Plain words, no jargon
What is a buyer's agent?
A buyer's agent works for YOU, the buyer - never the seller.
Every selling agent in Australia is legally on the vendor's side. A buyer's agent is the one professional in the deal whose whole job is getting you the right home at the right price - searching, vetting, negotiating and bidding on your behalf.
What they actually do
Finds what you can't
Including off-market homes that never hit realestate.com.au
Inspects and vets
Walks properties, reads reports, flags the flood zone before you fall in love
Negotiates and bids
Haggles privately or bids at auction with a cool head and a hard limit
Runs it to keys
Contracts, conditions, building + pest, settlement - handled
What you're paying for
Access you do not have
Relationships with selling agents mean they hear about properties before a campaign starts, or instead of one.
Your Saturdays back
They filter and inspect, so you only see the places actually worth seeing.
A cool head at auction
Bidding is routine for them. For most buyers it happens twice in a lifetime.
When you need one
- You're time-poor and the Saturday circuit is eating your life
- You're buying interstate or from overseas and can't inspect yourself
- You're an investor or SMSF buyer who wants yield, not feelings
- Auctions terrify you (they should - that's the vendor's arena)
- You keep missing out and don't know why
And honestly, when you don't: if you love the hunt, know your suburb cold, and have the time - you may only want one for the negotiation. Some buyer's agents offer negotiation-only. Ask.
Common questions
What is the difference between a buyer's agent and a real estate agent?
The agent at the open home is the seller's agent - they are engaged and paid by the vendor, and their legal duty is to get the vendor the highest price. A buyer's agent is engaged and paid by you, and works to the opposite brief. Both are licensed real estate agents; the difference is whose side of the table they sit on.
How much does a buyer's agent cost in Australia?
Most charge either a fixed fee or a percentage of the purchase price, and some offer a smaller negotiation-only or auction-bidding service. Fees vary by state, by agent and by how much of the search they take on, so ask for the fee structure in writing before you engage anyone. Keyday itself is free for buyers - agents pay us a flat subscription, never a share of your deal.
Do I need a buyer's agent to buy a house?
No. Plenty of people buy well on their own, particularly in a suburb they know and when they have the Saturdays to spare. A buyer's agent earns their keep when you are time-poor, buying somewhere unfamiliar, competing at auction, or you want access to properties that never reach the portals.
Can a buyer's agent access off-market properties?
Often, yes. Working relationships with selling agents mean they hear about properties before or instead of a public campaign. How much off-market stock any individual agent genuinely sees varies a lot, so it is a fair question to ask them directly.
Are buyer's agents licensed?
Yes. Buyer's agents must hold a real estate licence or registration in the state they operate in, and are bound by the same conduct rules as selling agents. You can check a licence with your state's fair trading or consumer affairs body.
Ready to meet yours?
Find a buyer's agent near youFree for you - agents pay a flat subscription, never a cut of your deal.