5 Tips to Help Choose the Best Buyer’s Agent in Brisbane
So you’ve decided that you need help to buy a home or investment property in Brisbane. There are many buyer’s agents active in the Brisbane market – how to do you make sure that you get the right one for the job? The following 5 Tips will help you choose the best Brisbane buyers agent!
1. Check their credentials
A reputable buyer’s agent should be appropriately trained, experienced, and hold necessary licenses and insurances. A buyer’s agent does not list properties for sale and is not involved in the direct selling of property. The easiest way to make sure that a Brisbane buyer’s agent meets these criteria is to check that they are accredited members of the Real Estate Buyers Agent Association of Australia (REBAA).
Memberships of other leading industry bodies such as the Real Estate of Queensland (REIQ) and the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) demonstrates a buyer’s agent’s commitment to continuing professional development and regard for ethical standards.
2. Are they exclusive buyers agents specialising in your desired area?
You wouldn’t go to a psychiatrist to get your heart checked; neither should you use an out-of-town agent (or a property manager!) to perform a buyer’s agent role in Brisbane!
Ensure your buyer’s agent is local to Brisbane, and has intimate knowledge about your area of interest. Ask them to provide examples of some recent purchases in your preferred suburbs and price ranges.
Find out whether they work exclusively as a buyer’s agent or perform a range of other functions (mortgage brokers, property managers, vendor services, education and training) as well.
3. Are their clients happy?
One of the most important elements to consider when choosing a buyers agent in Brisbane is their level of client satisfaction. Ask friends and colleagues for personal recommendations and check on-line review sites, and star ratings by googling their business name. Many Brisbane buyers agents will also provide testimonials on their websites.
4. Talk to the Agent!
When choosing a buyers agent in Brisbane it is important to find an agent with the right ‘fit’ for your needs. Do they own their own properties; do they have a like-minded strategy and risk profile. What is their background? Ask them whether your expectations are realistic?
Talking directly to the buyers agent will give you a good idea of whether or their advice is balanced and well-researched , or is they have more of a sales mentality. Try to work out if this a person you’d be happy to work with?
5. Compare Fees (and fee structures!).
Services and fees vary widely across the industry with most buyer’s agents in Brisbane charging a commission of 2-3% of the purchase price. Some Brisbane buyer’s agents charge a fixed fee (rather than a commission) for services. A fixed fee structure can be appealing to property buyers who want to know upfront how much they are paying, and means that there is no disincentive for buyer’s agents to achieve the best price for their clients.
With these tips we hope you choose the Best Brisbane Buyers agent – you’ll certainly be happy when you do! For more help check out our Top Tips for Buying an Investment Property in Brisbane.
