How to Choose a Buyer's Agent in Australia: The Questions You Must Ask First | Prime Pursuit Properties

Imagine you've found a buyer's agent. They have a polished website, plenty of property photos, strong testimonials and a long list of services.

The conversation goes well. They tell you they have access to properties that never reach the open market, they know the numbers behind every suburb they cover, and they can help you secure the right investment.

It all sounds good.

But before you sign anything, there are a few questions worth asking. Choosing a buyer's agent isn't really about finding someone who can find you a property. It's about finding someone you can trust to make decisions with you when a significant amount of your money is on the line.

Start with the question most investors skip

"What is your strategy for me?"

This should come before any conversation about suburbs, properties or auctions. A good buyer's agent should first want to understand your financial position, your goals and where you want your portfolio to go. Only once that's clear should the conversation move to what you should actually buy.

If an agent starts showing you listings before understanding what you're trying to achieve, ask yourself whether they're building a strategy around you or simply looking for something that fits your budget. At Prime Pursuit, this is where every engagement begins. You can read more about how our team approaches strategy before a single property enters the conversation.

How do you decide which properties are worth considering?

This is where you get behind the marketing. Every buyer's agent can show you the properties they recommended. What you really want to understand is how they got there.

Ask how they research a market. How do they compare suburbs? What data do they look at? How do they weigh up supply and demand, or assess comparable sales? What makes a property worth investigating in the first place?

Then ask an even better question: "What properties have you rejected recently, and why?" The answer can tell you more than a list of successful purchases ever could. A good buyer's agent shouldn't be trying to make every property work. They should be trying to find reasons a property doesn't work before it ever reaches your shortlist.

Will you tell me not to buy?

This might be the most important question on the list. It sounds simple, but the answer can reveal a lot about the relationship.

If a property doesn't fit your strategy, has weak fundamentals or simply isn't worth the price being asked, will your buyer's agent tell you to walk away? Or will they find a way to justify the purchase?

You want someone who is comfortable saying no. The goal isn't to buy a property. The goal is to buy the right property for your strategy.

Who am I actually dealing with?

This is something investors often discover too late. You may meet one person during the sales process and then find yourself dealing with someone entirely different once you've signed.

So ask: "Who will actually manage my purchase?" How many clients are they currently handling? Who will be your main point of contact, and how often will you hear from them?

Buying property can involve finance brokers, conveyancers, property managers and selling agents, among others. You don't want to spend your time chasing everyone for answers. You want to know exactly who is responsible for keeping the process moving.

How do you get paid, and who do you represent?

Don't be uncomfortable asking this. You should understand exactly what you're paying for, when fees are payable and what happens if you don't end up buying a property. Ask whether the fee is fixed or tied to the purchase price, and find out what's included.

Then ask another important question: "Do you receive any commissions, rebates or other benefits from the people you refer me to?" There isn't necessarily anything wrong with a referral relationship. The problem is when you don't know it exists.

Alongside this, ask directly: "Do you ever act for sellers, developers or other parties that could create a conflict with my interests?" Your buyer's agent may well have relationships across the property industry. That's normal. What matters is whether those relationships are transparent and whether your interests remain at the centre of every decision. See how transparency shapes our own investment property service.

What happens if you can't find the right property?

This question separates patience from pressure. Imagine you've been searching for months and nothing meets your criteria. What happens next? Does the agent lower the bar just to get a deal done, or are they willing to tell you to wait?

A good buyer's agent should be comfortable walking away from a property that doesn't make sense. Sometimes not buying is the best decision they can help you make.

Don't choose based on the biggest promise

"Off market access." "Exclusive opportunities." "Local experts." "Best suburbs." You've probably heard some version of these promises before.

But access isn't a strategy. A database isn't a strategy. And finding a property isn't the same as finding the right property. When you're comparing buyer's agents, look past the marketing and ask how they actually make decisions.

If you can't get clear answers to these questions, keep looking. Ultimately, choosing a buyer's agent comes down to trust. You're giving someone influence over one of the biggest financial decisions you're likely to make, so anyone can help you buy a property. The right buyer's agent should help you understand why you're buying it, why it fits your strategy and when you should walk away.