Tech Entrepreneur Lists $1.6 Million Home on Facebook Marketplace in Protest Against Real Estate Commission Fees
In a bold move challenging traditional real estate practices, tech entrepreneur Warren Burger and his wife Nolene have listed their Sunshine Coast home for sale on Facebook Marketplace. The couple, both 36 and originally from South Africa, are bypassing real estate agents entirely to avoid what they describe as "exorbitant" commission fees that could reach $40,000.
The Property and Motivation Behind the Sale
The Burgers purchased their 750 square meter property on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in 2023 for $1.2 million. The home features four bedrooms and two bathrooms. After living there for three years, they have decided to sell to access capital for a new technology venture. Their asking price is $1.65 million.
"We went through the process of interviewing a bunch of agents," Mr Burger explained. "None of them could honestly justify an exorbitant fee of $30,000 to $40,000 commission to sell the house. That's why I decided I was going to sell it myself and document the entire process."
Challenges with Traditional Platforms
Mr Burger discovered that major property platforms like realestate.com.au prohibit homeowners from listing properties directly without an agent. "I asked them if I could list my house on their platform without using a real estate agent, and I was told that I can't do that," he said. "The strange thing is, landlords can actually list their properties on the platform and do a self-managed rental listing, but ordinary Australians are locked out from being able to self-manage sales of their property, even though they own it."
This restriction pushed him toward Facebook Marketplace as an alternative. He launched a tongue-in-cheek social media account called "agents_want_me_cancelled" to share his journey, which has gained thousands of views.
Distribution Challenges and Industry Critique
While the couple has received significant interest through social media, Mr Burger acknowledges distribution challenges. "I can't tell you how many direct messages I've received from people that are like, 'Where are you selling? We're interested in buying that,'" he said. Despite this, he has received no contact from buyer's agents who could facilitate a quick sale.
Mr Burger emphasized that his protest isn't against agents themselves. "I don't feel like a real estate agent's job is useless or that they're not needed at all," he clarified. However, he believes the industry needs to evolve. "Roughly 87 percent of real estate agents bail out of the industry within the first five years, and that's why I feel the whole system is fragmented. The adoption of technology and AI hasn't grown at the rate it should."
Alternative Payment Models and Future Plans
The entrepreneur suggested that agents should be paid according to specific contributions rather than receiving large commissions for entire transactions. "For example, if an agent hosts an open home, they could get paid $200 or $400 to host the open home," he proposed.
If Facebook Marketplace doesn't yield the right buyer, Mr Burger plans to try Gumtree next. The property, located near the popular holiday destination Noosa, has generated considerable attention, though the couple is in no rush to sell. Prospective buyers can request private appointments rather than attending open houses.
Mr Burger's experiment aims to demonstrate that homeowners can successfully sell properties without traditional gatekeepers. "I'm doing this to prove to myself and to people out there that it can be done without the gatekeepers and the platforms in the industry," he concluded.
