A buyer’s agent represents only the buyer (you). The job covers strategy, search, due diligence, and negotiation—end to end.

Strategy: We clarify your goals (home vs investment), suburbs, budget, yield/growth targets, and risk tolerance.

Search: We scan daily across portals, agent networks, off-market/pre-market sources, private sales and “stale” listings. You get a shortlist with pros/cons, price guidance and a go/no-go view.

Due diligence: Comparable sales (comps), flood/overlays, zoning, easements, rental appraisal, insurance checks, strata/body-corp (for units/townhouses), building & pest, contract term review with your conveyancer/solicitor.

Negotiation/Auction: We set a valuation range and walk-away number, choose tactics (private treaty offer sequencing, auction day plan), and aim to secure better price + conditions (e.g., finance and B&P clauses, settlement timing).

Contract to keys: Coordinate conveyancer, lender/broker, insurer, pre-settlement inspection and handover.

Outcome: Save time, avoid lemons, and reduce the risk of overpaying or buying the wrong asset.

Most reputable buyer’s agents use a two-part model:

1) Engagement/retainer fee (fixed): Starts the search and locks capacity. Signals commitment on both sides. Often covers the strategy session, ongoing search, inspections, and weekly reporting.

2) Success fee (flat or %): Payable on exchange (not at settlement). Aligns incentives with the outcome.

Add-ons: Auction bidding only; assess-and-negotiate (you find it, we value and close); interstate searches; investor packs (yield modelling).

What’s included (typical): Strategy, search, shortlists, inspections, pricing analysis, negotiation/auction representation, contract-to-keys coordination.

What’s not included (typical third-party costs): Building & pest, strata/body-corp reports, survey, valuation, legal/conveyancing fees, lender fees, insurance, government charges (stamp duty, registration).

A true buyer’s agent acts solely for buyers. That means no vendor commissions and no undisclosed referral fees from developers, listing agents, or service providers.

What good practice looks like:

Written disclosure of any potential conflict (e.g., a builder referral discount passed entirely to you). You pay the fee; the seller doesn’t.

Recommendations (conveyancers, brokers, inspectors) are based on merit; you’re free to choose anyone.

Why this matters: If an “agent” is paid by the seller, they’re effectively a sales agent, not your representative. Your price and terms can suffer.

How to test it: Ask directly, “Do you receive any payments, commissions, or benefits from the seller, developer, or any third party related to my purchase?” Get the answer in writing in the agreement.

Typical full search is 4–8 weeks from brief to exchange, but it varies by budget, stock levels, seasonality, and how tight your criteria are.
Indicative timeline:

Week 0–1: Brief & strategy. Finance pre-approval, success criteria, target suburbs.

Week 1–5: Search & shortlist. On/off-market scanning, inspections, weekly progress reports.

Per target (2–7 days): Due diligence. Comps, B&P/strata, flood/overlays, rental appraisal, contract review.

1–3 days: Negotiate/auction. Offer sequencing or auction day execution.

2–6 weeks: Contract to keys. Conveyancing, finance, insurance, pre-settlement checks; settlement occurs after exchange per the contract.

Faster options:

Assess & negotiate only (you found the property): as little as 2–10 days.

Auction bidding only: 1–3 days to prepare with a hard ceiling.
What speeds things up: Clear brief, pre-approval, flexible settlement window, fast document turnarounds.

Often, yes—but not every week and not for every brief. Off-market/pre-market access depends on relationships and timing.
Sources: Sales agents (quiet tests before listing), vendors seeking privacy, developers with limited releases, withdrawn/stale listings, database matches.

What to expect from a good agent:

A repeatable system to surface opportunities (agent call list, weekly outreach, buyer-match alerts).

Examples of recent off-market deals in your target suburbs (addresses redacted is fine).

A clear valuation process so off-markets don’t become over-pays (comps, yield, repair costs).

Reality check: Off-market ≠ automatic bargain. Some are overpriced or have hidden issues (flood, body-corp risk, poor yield). Your agent should filter hard and show price discipline.

Upside: Less competition, cleaner negotiations, better alignment on settlement terms, and speed.

It depends on your circumstances and the property’s use. This is general information only—get personal advice from a qualified tax professional.
Common principles (Australia, high level):

Acquisition (capital) costs—like buyer’s agent fees for purchasing an investment—are typically capital in nature. They usually form part of the cost base for CGT, rather than an immediate deduction against rental income.

Some costs related to managing an existing investment (not acquiring it) may be deductible in the year incurred.

Owner-occupier purchases are generally not deductible.

What to do now:

Ask your accountant how to record the fee (cost base vs deduction) and what evidence they’ll need (invoices, scope, proof of investment intent).

We can coordinate with your accountant to provide the paperwork so you’re set at tax time.