Working with Brokers as a Seller: Commissions, Cooperation, and Ground Rules

Love them or complain about them, brokers move a large share of Egypt's resale deals. A seller who understands how the brokerage side works — commissions, exclusivity, cooperation — turns brokers into a sales force; a seller who improvises usually ends up frustrated on both sides.

Get the commission conversation done first

Commission customs in Egypt vary by area, unit type, and who the broker represents, so never assume — agree explicitly, before viewings begin, on the percentage or amount, who pays it, and when it is due, ideally in a short written message. Clarify what happens if the broker's buyer negotiates the price down, and whether the broker also takes a commission from the buyer, which is common and worth knowing for transparency. A broker with a clear, fair deal fights for your unit; an unclear one fights over the fee at closing.

Choose your working model deliberately

• Open listing with several brokers: maximum reach, but expect duplicated ads and price inconsistencies unless you control the advertised number.
• One trusted broker informally leading: cleaner communication, works best with someone genuinely active in your compound.
• Exclusive arrangement: stronger commitment from the broker in exchange for a defined period — insist on agreed marketing actions and a written end date.

Manage the relationship like a professional

Give brokers a complete information pack — photos, area, floor, payment status, transfer fee arrangement — so your unit is presented accurately. Insist buyers are identified before viewings, keep your own record of who introduced whom to avoid later commission disputes, and stay reachable: brokers push the sellers who respond. And however the buyer arrives, verification and closing at the developer's transfer desk remain your responsibility.

The takeaway: clarity is the whole game — agree the commission in writing first, choose one working model consciously, and equip your brokers to sell your unit accurately.