1. Why do I need a Buyers Agent?  I can search and find a home myself.

Yes you can, and for some people there is nothing they enjoy more than house hunting. But the great majority find it stressful, frustrating, time wasting and unfulfilling and more than likely you end up paying more than you should have. Home Buyers Advantage can save you this time and effort. The savings you enjoy on the negotiated price will likely far exceed our fee. By using a Buyers Agent, you will be getting professional guidance which will help you buy the best available property, at the best possible price, in the shortest amount of time.

2. What is the difference between a Buyers Agent and a selling agent?

The key difference between a buyers agent and a traditional selling agent is who they represent.

A buyers agent works exclusively for the buyer, whereas the selling agent works for the vendor (seller). By law an agent cannot act for (and accept a commission from) both parties in the transaction.

A Buyers Agent aims to secure the property for the lowest price and best conditions possible for you, the buyer. The selling agent wants to get the highest price and best conditions for the vendor (seller). Home Buyers Advantage will give you the best service, and the time and attention you need to make an informed property choice. With Home Buyers Advantage you will have confidence you are working with professionals who will find your next property faster and at a better price.

3. Do you find properties for investors as well as owner occupiers?

Yes. At Home Buyers Advantage our aim is to find the right property for the right price for every client, whether you are a first home buyer, investor, expat living overseas or just upgrading to a new home.

4. Is using a Buyers Agent expensive?

Using a Buyers Agent is an investment to ensure you don't pay too much. Buying a property is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. This decision may only be made a few times in a lifetime and can involve a significant amount of time, money and emotion. It is simply too important not to engage professional help!

Home Buyers Advantage can usually save you far more than our fee in the transaction by negotiating well and securing the property at a price far lower than most buyers could likely have managed. We can assist property buyers of all budgets, saving them money by doing extensive research and analysis, looking at comparable sales and market data and by negotiating hard to secure the best price, terms and conditions possible.

With Home Buyers Advantage on your side, you will make an informed choice and will be confident that you have bought well, whatever your budget. Engaging us is a small investment to make when you consider the time, stress and money you will save on your property purchase!

5. What areas do you cover?

We specialise in the following areas:

Yamba, Maclean, Iluka, Grafton and the rest of the Clarence Valley as well as the broader Northern Rivers and Far North Coast region.

We also cover other areas in NSW on request.

6. Can Home Buyers Advantage guarantee to find me a property?

If the buyers brief that you provide is realistic then the answer is yes.  The more complex your buyers brief is, the more complex the search will be and the longer it may take.  We will advise you before you engage us if your property brief is unrealistic. You will also need to have your finances ready or be pre-approved for a loan before the search can begin. Once these have been established, the search can take as little as a week (up to an average of about 30 to 60 days) depending on your wishlist and the market conditions.

We work with you in partnership to help you achieve your goals quickly and efficiently. You may cancel the agreement with notice in writing.

7. How do I know that I'm getting value for money?

The savings we negotiate through our understanding of the property market and our skilled negotiation techniques will likely cover far more than our fees. Plus, we save you a great amount of stress eliminating frustrating weeks of hunting on your own. We offer a fixed fee service, which works to your advantage, because you pay the same fee regardless of the price of the property.

8. Are Buyers Agents fees tax deductible?

If you are purchasing a property for investment purposes, the cost of using a Buyers Agent is generally tax deductible. It forms part of the acquisition or "cost base".  Check with your accountant to see if the fee would be tax deductible in your case. Unfortunately you cannot claim the fee as a tax deduction if the property is purchased for you to live in.

9. What is the process and how long will it take?

An average turnaround time is around 30 to 60 days. It largely depends on how simple or unusual your buyers brief is. After our initial meeting where our services are further explained, your questions are answered and your "buyers brief" is established, we will have a better indication. Once your finance is pre-approved, the engagement fee is paid and you are ready to buy, the search begins. We conduct thorough research and then present you with a shortlist of properties. The decision to buy is then yours.

