What is a Buyers Advocate and How Can They Help You?

Buying a home can be an exciting experience, but the pressure to find one that ticks all the boxes can quickly leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

One way to make the process much less stressful is to work with a buyer’s advocate (also known as a buyer’s agent). These are licensed real estate professionals who help homebuyers find a property that suits their needs at the right price. Buyer's advocates provide personalised service and assist clients throughout the buying process, alleviating stress and ensuring successful transactions.

In this article, we’ll explore the skills and services a buyer’s advocate can offer and why you might want to consider using one when making a property purchase.

Unlike real estate agents, who work on behalf of a seller, buyer’s advocates represent the person on the other side of a real estate transaction — the buyer.

A good buyer’s advocate will have extensive knowledge of local real estate markets and can help you identify properties that match what you’re looking for, whether that’s solid rental income or a new home for your growing family. Buyers agents provide expert guidance in property negotiations and have access to exclusive properties, reducing the stress of the buying process.

They can also use their industry contacts to alert you to properties that aren’t yet publicly listed, so you can snap up your dream home in a private sale before the competition has even had a chance to look at it.

Navigating the complexities of the property market can be challenging, but buyer's advocates help clients understand and engage with it successfully to achieve their purchasing goals.

Understanding Buyer’s Advocates

A buyer’s advocate, also known as a buyer’s agent, is a licensed real estate professional dedicated to representing the interests of the buyer in real estate transactions. Unlike traditional real estate agents who work on behalf of the seller, a buyer’s advocate works exclusively for the buyer. Their primary role is to assist buyers in finding and purchasing properties that meet their specific needs and budget. By providing expert advice and guidance throughout the property purchase process, buyer’s advocates ensure that their clients make informed decisions and secure the best possible deal.

How a Buyer’s Advocate Supports Property Buyers

A buyer’s advocacy service can be tailored to your needs, whether you’re looking for an investment property or a place to call home. Buyers advocates typically offer:

Expert property search – They use their local knowledge to find suitable properties, including off-market listings. This includes helping to vet investment properties with potential for capital growth, emphasising the advocate's role in selecting optimal suburbs for long-term capital gains.
Market research & valuation – Ensuring you don’t overpay by assessing market value and recent properties sold, including thorough due diligence to uncover hidden defects.
Thorough due diligence – Reviewing property titles, contracts, and inspections to flag any unsuitable properties.
Negotiation & auction bidding – Securing the perfect property at the right price.
Managing the end-to-end process – Handling every detail to ensure a successful outcome.
Connecting the property buyer with other industry professionals - Such as property managers, conveyancers and mortgage brokers to ensure you're able to make a successful purchase stress free.
Explaining the buyers agent fee - including different fee structures like fixed fees or a percentage of the purchase price, and highlighting the importance of transparency in fees

Benefits of working with a Buyer’s Advocate?

Working with a buyer’s advocate offers numerous benefits, including saving time, money, and stress. With extensive knowledge of local real estate markets, a buyer’s advocate can provide valuable insights into market trends, helping buyers make informed decisions.

Many property buyers struggle with purchasing real estate due to time constraints, lack of access to off-market opportunities, or uncertainty around selling agents’ strategies. A buyer’s agent eliminates the hassle, helping you secure properties while avoiding marketing fees and unnecessary costs.

Some of the most experienced advocates work on a flat fee, providing a professional service that prioritises your needs. Whether you’re buying property near key local amenities or aiming to sell real estate later for a strong return, a buyer’s advocate can guide you towards the best decision.

Services Provided by Buyer’s Advocates

Buyer’s advocates offer a comprehensive range of services to assist buyers throughout the property purchase process. These services include:

Searching for suitable properties that meet the buyer’s specific needs and budget
Conducting thorough research and due diligence on potential properties
Negotiating the purchase price on behalf of the buyer
Providing expert advice and guidance at every stage of the home buying journey
Managing the entire property purchase process, from initial search to final settlement

By offering these services, buyer’s advocates ensure that buyers find the right property and navigate the complexities of the real estate market with confidence.

How much does a buyer's advocate cost?

How much a buyer’s advocate charges will depend on the type of service you’re after. Full service (searching for properties, conducting research, and negotiating the sale price) will be the more costly option.

The fee structure may take the following forms:

A flat fee - we recommend this as the fairest fee structure for clients
A percentage of the purchase price (usually around 1.5% to 3%)
A retainer fee, which is paid upfront (usually around $3,000 or half the total fee payable)

Engaging professional buyers agents can streamline the property purchasing process by leveraging their extensive networks and experience, ultimately leading to faster and more informed decisions.

How to Find a Buyer’s Advocate

Finding a reputable buyer’s advocate requires careful research and due diligence. Here are some tips to help you find the right buyer’s advocate:

Ask for referrals from friends, family, or colleagues who have used a buyer’s advocate in the past
Check online reviews and testimonials from previous clients to gauge their satisfaction
Look for buyer’s advocates who are licensed and experienced in the local real estate market
Verify their credentials and qualifications, such as membership in professional associations
Interview potential buyer’s advocates to ensure they understand your needs and goals

By following these steps, you can find a buyer’s advocate who is well-equipped to help you navigate the real estate market and secure the best possible property purchase.

Why should I choose a buyer's advocate?

Advice from a licensed professional can eliminate a lot of the stress and guesswork that’s all too common when buying a home. Some other benefits of working with a buyer’s advocate include:

Time savings: For the time-poor, a buyer’s agent can use their local know-how to seek out properties and schedule inspections that fit neatly into your schedule. They can also handle any paperwork and legal requirements on your behalf. Whether you are looking for a home or investment property, a buyer's agent can help find the right property for both personal and investment purposes.
Experience: Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you can make, but most people won’t have much experience going into it. A buyers agent will have years of experience guiding people through the process and can help you avoid common pitfalls.
Negotiation skills: When it comes time to make an offer, a buyer’s advocate will keep you from making emotion-driven decisions. They will suggest the best possible price based on a property’s true value.

OwnHome's Buyers Agent Service

Buy the right property at the right price and change your financial future with OwnHome's award-winning Buyer's Agent Service. Last year, our service set the industry standard with:

485 clients purchase their perfect property
10.39% house price capital growth - 2X the national average
$89,393 annual capital gains on average across the property portfolio
32 days to purchase on average

We help you save time, money and stress by handling all of the hard parts of purchasing property in Australia, including:

Deep market intelligence and research: custom insights platform for investment properties, family homes and real estate insights.
Thorough due diligence: including professional reports from trusted third-parties identifying key risks and structural defects
Valuation appraisal and price guides: gain access to custom valuations for each property based on leading research tools and our custom platform
All agent communication: from phone calls, to texts to negotiations s you never need to speak with a real estate agent (most buyers love this!)
Negotiation and bidding: at auction or via a private treaty sale.

Working with one of OwnHome's Buyer's Agent team means you can have confidence that you're buying a great property, at a great price.

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