % higher if it's the right agent.

I have a couple agent referrals who only work with investors and multifamily deals in FL. They already have buyer lists and know how to speak ROI, rents, value add, etc. Happy to share their info if helpful.

Commission aside, the right agent can easily net you more on the back end by pricing it correctly and getting it in front of the right buyers.
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Raymond J. RodriguesBusiness Member
Lender · Miami, FL · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 797 votes
9mo
@Nicola S. reach out to @Josh Green to list your properties. He is Tampa Bays local expert and am sure he can figure out something that works for the both of you!
[email protected]619-456-8311
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Jorge VazquezBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 700 votes
9mo
I'd try to go off market first and reach out to firms and property management companies that have pocket investors and all-cash buyers. Groups like ours sit on big buyer lists. If that works, great. If not, then roll it onto the MLS. Either way, since you're selling both together, I'd be offering the agent something under 5% total. Or try to first.
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