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Your numbers, your timeline, your decision. Free tools for sellers who want clarity before they list, and buyers who want the full picture before they commit.

Think it through, without pressure Explore your options at your pace Talk to someone only if it helps
The hidden cost of selling

You think you'll net R2.5M.
You probably won't.

The gap between the sale price and what lands in your account is bigger than most sellers expect. Here's what a typical R2.5M property sale actually looks like:

R195k
Average amount sellers lose track of before they run the real numbers
Sale priceR2,500,000
Agent commission (5.75% + VAT)− R165,313
Bond settlement− R1,100,000
90-day notice penalty− R29,656
Compliance certificates− R9,000
Actual net proceedsR1,196,031

Two decisions. Two different tools.

Whether you're thinking of selling or buying, choose your path and get the numbers you actually need.

For sellers · Answer 1 of 3

Your real net proceeds — not the headline price

Your statement shows the sale price less agent commission (at the exact rate you negotiate), bond settlement, the early cancellation penalty, transfer and compliance costs. Every line itemised, no rounding, no surprises. This is what actually lands in your account.

Your seller statementCalculated
Sale price (your estimate)R2,500,000
Agent commission + VAT− R165,313
Bond settlement− R1,100,000
90-day notice interest− R29,656
Compliance certificates− R9,000
Net proceedsR1,196,031
For sellers · Answer 2 of 3

What does staying cost you every month?

Your bond repayment, monthly levies, rates, and insurance don't stop while you deliberate. Waiting 12 months isn't free — it's your holding cost multiplied by twelve. We show you the number clearly so the decision to delay is at least a conscious one.

R9,196
Your monthly holding cost
Bond repaymentR6,696
Monthly levyR1,800
Rates & taxesR700
Waiting 12 months costs you R110,352 in holding costs alone — before market movement.
For sellers · Answer 3 of 3

Sell, rent out, or refinance — compared clearly

We model all three paths using your inputs. What monthly income could you generate if you let the property? What would refinancing cost you, and what equity could you unlock? No preferred outcome — just the numbers, side by side, so you can make the call.

Sell
Rent out
Refinance
R1,196,031
One-time net proceeds in hand
After all costsR1,196,031
Timeline to transfer~90 days
Ongoing obligationsNone

Thinking of buying? Know the real cost first.

The listed price is just the start. Run any of these calculators instantly — no sign-up needed. Then get your full personalised buyer report emailed to you.

🏛️
Transfer Duty

SARS official tables — no transfer duty under R1.1M for first homes.

+
Purchase priceR2,500,000
📊
Bond Repayment

Monthly repayment at any purchase price and deposit.

+
Purchase priceR2,500,000
Deposit10%
💼
Total Upfront Cash

Deposit + duty + attorney fees + bond registration.

+
Purchase priceR2,500,000
Deposit10%
🎯
Affordability Check

What the banks will typically lend at your income level.

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Gross monthly incomeR50,000
Existing monthly debtR5,000
Save your results

Email these figures
to yourself

The numbers you've worked out are worth keeping. Enter your email and we'll send your transfer duty, bond repayment, upfront cost, and affordability figures straight to your inbox — easy to reference later or share with a partner.

Transfer duty
Total upfront cash
Monthly repayment (20yr)
Max purchase price

Your figures from the calculators above will be included.

🔒 POPIA compliant · Your details are protected
About Zettl

Built for the person making the decision.

Zettl exists because we have seen too many people make important property decisions without truly understanding what those decisions will cost them.

We have watched sellers agree to sell without knowing what they would actually walk away with. We have seen buyers stretch themselves based on a purchase price, only to discover too late how much cash was really required on the day of transfer. In most cases, the information was not hidden — it was simply fragmented, technical, or presented after the point where it could still change the outcome.

That did not sit right with us.

So we built Zettl to bring that information forward. Not to replace advisers or push people toward a particular outcome, but to give people the same clarity earlier, when it still matters.

The tools on this site exist to help you understand your position, explore your options, and make decisions with fewer surprises and fewer regrets. We believe that financial clarity should come before commitment, not after it.

That is why these tools are free to use. Good information should not be locked behind mandates, commissions, or pressure to proceed. You deserve to understand the numbers before anyone benefits from your decision.

⚖️
Independent by design

Zettl is not an estate agency. We do not list properties or negotiate sales. The tools on this site exist to help people understand their position and options before committing to anything.

You can use every calculator and resource here without speaking to anyone.

🔓
Free and accessible

All tools on Zettl are free for you to use. There are no time limits, no upgrades, and no requirement to engage.

We believe financial clarity should come before commitment, not after it becomes difficult to change course.

💡
How Zettl is funded

Zettl is free for you to use. We are funded by introductions, when you choose to speak to a relevant professional to further explore your options.

