An independent Australian journal
Independent Australian guidance for hiring a buyer's agent
The brief
What a buyer's agent actually does in Australia, who they work for, and how to decide whether you need one.
Downsizing is two campaigns at once — selling a long-held home and buying a smaller one — often under family pressure and a clock. A licensed buyer's agent can run the purchase file so you are not negotiating against a selling agent while the removalist waits.
3 June 2026
Distance is the cleanest reason to hire a licensed buyer's agent, provided they are licensed in the state of the property and they do not also act for the seller. Video is not an inspection, and a national brand is not a licence.
14 May 2026
An investment brief is a yield, risk and paperwork brief, not a lifestyle brief. A licensed buyer's agent can search and negotiate on your side of the table, but they are not your accountant, valuer or property manager, and they must not also act for the seller.
28 April 2026
A first home buyer does not automatically need a buyer's agent. You need a licence check, a budget that already includes their GST-inclusive fee, and a clear view of whether you are paying to learn the process or to cover distance, speed and auctions.
8 April 2026
Ask about the licence, the conflict, the GST-inclusive fee, termination, rebates, and what happens if you find the house yourself. A readable answer in writing is the hiring test. Charm in the meeting is not.
22 March 2026
A buyer's agent is worth the fee when they change a decision you would otherwise get wrong, not when they narrate a purchase you would have made anyway. Work out the dollar cost including GST, then be honest about time, distance, auctions and your own brief.
5 March 2026
A selling agent is paid to get the vendor the best price. A buyer's agent is paid by you to find, test and negotiate a property without that conflict. They must be licensed, and they must not act for both sides on the same dwelling.
18 February 2026
A buyer's agent is a licensed real estate professional who acts for the person buying, not the person selling. Here is the work they actually do — and the work they cannot do for you.
4 February 2026
Choosing a buyer's agent is a licence, conflict and contract problem before it is a chemistry problem. Check the licence in the state of the property, insist on a single GST-inclusive price, and walk away from anyone who also acts for the seller.
20 January 2026