10. Is there any limit to the number of properties you will present to me before I make a purchasing decision?

No, however we will qualify every property against your criteria before we present the property to you. This will save you valuable time in your property search. Our Buyers Agency Agreement has an initial period of 6 months (which can be extended)- we fully expect to deliver a great result for you well within this time frame.

11. How will you contact me when you have found a suitable property? How soon do I need to make up my mind on whether to buy?

We will contact you via email and phone about suitable properties as soon as they are found and the criteria are matched. We will physically inspect the property before it is presented to you so that we are sure that the property is suitable. You can take as long as you like to decide on a property, but often, if you are clear on what you want, the decision will be straightforward. Sometimes decisions need to be made quickly to secure lower prices and favourable contract conditions, but you will never be pressured into buying something you do not want or do not feel comfortable about.

12. Do you ever represent the vendor in selling a property?

No. We never sell property or accept sales commission from vendors, developers or their agents. This is what sets Home Buyers Advantage apart. We work exclusively in our clients’ best interest to find a property that meets their needs. We have no vested interest to sell property. If you are after a  brand new property, Home Buyers Advantage may often be able to reduce the purchase price by the standard sales commission normally paid to agents, and then negotiate even further discounts for our buyers.

13. Do you offer any guarantees with your service?

We guarantee not to waste your valuable time sourcing inappropriate properties. We will deflect all the stress and detail and save you months of endless searching.  We will spend time with you up front so that we clearly understand your needs and will target the search based on agreed preferences. With our help, you will save time, money and stress on your next property purchase.

You will gain access to more properties and  be better informed about comparable sales in the area. You will have a greater understanding of the true value of the property and capital growth projections for the area, and you will make a more informed decision.  When you decide on the right property, we will negotiate for you so you will be able to make a rational decision about price without the stress and pressure of dealing with real estate agents or having to negotiate.

14. How can I know I am not paying too much for a property?

We conduct extensive due diligence for you on recent sales and we have access to a comprehensive database of past sales. We inspect each property and discuss the positives and negatives of each shortlisted property. This information, together with our own professional opinion on the state of the market, provides our clients with the assurance they are not overpaying. In fact, you will probably find you are buying at a price significantly below market and comparable values.

15. What happens if I change my mind on an area or a type of property once I engage you? Do I have to pay another engagement fee?

We will always be working in your best interests and realise that your ideas about the type of property you want may change. When we meet initially to discuss your "buyers brief", we will work hard to ensure that your wishlist is achievable and also realistic, so the likelihood of changing your mind is reduced. However, if you change the initial brief significantly, there may be a review of the fee, and an additional fee would be charged to cover the time already spent searching. We will work with you to make sure you are completely happy with your next property purchase, even if you change your mind.

16. What if I find (or buy) a property myself after I have engaged your services for the full search?

We work in partnership with you. It is only natural for many people to still keep an eye on the property market, even while we are looking for you. If you do happen to identify a property that we haven’t seen, then just let us know and we can provide a full appraisal. Once Home Buyers Advantage is engaged to find (or negotiate) a property, full fees are payable, even if you find a property (or negotiate) on your own.

With our help, you will make a more informed choice and won’t be swayed by emotional marketing,   so you will save yourself money anyway.

One of the requirements of working with us is that you communicate openly and honestly with us at all times.

17. I live and work overseas – Can you service my needs?

Yes. We can assist overseas buyers and expats. We can communicate via phone, email or Skype. We are aware of the time differences and can call an overseas client at times that suit them. Once the "buyers brief" is established and you have provided evidence of finance approval, the search begins, as with all of our Australian clients. The only difference is that you may not get the chance to physically inspect the property, although this is encouraged. We can provide you with extensive market analysis as well as digital photo and video tours of the property and its location. All features of the property, both good and bad, will be communicated so you can make a fully informed decision. We take extra care to make sure all inspections are completed thoroughly.

18. How do I get started?

Simply contact us or fill out our 'Buyers Needs'  form.  We'll respond quickly to your enquiry. If you like you can simply call 0432 614 725 and have a chat about it with us.  We look forward to helping you save time, money and stress with your next property purchase.