{"id":1019,"date":"2026-08-18T09:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T09:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.immobiliarecasani.it\/blog\/?p=1019"},"modified":"2026-08-18T09:42:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T09:42:03","slug":"real-estate-commissions-how-when-why-you-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immobiliarecasani.it\/blog\/en\/real-estate-commissions-how-when-why-you-pay\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Estate Commissions: How, When, and Why You Pay the Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Buying or selling a home is one of the most important personal, family, and financial milestones in life. Yet, when it comes to negotiations, one topic that still causes confusion is the real estate agent’s commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is the fee due? Why does mediation involve both the seller and the buyer? And above all: what goes on behind the scenes at an agency beyond showing the property?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, let’s explore what the regulations say and highlight the true value of professional mediation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Super Partes<\/em> Role: Why Mediation Protects Both Parties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first misunderstanding concerns the very nature of the profession. A real estate agent is neither a simple “salesperson” nor a biased consultant representing only one party’s interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the Italian Civil Code (Art. 1754), the broker (real estate agent) is a super partes<\/em> figure: a neutral and impartial professional who brings two or more parties together to conclude a transaction, ensuring fairness and integrity for both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the law requires the agent to equally protect both seller and buyer\u2014unless otherwise agreed in writing\u2014the commission is due from both parties. The fee compensates for guaranteeing a negotiation conducted with technical impartiality and transparency, which are essential to meet everyone’s needs in complete safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Is the Right to Commission Triggered, and When Is Payment Made?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is an important distinction between when the legal right to a commission arises and when payment is actually made according to best agency practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the Law Says (The Legal Timeline)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pursuant to Art. 1755 of the Italian Civil Code, the right to a commission arises the moment the deal is concluded. Legally speaking, a deal is considered concluded when the offeror learns that the seller has accepted the purchase offer, thereby creating a legally binding agreement between the parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casani Immobiliare’s Transparency Practice (The Practical Timeline)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although the legal right technically arises upon acceptance of the proposal, Casani Immobiliare’s standard operational practice\u2014in line with FIAIP guidelines\u2014is to collect the fee at the time of signing the preliminary purchase agreement (the compromesso<\/em>) or upon the fulfillment of any suspensive conditions (such as mortgage approval).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ensures that clients pay the fee when the purchase journey is firmly established, secure, and backed by fully verified technical and legal documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Behind the Percentage? The Value of Professional Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is a widespread misconception that a real estate agent’s work consists solely of accompanying a potential buyer to view a property. In reality, the viewing appointment is merely the visible top of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Showing people a home is only the final step of extensive preliminary work,”<\/em> explains Simone Casani. “Our goal is not to bring as many people as possible into a house, but to identify genuinely interested leads whose needs align with the property’s features right from the start. Screening, discretion, and thorough checks are what turn a simple viewing into a smooth and secure transaction.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is what the agency’s service and protection concretely include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n