Step 4 · Decide whether you'll use a buyer's agent

Summer Headstart · Step 4 of 10 · Get ready

Some buyers need a buyer's agent and some don't. Either way, decide now, not halfway through a campaign.

Why this matters before Christmas

With only a few weeks left, you may not have time to learn a new suburb, sit through every open and negotiate on your own. A buyer's agent can do some of that for you. But they take time to choose and brief, so leaving the decision late defeats the purpose.

What a buyer's agent does

• Finds properties, including off-market ones you'd never see listed
• Helps you judge quality, so you don't overpay for a good-looking house on a poor block
• Negotiates or bids for you, without the emotion
• Manages the process with the agent, conveyancer and inspector

They usually charge a fixed fee or a percentage of the price, so ask up front.

Who tends to benefit most

Buyers short on time, buying in an area they don't know well, buying at the top of their budget, or who find negotiating stressful. If you know your suburb well and enjoy the process, you may not need one.

What we do

We work alongside buyer's agents every week and know who's good. If you'd like an introduction, just ask.

What you do this week

• Decide: do it yourself, or get help?
• If help, speak to two buyer's agents and compare fees and approach
• Tell us who you choose, so we can work with them

Listen and look

📍 Our map of buyer's agents we know and trust — alcove.com.au/core/buyers-agents

🎧 Elephant in the Room: Buyers agents are everywhere, but who's actually good? (with Bryce Holdaway) — listen to episode 450

🎥 First home buyer? First Home Unlocked: what first home buyers need to know about buyer's agents

Next: Step 5 · Set up your search →

See all 10 steps

Want to talk it through?

Book a 30-minute chat with the team →

General information only, not financial or legal advice. Your situation is your own, so talk to us before you act.