Understanding the Difference Between a Buyer’s Agent and a Real Estate Agent

Aug 18, 2025

About to buy or sell in Australia? Chances are you’ve already come across someone with the title of a real estate agent and/or a buyer’s agent. Unless you’ve dealt with both in the past, it’s only natural to be a little confused about the difference between the two; and this is exactly what we’re going to clarify today!

From the fundamentals of each role to the role they play in the property market, we’ll cover everything you need to know.

The Role of a Buyer’s Agent

At its core, a buyer’s agent is a professional who represents the interests of the buyer both before and during the course of a property transaction. They’re sometimes called buyer’s advocates, and they’re fast becoming one of the most valuable services in a competitive property market.

For buyer’s agents, their goal is to find, evaluate, and secure the right property, while making sure the purchase process runs as smoothly as possible. Although this is usually their main priority, some buyer’s agents or ‘advocates’ also represent the interests of sellers, typically when an owner is looking to sell off-market.

Why They Exist

In 2025, Australia’s real estate market is evolving faster than ever. Prices vary from city to city, suburb to suburb, and street to street. Throw in a few RBA cuts, low vacancy rates, and an increasingly high demand, then you get a landscape that isn’t easy to navigate–especially if you’re going at it alone.

Let’s take figures from 2024 to illustrate this further. The median time from listing to sale was just 28 days, with cities like Perth, Brisbane, and Hobart often seeing properties snapped up even quicker (Source: Property Update). This means that as a buyer, you don’t have the luxury of sitting on a decision for weeks.

A good buyer’s agent will bring a level of clarity, expertise, and insider knowledge to the table, as well as give you access to off-market properties that aren’t available to the general public.

Working with a Buyer’s Agent

So, we’ve already touched on the role of buyer’s agent, but what might working with one actually look like?

The process typically starts off with an initial consultation, where they begin to develop a clear understanding of your goals, your dream property, and your budget constraints. Whether you’re a first-home buyer trying to get close to transport and work, a family in search of more space, or an investor interested in rental yields, they’ll build a clear picture of what you’re looking for.

Once the brief is set, your buyer’s agent begins a comprehensive search. This isn’t just a case of scrolling through Domain or REA. Buyer’s agents have direct access to off-market and pre-market listings through their industry connections. Many properties never appear online because vendors prefer a quieter, more discreet sale. Having someone with these relationships can open the door to opportunities you’d otherwise never know about.

Knowledge of the Local Area

A good buyer’s agent/advocate knows their local area like the back of their hand. They’ll have their boots on the ground, with a strong network and relationships across the community. As a potential buyer, this means you’re working with someone that’s up to speed with recent purchases, the going rate, and what constitutes genuine value for money.

At BuyerX, our philosophy has always been this; it’s simply impossible to be an expert across all suburbs in a city, and that the further you stretch, the less specialised you become. This is why we have staff who specialise in their local area, so decisions are reinforced by real-world knowledge and experience, not guesswork.

So, if you’re currently searching for buyer’s agents in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, the Sunshine Coast, or the Mornington Peninsula, you’ll be connected with someone who has exceptional knowledge of their specialist area.

Property Evaluation and Negotiation

When potential homes are identified, buyer’s agents often accompany you to inspections. If you find an opportunity that ticks all the boxes, their focus shifts to conducting a deeper evaluation of both the property and the surrounding area.

Buyer’s agents conduct due diligence by comparing the property against recent sales, reviewing contracts, checking council regulations, and in some cases, organising a building inspection. Essentially, they’re looking to establish whether the property is genuinely worth the asking price, or if you’d be better off walking away.

When it comes time to make an offer, the buyer’s agent is available to step in and handle any negotiations. At auction, you can lean on them for bidding, as they know when to step forward and when to hold back. In the case of a private sale, they can often secure a better price or more favourable settlement terms than you would on your own.

Support After the Sale

The role of a buyer’s agent doesn’t stop once the handshake happens. In fact, they’ll usually continue to liaise with solicitors and conveyancers, track key settlement dates, and resolve any issues before the contract is finalised. There are even some circumstances where they offer ongoing advice after settlement, such as recommending trades or suggesting improvements to help add long-term value.

