Glasgow's house selling fees hike is the largest in Scotland

In Edinburgh, where the typical fee of £4,326 paid to estate agents is the highest in Scotland, the rise was just 0.8 percent.

And in the cheapest region for fees, Inverclyde, the typical commission actually fell by 0.3 percent to £1,821.

Purplebricks say the fluctuation in selling fees across Scotland mirrors the way house prices have risen and in some cases fallen, as traditional agents usually take a percentage of the house sale.

The fixed fee agents said that Scots homebuyers are consequently paying estate agents ever more money in fees with some £156.7 million charged in commission for selling property in 2016.

Their study shows the typical fee charged in Scotland rose by over £100 (four percent) in a year to average £2,633 - half the rate of the rest of the UK.

Elsewhere, the typical commission in Aberdeenshire was £3296 a 1.2 percent rise in the year and in Stirling there was a 4.8 percent rise to £3,185.

According to Nationwide Building Society, house prices in Scotland increased by 2.2 per cent to reach an average of £142,895 in 2016 Across the UK, High Street estate agents have broken through the £4 billion a year barrier in earnings from commission fees on house sales thanks to soaring property values while the nationwide average fee charged on selling home was £4,055 - a rise of nearly eight percent in the year.

Purplebricks have launched a campaign to raise awareness of how much commission householders have been paying to traditional estate agents when moving home, and how they can avoid paying so much by taking a fixed fee.

Property expert and TV presenter Amanda Lamb who is backing the campaign, explains: “This campaign will open people’s eyes to the misery you feel when you’ve forked out thousands on commission and haven’t got anything more for your money.

“Research shows that 95% of people don’t realise exactly what they are paying in commission, until the bill hits and this needs to change. It is virtual money because it isn’t paid up front and in some ways the amount is hidden until the last moment.

"Factoring in VAT is something people forget to do as well, so what starts as a low percentage on paper adds up into a considerable sum in commission paid. Purplebricks said traditional agents’ charges can be as high as 2.5% but a typical fee is 1.8%.

Purplebricks chief executive Michael Bruce said: “People too often engage an estate agent without realising or thinking about whether there is a better alternative."

Mark Hayward, managing director of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA )said of the UK figures: “The level of fee being quoted is somewhat high, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it does include VAT.

"Last year we saw house price inflation of 6.5%, so on a straight percentage, the fee increases are in line with expectations.

"Estate agents are legally required to confirm any fees in writing prior to marketing a property, and also have to confirm it as a finite monetary figure. While in some cases these may seem higher, sellers have a choice and can of course negotiate "