A plain-English guide for owners of offices, shops, warehouses and mixed-use buildings: the three ways to sell, how buyers value commercial property, GST and the documents Queensland law now requires before a buyer signs.
To sell commercial property on the Gold Coast, start with an appraisal based on the property's income, yield and recent comparable sales, then choose a sale method: Expression of Interest (offers by a closing date), auction (a written reserve and a sale on the day) or private treaty (an asking price open to negotiation). Before the buyer signs, a Queensland seller must give a seller disclosure statement and prescribed certificates, and GST, leases and the ATO clearance certificate all need to be sorted early.
Selling an office, shop, warehouse or mixed-use building is different from selling a home. Most buyers are investors, owner-occupiers or developers, and they buy on numbers: the rent, the lease terms, the outgoings, the building's condition and what the land could become. The better those numbers are presented, the more confident buyers are and the stronger the offers. A good sale starts weeks before the campaign, with three questions:
Buyers value income-producing commercial property mainly on its net income and a market yield. Net income is the rent less the outgoings the owner pays. The yield reflects risk: a long lease to a strong tenant in a busy location attracts a lower yield, and therefore a higher price, than a short lease or a vacant tenancy. The result is then checked against comparable sales nearby.
Vacant property and property bought by owner-occupiers is compared more directly with recent sales of similar space. Where the land is worth more for redevelopment than the building, developers value it on what it can yield; our guide to how a development site is valued explains that method. Things that lift value include a long weighted lease expiry, rent reviews in place, a sound building with current compliance, good parking and access, and zoning that allows more.
Buyers inspect during a set campaign and submit written offers, with their price and terms, by a closing date. The seller then negotiates with the strongest parties. EOI suits investment and development property where buyers need time for due diligence and where terms – settlement date, conditions, a leaseback – matter as much as price. Offers on GC Prestige campaigns can be lodged online through our Expression of Interest page.
In Queensland a seller can set a reserve price, the minimum sale price, in writing. Before the reserve is reached, the auctioneer can accept vendor bids, which must be announced; once bidding reaches the reserve, further vendor bids are not allowed. If bidding passes the reserve, the seller must accept the highest bid and the contract is signed on the spot. If the reserve is not reached, the seller can negotiate with the bidders. Auction suits well-located, easy-to-understand property with strong demand, such as a leased shop or a small strata office.
The property is listed at an asking price and buyers negotiate one by one. It is simple and flexible, and suits property with a clear market value. Without a deadline there is less competitive pressure, so the asking price has to be right from the start.
Some owners prefer a confidential approach to selected investors or developers, for example to protect tenants or a business operating from the property. Our guide to off-market property sales compares the trade-offs.
There is no single best method. EOI and auction create deadline-driven competition; private treaty and off-market give flexibility and privacy. As a rule of thumb, choose EOI for larger, complex or development-style assets, auction for straightforward property with plenty of buyers, and private treaty when the value is clear and you want to control the timing. A good agent will recommend one method and explain why, using recent results for similar property.
If you sell commercial premises such as shops, factories or offices, you are generally liable for GST on the sale price. A sale can be GST-free as a going concern when payment is made, the buyer is registered or required to be registered for GST, both parties agree in writing that it is a going concern, and the seller supplies everything needed to continue the enterprise – for a leased building, usually the lease – and carries it on until the day of supply. The margin scheme can be another option in some cases, but it needs a written agreement before settlement. GST changes the net amount you receive, so get tax advice before the contract is drafted. This is general information only; the ATO pages listed below set out the rules.
A commercial real estate agent on the Gold Coast should be able to show you recent sales of similar property, a list of active buyers for your type of asset, and a written marketing plan with a recommended sale method. Ask how they will present the income, who will run the inspections and negotiations, and how they report to you during the campaign. GC Prestige's Commercial division sells and leases office, retail, industrial and development property on the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland from our office in Southport. Recent commercial and development-land sales include 600 Chambers Flat Road, Logan Reserve ($5,165,000), 733–743 Logan Reserve Road ($3,350,000) and 170 Loganview Road ($3,000,000), and our managing director, Oktay Vali, has settled more than $200 million in property transactions across South East Queensland.
Every property is different, so treat this as a guide only.
To sell commercial property on the Gold Coast, get an appraisal based on income, yield and comparable sales, choose Expression of Interest, auction or private treaty, prepare the seller disclosure statement and lease documents with your solicitor, and run a campaign to investors, owner-occupiers and developers.
There is no single best method. EOI and auction create deadline-driven competition; private treaty gives flexibility. The right choice depends on the property and its likely buyers.
Generally yes, on the sale price if you are liable for GST. A sale of a going concern can be GST-free if all the ATO conditions are met, and the margin scheme needs a written agreement before settlement. Get tax advice.
Yes. Since 1 August 2025 the seller disclosure scheme applies to residential, commercial and vacant land sales in Queensland, with some exemptions. The statement and prescribed certificates must be given before the buyer signs.
The statutory 5-day cooling-off period in Queensland applies to contracts for residential property. Your solicitor can confirm how your contract is affected.
Yes. The seller can set a reserve price in writing. Once bidding passes it, the seller must accept the highest bid.
A commercial real estate agent on the Gold Coast appraises the property, recommends a sale method, prepares the marketing and information memorandum, finds and qualifies buyers, and negotiates price and terms through to settlement.
Request a free commercial appraisal on the GC Prestige website or call 1300 937 981. Oktay will call you within one business day.
General information only, current at 12 November 2026. This guide is not legal, financial, tax or planning advice. Rules change, so check the official sources above and get advice from a solicitor, accountant or town planner for your situation. Updated 12 November 2026 by GC Prestige, 1300 937 981.