Your details are only shared when you choose to connect, and the tools on this site work exactly the same whether or not you ever decide to speak to anyone.

Questions we get asked
No. No one contacts you unless you explicitly choose to connect. Using the tools, completing assessments, or receiving reports does not trigger calls or follow ups. If you decide you would like to speak to a relevant professional, we will ask clearly and you can always say no.
Yes. All tools on Zettl are free to use, with no time limits or upgrades. You can use every calculator and resource without engaging with anyone.
No. Zettl is a decision support platform. We do not list properties, negotiate sales, or facilitate transactions. We exist to help people understand their position and options before deciding what to do next.
The calculations follow official published tables and conveyancing fee guidelines. The main variable is your own estimate of your property value, which you provide. These tools are designed to support understanding, not to replace formal valuations or financial advice.
Most home loans require 90 days notice before early settlement. If notice is not given, the bank typically charges interest for the remaining notice period. On a bond of around R1.1 million at prime, this can be roughly R29,000. Many sellers only discover this cost late in the process.
Yes. Seller results and buyer reports can be emailed to you. We do not require an account, and your email is used only to deliver the report you request.
Seller readiness assessment
1
2
3
4

Your property

Ranges are fine — we don't need exact figures at this stage.

Property type
Freehold house
Sectional title
Estate / complex
Townhouse
Estimated value
Under R1M
R1M – R1.5M
R1.5M – R2M
R2M – R3M
R3M – R5M
Over R5M

Your finances

This is what lets us calculate your real net position — not the headline figure.

Outstanding bond balance
No bondFully paid off
Under R500k
R500k – R1M
R1M – R1.5M
R1.5M – R2M
Over R2M
Monthly bond repayment
Under R6k
R6k – R12k
R12k – R20k
R20k – R30k
Over R30k
Monthly levy + rates (if applicable)
None
Under R3k
R3k – R6k
Over R6k

Your situation

No wrong answers — this helps us frame your results clearly.

What's prompting this?
Relocating
Downsizing
Upgrading
Financial pressure
Life change
Just exploring
When are you thinking of selling?
As soon as possible
Within 6 months
Within a year
Just researching for now

Email me my results

Your figures are calculated. Enter your details and we'll send your full seller assessment straight to your inbox — net proceeds, holding costs, and a complete cost breakdown.

Your seller assessmentCalculated
Estimated net proceeds
Monthly cost of staying
Cost of waiting 12 months
Enter your details below and we'll email your full assessment — free, no obligation.
Yes, interested
Not right now
Not yet
Yes, listed
Already sold

🔒 POPIA compliant · Your details are protected · No spam

Buyer cost calculators

Buyer cost calculators

Open any calculator for instant results. No sign-up needed to use the tools — email at the bottom to get your full compiled report.

🏛️
Transfer Duty

Government tax on purchase. SARS official tables. First homes under R1.1M pay nothing.

+
Purchase priceR2,500,000

SARS table effective March 2023. First-time buyer relief applies to primary residences under R1.1M.

📊
Bond Repayment

Monthly repayment at any purchase price and deposit. Compare 20 vs 30 year terms.

+
Purchase priceR2,500,000
Deposit10%

Uses prime rate 11.25% (March 2026). Actual rate depends on your credit profile and negotiation with the bank.

💼
Total Upfront Cash

Everything you need in cash on the day of transfer. No surprises.

+
Purchase priceR2,500,000
Deposit10%

Bond registration fees are an estimate. Your conveyancer will confirm exact amounts before transfer.

🎯
Affordability Check

What the banks will typically lend based on your gross income and existing debt.

+
Gross monthly incomeR50,000
Existing monthly debtR5,000

Banks typically cap debt repayments at 30% of gross income. This includes your new bond repayment.

🗓️
Planning tool
Path to Purchase
Map your savings runway to your target property. Adjust any input to see your timeline update live.
Your inputs
Target property priceR2,000,000
Target deposit10%
Current savingsR50,000
Monthly savings capacityR5,000
Gross monthly incomeR50,000
Existing monthly debtR5,000
Your plan
of upfront cash
goal saved
On track
Savings timeline
Today
Halfway
Ready to buy
Save your plan
Email this plan to yourself
Get your savings target, timeline, and cost breakdown in one place — useful to share with a partner or revisit later.
Yes
No
🔒 POPIA compliant · Your details are protected · Free, no obligation

Get your full buyer cost report

We'll compile all four results — transfer duty, bond repayment, total upfront cash, and affordability — into a single clean report emailed directly to you. Keep it, share it with your partner, or use it when talking to a bank.

Transfer duty
Total upfront cash needed
Monthly bond repayment (20yr)
Maximum purchase price
ASAP
3–6 months
6–12 months
Just exploring
Yes
No
Pre-approved
In progress
Not yet
🔒 POPIA compliant · No agent contact without consent · Free, no obligation

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