Buyers agents in Australia generally charge one of two ways: a fixed fee agreed upfront, or a percentage of the eventual purchase price. Both are legitimate models used across the industry, but they create genuinely different incentives — and understanding that difference matters as much as the number itself.
Fixed Fee vs Percentage: Why the Structure Matters
A percentage-based fee means the buyers agent earns more the higher the purchase price ends up being — which quietly mirrors the exact same incentive structure as the selling agent on the other side of the table. It doesn't necessarily mean a percentage-fee buyers agent will act against your interest, but the incentive misalignment is real and worth understanding. A fixed fee, agreed before the search begins and unrelated to the final price, removes that tension entirely — we're paid the same whether the property settles for less than asking or right at it, which is exactly the point.
What Typically Influences a Fixed Fee
- The purchase price bracket you're searching in, which reflects the scope and complexity of a typical search and negotiation at that level
- Whether the engagement covers full search-to-settlement, or a narrower scope like auction bidding only
- How specific or open the brief is, which affects the expected search effort
- Whether the purchase involves added complexity, such as an off-the-plan contract or SMSF compliance coordination
We agree the fee with you upfront, in writing, before any search work begins — there's no benefit to either of us in surprises partway through the process.
Is It Worth the Cost?
That depends on what you value in the process — time saved, stress avoided, negotiation leverage, and access to properties you'd never have found alone all factor in, alongside the fee itself. For many clients, the real value shows up less in a specific dollar figure and more in avoiding a single costly mistake on what's usually the largest purchase they'll make.
Are Buyers Agent Fees Tax Deductible?
This depends on your specific circumstances, particularly whether the purchase is an investment property or your own home, and is a question for your accountant rather than us — we're not licensed to provide tax advice, but we're glad to provide documentation of our fee for your accountant's records.