Private house sales are thriving across Canberra! Owners love keeping a five-figure commission on the capital's million-dollar median, and buyers love dealing directly with the person who knows the home best. Here's how private sales work for both sides, and how PLBO brings them together.
Where Canberra private house sales are listed
- PLBO: private listings where buyers message the owner directly
- Seven major portals: PLBO listings appear on Domain.com.au, view.com.au, homely.com.au, soho.com.au, realty.com.au, onthehouse.com.au and allhomes.com.au*, right alongside agent listings
- Buyers agents: they search PLBO for private opportunities, including for clients relocating to the capital
- Social feeds and notifications: depending on the owner's package
For buyers: how an ACT private sale works
| Step | How it works |
|---|---|
| Read the contract | the contract and its required documents are ready before advertising, so ask the owner for a copy |
| Review the reports | building and compliance, pest and EER reports are included, so you know the home before you inspect it again |
| Inspect | book through PLBO inspection registration, or ask for a video walkthrough if you're interstate |
| Offer | make a written offer through PLBO, including price, deposit, conditions and settlement date |
| Exchange | contracts are exchanged through the conveyancers or lawyers |
| Cooling-off | five business days for private treaty sales, with 0.25% forfeited if you withdraw; a section 17 certificate waives it |
| Settlement | completed by the conveyancers or lawyers |
Every legal protection is exactly the same as in an agent sale. The only thing missing is the commission!
For sellers: why private works so well in the ACT
The savings
At the ACT average commission of about 2.0% (AgentBridge, June 2026), an agent would charge around $20,755 on Domain's June 2026 Canberra median house price of $1,037,766. PLBO costs one upfront fee from $699 including GST.
The buyers
Canberra has a steady flow of new arrivals: public servants, Defence families, academics, students' families and health professionals. They search nationally, and PLBO's seven major portals put your home right in front of them.
What Canberra buyers love to see from private sellers
- The contract and reports ready to send, which ACT law requires before advertising anyway
- A strong EER, proudly displayed, plus details of heating, insulation, double glazing and solar
- A price backed by your PLBO property comparables report
- Bright photos showing north-facing living, the garden and the street
- A floor plan and video walkthrough for interstate buyers
- Quick replies and clear inspection times
PLBO's dashboard makes it all easy, with buyer messaging, inspection registration and offer management in one place.
Popular private-sale markets in Canberra
| District | What buyers are looking for |
|---|---|
| Gungahlin | modern family homes and townhouses near the light rail |
| Belconnen | apartments and family homes near the lake, the university and Westfield |
| Inner North | character homes and apartments close to the city and ANU |
| Inner South | leafy streets, heritage homes and the Kingston foreshore |
| Woden Valley and Weston Creek | established suburbs with big blocks and mature gardens |
| Tuggeranong | spacious family homes, nature reserves and mountain views |
| Molonglo Valley | brand-new homes and townhouses in growing suburbs |
Bringing buyers and sellers together
- Selling? Start with sell my house privately in ACT.
- Buying? Browse private listings on PLBO.
- Buyers agent? See PLBO for buyers agents.
*Availability on allhomes.com.au may depend on the property's location, listing type and applicable portal requirements.