These days, property advice can seem like it’s arriving from many different angles, but how do you really know who to trust? Without a doubt, your best bet is to go with someone who has a proven track record and real-world experience.
A buyer’s advocate is a specialist that moves in tune with the ebbs and flows of the property market. They’ve got their feet on the ground, working hand-in-hand with buyers, sellers, vendors, and various other industry contacts to offer a service that reflects the reality of what’s happening in the market right now.
But what actually sets a good buyer’s advocate apart from the rest? If you’re thinking about working with one, here’s a deeper look at the key skills, qualities, and traits to look out for.
What Makes a Great Buyer’s Advocate?
When it comes down to it, a great buyer’s advocate combines market knowledge, people skills, and a relentless commitment to your best interests. They know how to listen, when to act, and how to find opportunities that others can’t.
So if you’re navigating the property market and want a trusted partner by your side, look for someone who ticks all the boxes: deep local knowledge, strategic thinking, excellent communication, strong industry connections, and the ability to support you every step of the way.
Here are some of the essential qualities and skills to keep an eye out for!
Relevant Local Knowledge
Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the biggest advantages of working with a buyer’s advocate is their local market knowledge. This isn’t just about knowing which suburbs are growing or what the current median price is. It really comes down to their unique understanding of the suburbs’ many nuances.
A great advocate knows which streets are quiet, where future developments are planned, which schools are sought-after, and how different properties are valued in real terms. Most importantly, they have personal experience dealing with local purchases and sales, as well as relationships in the community.
Whether you’re looking for a family home, a lifestyle upgrade, or a smart investment, a little extra local expertise can go a long way.
Clear and Honest Communication
Buying property (of any kind) is a major decision, both in an emotional and a financial sense. This is why you’ll want someone to cut through all the noise and provide the type of advice you can trust.
It’s hard to understate the importance of developing mutual trust. So, what’s the best way to gauge your advocate’s ability to deliver in this area? Right from the very first meeting, a skilled buyer’s advocate should be listening carefully to your goals, asking the right questions, and keeping you in the loop throughout every stage of the journey.
During the shortlisting process, the negotiations, and post-settlement support, your advocate should be upfront, responsive, and completely transparent. If something doesn’t stack up or a property isn’t worth pursuing, they won’t sugar-coat it.
At its core, this role is about trust. Essentially, a good buyer’s agent becomes a steady voice of reason when emotions run high, especially during tense negotiations or auction scenarios.
Strong Industry Relationships
A well-established buyer’s advocate has strong relationships with local selling agents and access to pre-market and off-market properties that most buyers will never see. This insider access can give you a serious head start, especially in competitive markets like Melbourne’s inner north, Sydney’s inner-west, or parts of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The stronger the network, the better the opportunities. As the client, your partnership with a well-connected advocate has a number of advantages. First, it gives you access to the best options in your preferred investment area. Second, it helps to create a smoother process from start to finish, as the advocate leverages their relationships with local vendors, agents, and other industry contacts.
These are the kinds of outcomes only possible with someone who has spent years building trust in the local real estate community. Feel free to explore our recent case studies to see this in action!
Access to Off-Market Properties
Not all opportunities are found online. In fact, many of the best properties are sold quietly behind the scenes before they ever make it to Domain or REA. These “off-market” listings are effectively only available to those with the right connections.
These are homes that are not advertised publicly and may never appear online or have a “For Sale” sign out the front. This is a popular option for any sellers who prefer to sell discreetly to avoid the stress of open inspections or to test market interest quietly before going public.
An advocate is often the first to know about these opportunities. Thanks to their relationships with agents and vendors, they can quickly bring exclusive listings to the table that you would never discover on your own. On the flip side, they’re able to connect sellers with buyers at multiple price points to facilitate a stress-free transaction.
Analytical and Strategic Thinking
Anyone can browse listings or show up at an inspection, but a professional buyer’s advocate goes much deeper. They’ll assess every opportunity from all angles: be it comparable sales, building condition, local amenities, development overlays, zoning restrictions, resale potential, and long-term value.
