Before you sign anything
What does a buyer's agent actually cost?
You pay them. A percentage fee rises as the price you pay for the house rises — think about what that rewards.
A genuine buyer's agent works only for you: no selling arm, no commission from selling agents or developers. You pay them, and that is precisely what makes their advice worth having. The fee is usually either a percentage of the purchase price — commonly around 2% plus GST — or a fixed amount agreed before the search begins. The choice between those two structures matters more than most buyers realise.
How they actually get paid
- You pay the agent directly. Nobody on the selling side contributes, and if they did, the agent would no longer be representing you.
- Most engagements split into an engagement fee upfront and a success fee on purchase. Ask whether the engagement fee is credited against the total at settlement.
- Standalone services — auction bidding only, negotiation only — are cheaper and sometimes all you need.
The fee structures you'll be offered
Percentage of purchase price (~2% + GST)
The industry norm. Be clear-eyed about the incentive: the agent earns more when you pay more. Good agents manage this honestly; the structure still points the wrong way.
Fixed fee
Agreed upfront regardless of what you end up paying for the property. Removes the incentive problem entirely, which is why it is worth asking every agent whether they offer it.
Auction bidding only
A few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars for someone to bid on your behalf. If you have found the house yourself, this may be all you need.
Walk away if you see this
- Any payment from a developer, project marketer or selling agent. That is not a buyer's agent — that is a salesperson with a better title.
- "Free" buyer's agent services. Someone is paying, and it is not you, which tells you who they work for.
- Pressure toward a particular development or a small pool of "off-market" stock they happen to have access to.
- No REBAA membership and no clear statement that they never sell property.
Ask these before you sign
- Do you receive any payment, ever, from selling agents, developers or project marketers?
- Will you quote me a fixed fee instead of a percentage?
- Is the engagement fee credited against the final fee at settlement?
- How many other buyers are you acting for right now in the same suburbs?
Where these figures come from
These are category benchmarks, not quotes. Individual fees vary — always get the total in writing before you engage anyone. Reviewed July 2026.
Now compare buyer's agents — every one checked against a register.
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