How Much Does a Buyers Agent Cost?

Buying a property is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced investor, finding the right property at the right price requires more than just effort, it takes expertise and timing. What many people don’t realise is that delaying your purchase in a fast-moving market can cost you thousands. That’s where a Buyers Agent comes in. But before you ask, “how much does a Buyers Agent cost?”, it’s important to understand how their expertise can actually save you both time and money. In this article, we’ll it break down with two real life examples.

Mark and Sandra, are both on the hunt for their dream townhouse in Brisbane. They’ve each set a budget of $1,000,000 and are eager to leave behind their rental days, where they’re currently paying $650 per week.

But here’s where their stories take different turns and where the right decision can either save or cost you a fortune.

Mark is determined to take on the Brisbane property market solo. He’s confident that with enough research and effort, he can find the perfect home on his own. Every week, he dedicates 15 hours to researching listings, scheduling inspections, and trying to get a handle on market trends. As the weeks turn into months, Mark’s excitement starts to wane. Properties are selling quickly, and prices are rising faster than he expected.

But it’s not just the property search that becomes overwhelming. Mark also has to rely on Google reviews and other online resources to find professionals like conveyancers, building and pest inspectors. This adds another layer of stress, as he can’t be sure he’s hiring trusted experts, which could lead to costly mistakes down the line. Despite his best efforts, Mark constantly juggles his job, personal life, and this massive search. Six months later, he finally finds a property he likes, but at what cost?

Sandra, on the other hand, decided to take a different approach. She wonders, “how much do buyers agents charge?” but is reassured that the savings will far outweigh the fee. She engaged a Buyers Agent, understanding that while buyers agent fees (1,5 – 3%) are an investment, they could ultimately save her both time and money. 

From day one, her Buyers Agent handles the heavy lifting , researching, shortlisting, and even presenting off-market opportunities that she would have never found on her own. Through her Buyers Agent, she gains access to a network of trusted professionals, including conveyancers, building and pest inspectors, all vetted by her agent’s experience. This ensures Sandra avoids the risk of hiring someone unreliable, giving her peace of mind throughout the buying process.

Sandra’s search is focused and efficient. She attends only the most promising inspections and, within six weeks, she’s ready to make an offer on her dream townhouse. And Sandra doesn’t just get a home—she gets it at a price that leaves her in a stronger financial position than Mark, without the stress of having to vet service providers on her own.

In this example, we’ve calculated Mark’s property search duration as six months, which reflects a realistic and moderate timeline. However, it’s important to note that many solo buyers actually spend even longer searching for a home. According to reports from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) and RealEstate.com.au, solo buyers often spend 9 months on average searching, and it’s not uncommon for the process to stretch to 12 months in some cases.

Brisbane property prices have risen by an average of 10.6% (or 1.17% per month) from January to September 2024, according to CoreLogic. Therefore, we calculate with 1% per month to account for potential price increases.

By using six months, we offer a conservative estimate to highlight the potential costs, but in reality, Mark’s financial burden could be significantly higher if his search extended to the average nine months.

Let’s take a closer look at how much going it alone really costs Mark:

• Time Spent Searching: Mark spends 15 hours a week on property research and inspections. Over six months (26 weeks), that’s a total of 390 hours spent searching. If we value that time at $50/hour, that’s $19,500.
• Market Delays: Over the six months Mark spends searching, Brisbane property prices have risen by 6%. That increase on a $1,000,000 home—costing Mark an additional $60,000.
• Rent Payments: While Mark searches for his home, he’s still paying rent at $650 per week. Over six months, that’s $15,600 in rent.

Total Cost for Mark: $19,500 (time spent) + $60,000 (market delay) + $15,600 (rent) = $95,100

• Time Spent Searching: Sandra’s search is streamlined, taking just 3 hours a week for six weeks, with the help of her Buyers Agent. That’s a total of 18 hours, or $900.
• Market Delays: Sandra locks in her property in just six weeks. During that time, Brisbane property prices rise by 1.5%, costing her $15,000.
• Rent Payments: Sandra continues paying rent at $650 per week for just six weeks, costing her $3,900.
• Buyers Agent Fee: Sandra pays her Buyers Agent a fee of $17,500. When she asked, “how much does a Buyers Agent cost?”, she was surprised to learn that the savings outweighed the fee.

Total Cost for Sandra: $900 (time spent) + $15,000 (market delay) + $3,900 (rent) + $17,500 (Buyers Agent fee) = $37,300

Note: The calculation does not account for settlement time.

Typically, Buyers Agents charge a fee that can range between 1.5-3% of the purchase price, depending on the services offered. While the fee might seem like an additional expense, the true cost of going it alone can be far greater. In Sandra’s case, her Buyers Agent fee was $17,500 a small fraction of the total savings. By engaging a Buyers Agent, Sandra’s total cost is $37,300, while Mark’s decision to go it alone costs him a whopping $95,100. That’s a difference of $57,800—almost the price of a luxury car!

But the real savings aren’t just in the dollars and cents. Sandra also enjoyed a stress-free experience, expert negotiation, access to off-market opportunities, and peace of mind, knowing she had made a smart, informed decision.

Mark’s story is all too familiar for many Brisbane buyers – months spent searching, rising prices, and unexpected costs. On the other hand, Sandra’s decision to engage a Brisbane Buyers Agent saved her not only money but time and stress.

When you ask yourself, “how much do buyers agents charge?“, it’s important to consider the full financial picture. The expertise, negotiation skills, and market insight a Buyers Agent provides can result in substantial savings that far exceed their fee.

When buying property, timing and expertise are key to avoiding costly delays and mistakes. Many buyers wonder, “how much does a Buyers Agent cost?”, but the real question should be how much a Buyers Agent can save you. By hiring a Buyers Agent, you not only gain access to off-market opportunities and expert negotiation skills, but also a trusted network of professionals like conveyancers and inspectors. While the upfront buyers agent fees may seem like an investment, the time and money you save in the long run – by avoiding rising property prices and costly errors – make it worth every dollar.

If you’re searching for a property in Brisbane, don’t let time, stress, and market delays cost you more than you expect. At Buyers Scout, we’ll guide you to the right property at the right price, saving you both time and money. Contact us today for a free discovery call and find out how much working with a Buyers Agent can save you!