Overall, their role is to save you time, reduce stress, and improve your chances of securing the right property at the right price, or in other cases, secure a simple and stress-free settlement for a seller.

The Role of a Real Estate Agent

While a buyer’s agent typically represents the buyer’s interests, the real estate agent is engaged by the seller. Their role is to achieve the best possible sale figure (or rental price) for the vendor, which means their loyalty lies firmly on the other side of the table.

Responsibilities to the Seller

A real estate agent will typically start by conducting a market appraisal of the seller’s property. They’ll recommend a pricing strategy, outline how to present the home for maximum impact, and plan a sales campaign. This might include professional photography, online advertising, print marketing, and running open inspections.

Once the campaign is live, the agent becomes the central point of contact for all buyer enquiries. They’ll conduct inspections, manage communication, and provide feedback to the seller on interest levels. Their ultimate aim is to build competitive tension among buyers to drive the final price up as high as possible.

Negotiation and Auctions

Negotiation is a core skill of a selling agent, but unlike a buyer’s agent, their goal is the opposite; in that the purpose is to extract the maximum price and most favourable terms for the vendor. At auction, they’re working to build momentum and keep bids flowing, aiming to push buyers beyond their initial limits.

Private sales are, of course, the other big method of sale in the Australian real estate world. Here, they’ll be there to handle property viewings, field offers, negotiate directly with interested buyers, and guide the vendor on when to accept or hold out for more.

After the Sale

After the sale, the real estate agent coordinates the exchange of contracts, liaises with the vendor’s solicitor, and ensures that the settlement goes through smoothly. Their involvement generally ends once the property changes hands, though it’s worth noting that some agencies do offer property management services for investment properties.

Buyer’s Agent or a Real Estate Agent: Which One Do You Need?

The question of which professional you need depends entirely on your role in the transaction.

• If you’re selling: A real estate agent is essential. They’ll create a strategy, market the property, and secure the best price on your behalf. However, buyer’s agents can also assist with off-market sales.
• If you’re buying: A buyer’s agent is invaluable. They’ll help you navigate the fast-paced market, identify the right opportunities, and negotiate to make sure that you don’t overpay.

It’s also worth noting that both parties often interact directly, and another major strength of partnering with a buyer’s agent is their network of industry contacts. For example, a seller may be represented by a real estate agent while the buyer has an advocate in their corner. In these cases, the negotiation becomes a direct conversation between two skilled professionals; one fighting for the vendor, the other for the purchaser.

How a Buyer’s Agent Can Give You the Edge

Our award-winning team has helped clients across the country to find their dream property. If you’re ready to cut through the noise, save time, reduce stress, and make good decisions endorsed by industry experts, it’s time to get in touch with your local BuyerX representative.

From conducting a full property search to property assessments, negotiations, and off-market sales, we’ll explore all avenues to get you the best possible deal. Reach out to a local BuyerX advocate for a free consultation and discover how much of a difference we can make!

BuyerX Client Testimonials

Buying a property is a huge achievement, and this is what we strive to deliver for our clients every day. Here are some kind words from people who have recently worked with the BuyerX team!

“As a single Dad with two young children, navigating the competitive Mornington Peninsula property market from out-of-town felt like an impossible feat. Enter BuyerX Mornington Peninsula, and specifically, Michael Sier. Michael’s service was nothing short of exceptional, making the entire home buying process not only manageable, but even enjoyable.

From the very first meeting, Michael impressed me with his extensive knowledge of the Mornington Peninsula. Being a local himself, it was clear that he understood the nuances of each area, the hidden gems, and the types of communities that would perfectly suit our needs.”

Read the full case study and testimonial here

“We engaged Tim in February 2024 to assist us in finding a new family house in Hawthorn. Being in the property industry I was initially sceptical whether a buyer advocate was warranted for us. However, after going through the process I am glad that we engaged Tim as we got a wonderful result with an opportunity we would not have seen without Tim representing us.

Before we engaged Tim, he gave advice on our existing house and advised our place was special, hard to replace and recommended for us to stay rather than sell and look elsewhere. This built a lot of trust in him as there was no incentive for Tim to give that opinion as it risked losing us as potential clients. In the end we were able to get the perfect house for us, at a great price.

Head here for more BuyerX testimonials!