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Buyers Agents Fees: Commission or Fixed Rate ?

The cost of hiring a buyer’s agent can vary depending on the level of service, the amount of assistance required, and the agent’s experience.

In Melbourne, you generally have the option to hire a fully licensed buyer’s agent for one of three main services:

  • Full Property Search
  • Appraisal and Negotiation
  • Auction Bidding

For these services, buyer’s agents typically offer two main fee structures: a fixed rate or a commission based on a percentage of the sale.

Buyers Agents Fees- Commission or Fixed Rate ?

How Commission-Based Fees Could Cost You More

When hiring a buyer’s agent, opting for a commission model or a percentage of the sale can be advantageous in cutting costs for a lower-value property acquisition. However, this approach may pose risks, especially for high-value properties, where real estate agents may intentionally underquote prices.

In the Melbourne property market, it’s not unusual for a property to sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars above the quoted price.

A buyer’s agent driven by a commission model might prioritize maximizing your budget rather than advising on quality properties with a lower market value, potentially not saving clients money.

Get Clarity on Your Costs with a Fixed Rate

A fixed rate plan offers great transparency to the client regardless of the value of the property. An advocate that offers a fixed rate also has no monetary incentive to spend more on a property to increase their own bottomline.

In most cases, the process and due diligence conducted to purchase a property doesn’t change regardless of the property value. 

A fixed rate that covers our clients until a property is purchased regardless of how many auctions or private negotiations it takes.
The responsibility is on our buyers agents to provide a high quality service that is paid on performance. Our clients say ‘we make buying easy.’

Wise Real Estate Advice provides a fixed fee, irrespective of the client’s price range, level of complexity, or search criteria.

Our service encompasses property search, video inspections, and handling auction bidding or private negotiations. |
We undertake thorough due diligence on the property and engage in negotiation, either through private treaty or auction, until a successful property purchase is achieved.

Importantly, the fee remains the same regardless of how many negotiations or auctions we attend for a period of 6 months.

Our clients have a choice of two service plans:

Plan 1: Fully serviced buyers agent

We offer a fixed fee regardless of the clients price brackets, degree of difficulty or search criteria.

The main feature of this plan is our expert buyers agents search property from the open marketplace and off market,  we selectively screen properties to optimize long-term returns, ensuring they serve as sound investments over time.

One you create a short list, we’ll physically walk through every property creating recordings of all our property inspections and share them online, featuring commentary and aerial drone footage showcasing both the property and its surroundings.

Once we find a property to purchase, we will conduct detailed due-diligence on the property, you will know:

  • The actual market value of the property rather than relying on the advertised price provided by a real estate agent.
  • For the investor, we’ll provide a written rental appraisal from by our sister company Property Managers Melb. 
  • You will gain a better understanding of any structural defects and maintenance needs that the property may require.
  • We will create a bidding plan outlining a starting point and walk away point. 

The concluding phase involves incorporating all our due diligence into negotiations with the real estate agent, either through private treaty or auction, until the property is successfully purchased.

The fee remains the same regardless of how many negotiations or auctions we attend.

This plan allows you to work on multiple properties at one time, across Melbourne. 

We will conduct the necessary property searches and inspections, engage in negotiations, attend auctions or private treaty, all for a flat fee of $7,700, inclusive of GST. This fixed rate remains in effect until a property is successfully purchased.


Plan 2: Negotiate for me. 

Our appraisal and negotiation service is ideal for the buyer whom enjoys the search but want to bring in the experts to get the true market value of the property and know that they can secure it at the right price through expert negotiation.

You provide the property, we will conduct detailed due-diligence.

Our buyers agents will give you a property inspections video, featuring commentary and aerial drone footage showcasing both the property and its surroundings.

You will understand the:

  •  Actual market value of the property rather than relying on the advertised price provided by a real estate agent.
  • You will gain a better understanding of any structural defects and maintenance needs that the property may require.
  • We will create a bidding plan outlining a starting point and walk away point. 

The concluding phase involves incorporating all our due diligence into negotiations with the real estate agent, either through private treaty or auction, until the property is successfully purchased.

The fee remains the same regardless of how many negotiations or auctions we attend.

This plan allows you to work on a single property per negotiation across Melbourne. 

If the client conducts a property search & requires a buyers agent for negotiating via and auction or private treaty, we charge a flat fee of $5,700. Inc GST, fixed rate until a property is purchased .


Upfront Costs for Hiring a Buyer’s Agent: What to Expect

Most buyer’s agents require an upfront payment when you sign the contract, typically a portion of their total fee. This initial payment can range from $1,000 to 50% of the total fee. In many cases, this fee is non-refundable, though sometimes a portion may be refunded if the purchase doesn’t proceed. 

At WISE, our engagement fee is around 30% upfront, with the remaining balance due only after a successful purchase. This ensures that if you don’t buy, you don’t pay—keeping your buyer’s agent fully aligned with your best interests.


Buyer’s Agent Fees: Your Essential Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to help you navigate paying for a buyer’s advocate:

  • Fixed fees until a property is secured.
  • No commission-based payments.
  • Choose a buyer’s agent with the right experience. Learn more about buyer’s agent qualifications here.
  • Ensure your buyer’s advocate is a fully licensed real estate agent. You can verify their license on the Consumer Affairs Register here.
  • Be cautious of exclusive contracts that lock you in for an extended period. If you’re unhappy, you should have the freedom to exit.
  • Make sure all the above points are clearly stated in your written agreement or contract. 

At Wise Real Estate Advice, we take pride in ensuring every detail is covered. We provide thoughtful, expert guidance throughout the buying process. To speak with one of our friendly buyer’s agents, click here to fill out an inquiry form.

Benefits of Using a Buyers Agent. 

A skilled buyer’s agent has a lot more to offer than tangible real estate services. The intangible benefit of a buyer’s agent rewards their customer for the life of the property they purchase.

Even though buying property seems simple, property ownership can be plagued with hidden cost and problems.

A cheap property might seem like the right move, a great price usually means hidden cost that you will discover during ownership or on resale. A skilled buyer’s agent will reduce your exposure to this kind of property.

When selecting and inspecting real estate we focus on property that will have the best resale in a poor market. For investors, our selections will attract better quality tenants reducing your vacancy rate.

In addition to the above, our buyers agents will save your time, money and reduce risk when it comes to buying property. 

Ever experienced paralysis by analysis?

Many of our clients will attempt the property buying process only to be more confused than when they started.

Viewing many properties over long periods of time, pressured by real estate agents, trying to make a clear decision on a property’s value, building and pest inspections, conveyancers etc.  

Our buyer’s agent’s property selection & due diligence will present all the information you need on making a clear decision on moving forward. You should only ever have to inspect a property once; we will do the rest.

Ready to Enter the Melbourne Property Market?

Let’s connect and explore your goals. We’ll dive into the market together and address any questions you have to help you take the next step.

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