How to find a good real estate agent

Real estate agents are plentiful in Australia, which can make it difficult to sort the good from the bad. If you're selling your home, you want to find the best real estate agent who will help you get the highest sale price.

Understanding what a real estate agent does will give you a much better starting point for comparing agents so that you can find the right one for you.

What do real estate agents do for the buyer?

There’s an important distinction between real estate agents generally and buyer’s agents specifically. A buyer’s agent works on behalf of buyers to research, find and negotiate properties for purchase. They generally specialise in this area of real estate, and do not sell property.

A buyer’s agent can represent buyers at auction or in a private sale and may help negotiate the best price. This can lead to substantially less stress for the buyer, as they’re able to engage the services of an expert in bidding and negotiation.

Buyer’s agents may also have access to a wide range of properties, some of which might not be advertised. They are usually paid either a flat fee or a percentage of the property purchase price.

This service is distinct from that of a real estate agent that’s holding “open homes” for buyers. While a real estate agent can help you find their advertised properties or provide information on properties they’re showing, they ultimately work for the seller, and will prioritise the interests of the seller over those of the buyer.

Learn more about buyer's agents

What do real estate agents do for the seller?

A real estate agent’s job comes down to one priority: getting the best price possible for the seller. How they go about this will differ from one agent to another.

Real estate agents will market homes to potential buyers in a variety of ways. They may employ a mix of traditional advertising like signs, window displays and newspaper ads, as well as digital advertising on platforms like Domain and realestate.com.au.

A good real estate agent should also help you make your home more marketable. They should have tips on how to increase your property’s appeal to potential buyers, such as interior design suggestions or advice that will increase its curb appeal.

Read our guide to selling your home

Real estate agents can also offer advice on realistic pricing and the best methods of sale. A good agent will have knowledge of your local market and understanding of the demand for similar properties. They can advise you on a realistic expectation for a sale price, and whether you’re likely to get a higher price through auction or through a private treaty sale. Agents can also help negotiate with potential buyers, and advise you on whether to accept an offer or wait for a better one.

Auctions versus private treaties

When you’re selling your home, one of the decisions you’ll have to make is whether to sell via an auction or a private treaty. A private treaty is a standard purchase wherein your real estate agent negotiates with individual buyers on an acceptable sale price.

A private treaty can cost less, as it often has less marketing and advertising expenditure. It also allows you to include specific terms and conditions in your contract of sale. The downside of a private treaty is it can take longer to find prospective buyers, and your home may sell for less than it would at auction.

Meanwhile an auction allows you to find potential buyers quickly and set a minimum reserve price to ensure your property is valued fairly. It can also lead to a larger profit, as the competitive nature of bidding can drive up the sale price. However, the advertising outlay for an auction can be significant, and you’re still responsible for these costs even if your home fails to sell.

How do real estate agents get paid?

An agent gets paid a commission for the sale of a property, which usually amounts to a percentage of the purchase price. This varies depending on the state or territory where you live. While no state or territory has a specific cap on the amount of money a real estate agent can earn, the average commission ranges from 2-3.5%.

This percentage can seem like a lot, especially for properties worth millions of dollars, but in reality agents don’t end up pocketing all of it. An agent working for a real estate agency will split their commission with the agency they represent, usually at a rate of 60/40 in favour of the agent. Research from PayScale shows the average real estate agent earns a little less than $50,000 a year.

How does someone become a real estate agent?

Real estate agents must hold a licence for their state or territory. To obtain a licence, an agent will have had to attain a certain level of education and training. Most states require at least a Certificate IV in Property Services, though Western Australia requires a Diploma of Property. Some states, like Victoria, require agents to first spend a period of time working under another licensee before obtaining a licence of their own.

There are also conditions that will exclude someone from working as a real estate agent. In most states and territories, people who have a criminal history or have been declared insolvent cannot become real estate agents.

What are my rights when dealing with an agent?

Consumers are protected by a number of regulations when dealing with real estate agents. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) outlines a range of obligations for real estate agents to ensure they meet the rights of consumers. Agents cannot:

According to the ACCC, it doesn’t matter whether an agent meant to mislead or deceive you. It’s your perception of the conduct that matters. The ACCC also requires that agents:

How do I find a good real estate agent?

There are a number of factors to consider when trying to find a good real estate agent, including their local expertise, their sales history, their marketing strategy and your own individual preferences.

• Check the agent's accreditation. A professional association usually holds members to a higher set of standards than general licensing requirements. It also provides consumers with a point of contact to help resolve disputes or submit complaints. Knowing your agent is the member of a professional association can give you peace of mind that they've attained a suitable level of expertise to manage your property transaction.
• Marketing strategy. The way your agent advertises your property and the platforms they choose for marketing it can be instrumental in attracting buyers. When you're courting a potential agent, find out whether they plan to invest advertising dollars in traditional platforms such as newspapers and window displays, digital platforms such as Domain and Realestate.com.au, or both.
• Agent's sales history. The best indication you can have of an agent's future results is looking at their past successes. Look at the history of the properties your prospective agent has sold. Get an idea for the time each property spent on the market and the eventual price it fetched.
• Current listings. Looking at an agent's current listings can be helpful not only in assessing if they're the right fit for your property, but also in making sure their workload will allow them to devote the time your property deserves.
• Commission. Price definitely shouldn't be the primary driver behind your choice of agent, but it's still an important consideration. As discussed above, you need to determine how much money you'll be expected to invest in marketing and advertising your home, as well as the commission your agent is going to charge.
• Personality. One of the more important factors to consider is whether you mesh with your agent's personality. You'll be working together closely throughout the process of selling your property. While your agent doesn't have to be your best friend, the process will be much smoother if you're comfortable around one another. All other things being equal, your agent's likeability goes a long way toward making your selling experience a positive one.

What if I have a complaint?

If you feel a real estate agent has misled or deceived you, or if you are otherwise unsatisfied, start by contacting the agency they work for. Each real estate agency will have its own internal processes for handling disputes. If you’ve contacted the agency and still don’t feel your complaint has been resolved, you can contact the relevant consumer protection agency in your state or territory.