The Benefits Of Using A Buyers Agent When Purchasing A New Home

Are you thinking of buying your first home? Congratulations, you are about to make what will likely be one of the most important financial investments of your life so far! Before you do, it really pays to obtain a thorough understanding of your area’s real estate sector and the available resources you have on hand to help you find a great property that’s within your budget and desired location. The best resource that we like to recommend is a buyer’s agent. 

Buyer’s agents are licensed real estate professionals who are hired by the buyer to help them search for the right property, make an expert evaluation of its worth, and help you negotiate the purchase. It’s kind of the opposite of a real estate agent who actually works for the owner to help them sell their property, whereas buyers agents in Sydney act on behalf of the purchaser to keep them well-informed and to help them get the best price possible on the property. It’s important to note that by law, a buyer’s agent can only act for the buyer and it would be illegal for them to receive a fee from both parties in a property transaction, so you can rest assured they are on your side! 

So, how does this work? 

Buyer’s agents can offer you either full or partial services depending on your needs and how much you want to do on your own. The following are some of the services a buyer’s agent might offer:

• Help you search for available listings in your price range and area.
• Help you write up a wishlist of all the features you are looking for in your potential property and give you expert feedback on what you can expect based on the available data.
• Attend property viewings on your behalf to create a shortlist of the best available real estate.
• Attend property auctions and make bids on your behalf, if requested.
• Arrange to have pest inspections, building inspections, and engineering reports scheduled.
• Help you to negotiate the sale price with the owner.
• Work with the conveyancer to oversee the exchange of contracts.
• Attend the settlement with you.

If you decide to use a buyers agent then it makes sense to bring them on board from the very start of the process to get you off on the right track! This will work to give you a better idea of what you really want in terms of proximity to shops, transport and other amenities, as well as the layout of your hoped for home, such as the number of baths and bedrooms, all while making sure it doesn’t exceed your price range. 

The best way to find a great buyer’s agent in your area is to ask around, especially if you know a friend or family member that has used one. If that isn’t an option, then start with the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) website, you can find hundreds of suitable agents listed in every state and territory. 

Good luck finding your dream home!