There are two main options when it comes to commissions: fixed commission and tiered commission. Fixed commission is the traditional method when it comes to calculating commissions. It's based on the sale price multiplied by the negotiated commission rate. For example, if you were to sell a home for $600,000 and were charged a commission rate of 2.5% you'd pay $15,000 in commission ($600,000 x 2.5%). A tiered commission rate is based on performance, and is used as a way to encourage real estate agents to get a higher sale price. For example, let’s say you expect a sale price of $830,000. Instead of going for a flat 2.5% commission rate, you could agree on paying a lower rate of 2.0% under $830,000 and a higher rate of 6% on everything above $830,000. This means the agent has a greater incentive to achieve a price above your expected sale price.