The best advocates operate with structure and discipline. At BuyerX for example, we use a 30-point due diligence process for every shortlisted property. This covers everything from planning permits to hidden costs, so nothing is left to chance.
At this stage, a good advocate will bring serious strategic thinking to the table. Whether you’re buying at auction or making a private offer, they should be able to develop a tailored approach based on the vendor’s motivations, recent sales, market interest, and your unique budget.
Patience, Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Buying a home or investment property isn’t just a financial transaction. It’s personal. You might be upsizing, downsizing, relocating, or investing in your future. A good advocate will take the time to understand where you’re coming from and where you’re trying to go.
Patience and empathy go a long way here. If something doesn’t feel right or the timing isn’t ideal, they’ll support you in waiting for the right fit rather than rushing into the wrong one. Likewise, if the market starts to move or a great opportunity comes along, they’ll help you act quickly and confidently.
In a recent case on the Sunshine Coast, BuyerX helped a couple who were relocating from Sydney and looking for their forever home. After missing out on a property early on, they revisited it months later, and their advocate was ready to act. By aligning the settlement with the sale of their Sydney home, they made a smooth transition and secured the lifestyle they’d been dreaming of.
This kind of outcome doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of a relationship built on trust, empathy, and shared understanding.
Attention to Detail and End-to-End Support
The job of a buyer’s advocate doesn’t end with finding the right property. There are contracts to review, inspections to coordinate, legal documents to check, and timelines to manage. The best advocates don’t leave you out in the cold to figure it all out on your own.
From the first consultation to the final settlement, they’re there to guide you through the process and take care of the fine details. This is especially valuable for busy professionals, first-time buyers, or people purchasing from either interstate or overseas.
In a case involving a family moving from the NSW Southern Highlands to Mount Martha, one of our advocates not only found a brand-new home just 100 metres from the beach, but also managed the entire negotiation and settlement process while the clients were still living out of state.
It’s this kind of full-service approach that can take the pressure off and help you enjoy the journey.
Sales Advisory Services
While most people associate buyer’s advocates with property purchases, many also offer expert guidance on the selling side. In competitive and fast-moving markets, having an experienced advisor to help with sales strategy, agent selection, pricing, and presentation can lead to a significantly better result.
At BuyerX, we approach the selling process with a focus on three key principles: price, position, and property. This framework is designed to maximise sale outcomes by positioning your home in the right way for the right audience. Whether you’re preparing to sell a family home, a prestige property, or an investment, their team helps you make smart, informed choices from start to finish.
With access to extensive buyer networks and market data, we can also assist with off-market sales.
The 3 Keys to Finding the Right Property
If you’re looking to hire a buyer’s advocate, it’s important to understand the core principles that underpin every investment.
First, there’s the Price. This one is pretty self-explanatory. It’s the budget you’re willing to allocate to purchase the home.
Second, there’s the Property itself. Here, we’re referring to the physical characteristics you require in a home. This may include the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, floorplan, its condition, and finally, the building’s age, quality, and style.
Lastly, there’s the Position (location, suburb, precinct). Things to take into account here are streetscape, amenities, transport, commerce, security and demographics.
Most people will need to compromise on at least one of these three criteria. The role of a buyer’s advocate is to develop a clear understanding of your situation and future goals, enough so to educate you on the correct compromises, because neglecting one of the three p’s too much could leave you stranded with the wrong property forever.
Find Your Dream Property with BuyerX: Award Winning Buyer’s Advocates
Good decisions come from experience, and this is something we have in spades. If you’re curious about what that looks like in practice, reach out to your local BuyerX advocate today!
With dedicated buyer’s advocates in Melbourne, Sydney, the Mornington Peninsula, and Noosa, we’ve helped clients from all walks of life make confident, informed property decisions.
Call 1300 BUYERX to schedule a free consultation!
The first step in your property journey, whether it be buying or selling, is gaining clarity on your situation.
