Buyer’s agents are not the same as real estate agents. The buyer’s agent is the advocate and intermediary between buyer and seller. A real estate agent’s client is the seller (or vendor) of the property. A buyer’s agent client is the purchaser and does everything they can to find the perfect property to execute your strategy. While the professional real estate agent will maximise the sale price for their client, the vendor. There are many benefits to having buyer representation in addition to selling on your own – one being that it can save you money! Owner Occupiers do absolutely benefit from using a Buyer’s agent, however in this article we will focus on the investor benefits.

The advantage of using a buyer’s agent

Using a buyers agent can save you time and money through researching the market, identifying properties best for your investment objectives and strategy. They negotiate the fairest purchase price in line with intrinsic value so as not to overcapitalise or risk sacrificing equity at the point of purchase – plus this local knowledge can’t be bought!

• Saves you Time
• Existing Expert Local Knowledge
• Identify the best possible property aligned to your strategic plan and investment objectives.
• Connected to Professional Network
• Access to off market property deals
• Access to the latest property research and data
• Stop novice investors making huge investment mistakes
• Saves you Money
• Negotiate the best possible purchase price aligned with intrinsic value that won’t overcapitalise or risk sacrificing equity at point of purchase.
• Expert Negotiation Skills – buyer’s agent have been schooled in negotiation and possess a high level of expertise to ensure your investment is well protected!

What does a buyer’s agent actually do?

They represent you (the purchaser) of a property and do it all for you, so you don’t need to stress!
Great buyers agents should follow a process for you that is roughly outlined below:

• Clarify your goals & strategy

• Research suitable suburbs & markets

• Source on-market & off-market opportunities

• Inspect and assess property suitability

• Complete due diligence

• Negotiate price & terms in your favour

• Manage contracts, timelines & settlement

• Recommend you a diligent & professional Property Manager

All with your best interests first – always.

What to look for in a Buyer’s Agent?

A buyer’s agent will invest time with you to understand your goals, objectives and limitations before they start looking at properties. This means that when a buyer’s agent presents you with potential options – it’s because they are relevant to what you’re trying to accomplish.

A buyer’s agent should have a good understanding of investment principles and the local property market they are recommending. They will be up to date with what properties are selling for, current market dynamics, future growth drivers & any other specific information that can help you make an informed decision about your investment purchase.

What is the Process?

A buyer’s agent should take you through the following process:

Clarify your goals & strategy
A buyer’s agent should begin by understanding what you want to achieve. They should clarify your priorities, budget, preferred locations, timeframe and desired outcomes to create a clear and personalised buying brief.

Research suitable suburbs & markets
A buyer’s agent should conduct thorough research to identify suburbs and micro-locations that align with your goals. This includes analysing market trends, price growth data, rental yields, demand levels, infrastructure plans and lifestyle drivers to ensure the areas chosen carry strong strategic value.

Source on-market & off-market opportunities
A buyer’s agent should use their networks and industry relationships to access opportunities that are on-market, pre-market and off-market. This expands your options beyond what is publicly listed and increases the likelihood of securing the right property sooner.

Inspect and assess property suitability
A buyer’s agent should review each shortlisted property against your strategy. This includes assessing condition, layout, street position, orientation, comparable sales and overall long-term suitability.

Complete due diligence
A buyer’s agent should coordinate and review all due diligence requirements, such as building & pest inspections, contract reviews and ensuring your legal team does appropriate checks.

Negotiate price & terms in your favour
A buyer’s agent should negotiate on your behalf to secure the property at the best possible price and with favourable terms. By removing emotion and leveraging market knowledge, they ensure the contract conditions, timeline and settlement terms are in your best interests.

Manage contracts, timelines & settlement
A buyer’s agent should oversee the process from contract signing through to settlement. This includes coordinating with your lender, solicitor/conveyancer, inspectors and the selling agent to ensure everything progresses smoothly — making the experience stress-free and well-managed from start to finish

Recommend a diligent & professional Property Manager
A buyer’s agent should connect you with a property manager who is both professional and genuinely attentive – someone who treats your property as if it were their own. This ensures your investment is well-cared for, consistently tenanted and performing as expected over time.