Selling your own house in Sydney is absolutely achievable, and on Sydney prices it's hugely rewarding! You keep a five-figure commission and get to show buyers the home you know better than anyone. This guide covers the four things that make a great DIY sale in Sydney: paperwork, presentation, open homes and negotiation. For prices and timing, see sell my home in Sydney: 2026 prices.
Step 1: get your contract ready
In NSW, your contract must be prepared before you advertise. Your solicitor or conveyancer attaches the prescribed documents: the title search, drainage diagram, the council's planning certificate, any easements or covenants, and the smoke alarm and loose-fill asbestos notice. If you have a pool, add your pool certificate. Also gather:
- Strata details for units: levies, the capital works fund and recent minutes
- Council and water rates notices
- Approvals for renovations, decks, granny flats and pools
- An ATO clearance certificate, which is free and online
- An inclusions list
The full list is in the NSW legal and tax checklist.
Set your price with confidence
Open your PLBO property comparables report as soon as your paperwork is under way. It brings together recent sales of similar homes near you, so you can set a Sydney asking price backed by real evidence, not guesswork! Adjust for your home's standout features, set a clear asking price, note your private walk-away figure, and watch buyer response in your PLBO dashboard.
Step 2: present your home beautifully
Photos that stop the scroll
- Shoot in the best light: a sunny morning for exteriors, and twilight for harbour, city or leafy views.
- Show what Sydney buyers love: parking, storage, outdoor entertaining, air-conditioning, and any glimpse of water or greenery.
- Style simply: clear benches, hide bins and cars, open the blinds and add fresh flowers.
On Signature, Royal or Vertex, professional presentation is included. On Essentials, upload your own photos, floor plan, video or virtual tour.
A listing that sells the lifestyle
Add your details in the PLBO dashboard, use Generate with AI for the first draft, then make it yours:
- A headline with the suburb and one standout feature, for example "Marrickville terrace, 5 minutes' walk to the station"
- The facts: land size or strata area, bedrooms, bathrooms, parking and year built
- Local detail: the station or light rail stop, the café strip, beaches, parks and school zones
- Open home times and how to request the contract
Step 3: run open homes like a pro
- Two set times a week: a weekday evening and a Saturday morning are Sydney favourites.
- Use PLBO inspection registration to log every group.
- Bring a helper to welcome buyers while you show people through.
- Have contract copies ready for serious buyers' solicitors.
- Tell the story: the renovation, the neighbours, the morning sun, the quick commute.
- Follow up within 24 hours through PLBO buyer messaging.
Step 4: negotiate with confidence
- Ask for offers in writing through PLBO.
- Qualify each buyer: finance approved? Solicitor reviewed the contract?
- Compare the whole offer in PLBO's offer management.
- Respond promptly and consistently. If several buyers are keen, invite best written offers by a set time.
- Agree terms, then exchange through your conveyancer. The buyer then has 5 business days to cool off, unless they've given a 66W certificate.
A sample Saturday open home plan
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 9:00 am | Final tidy: lights on, blinds open, flowers on the bench |
| 9:45 am | Helper arrives, contracts and handouts out, registration open |
| 10:00 am | Doors open! Welcome each group and let them explore |
| 10:30 am | Doors close. Note keen buyers and their questions |
| Afternoon | Follow up every group through PLBO buyer messaging |
| Evening | Review enquiries and offers in your dashboard, and celebrate! |
Your listing, everywhere Sydney buyers look
Your home goes live on PLBO and across Domain, view, homely, Soho, realty, onthehouse and allhomes*, and Sydney's many buyers agents find it on PLBO too.
What you'll keep
At Sydney's average commission of about 1.84% (AgentBridge, June 2026), an agent would charge roughly $31,904 on the $1,733,891 median. With PLBO you pay one upfront fee from $699 and keep 100% of your sale proceeds.
Ready to sell your Sydney home yourself? Choose your PLBO package, list in minutes, and keep that commission where it belongs: with you!
*Availability on allhomes.com.au may depend on the property's location, listing type and applicable portal requirements.