Collings is not a traditional buyers advocate. We do not charge $15,000-$25,000 to find a property on your behalf. Instead, we have built a technology platform that gives buyers direct access to the intelligence, data, and off-market listings that previously only existed inside a buyers advocate’s network.
What Is Buyers Advocacy?
A buyers advocate (also called a buyers agent) represents the buyer in a property transaction rather than the seller. They search for properties, analyse the market, bid at auction, and negotiate on the buyer’s behalf. In a competitive market like Melbourne’s inner-north, a skilled buyers advocate can add significant value by accessing off-market properties, providing data-driven suburb analysis, and removing emotion from the negotiation.
What Buyers Advocates Typically Cost
Engagement fee: $1,500-$3,500 upfront (non-refundable in most cases). Success fee: $12,000-$22,000 flat, or 1.5-2.5% of purchase price. On a $1.5M property, total cost: $15,000-$40,000. This is a genuine service with genuine value — but it is a significant cost, particularly for investors buying at scale.
The Collings Alternative: Property Intelligence Portal
The Collings portal gives self-directed buyers access to: off-market and pre-market listings before they hit REA or Domain, GeeVee AI suburb intelligence (yields, growth rates, investment scores), portfolio tracking and cashflow analysis tools, property comparison and decision frameworks, and direct access to the Collings team for transaction support.
For buyers who want the data and access without the full advocacy fee, the portal is the middle path.
Who Should Use a Buyers Advocate vs the Portal?
| Situation | Buyers Advocate | Collings Portal |
|---|---|---|
| First purchase, no experience | High value | Good starting point |
| Buying interstate without local knowledge | High value | Research tool |
| Experienced investor, buying #3-5+ | Lower value | Strong fit |
| Time-poor executive buyer | High value | Supplement |
| Price-sensitive buyer | High cost | Free alternative |
| SMSF trustee buying investment | Useful | Strong fit |
Access the portal free at collings.com.au/portal
Find your next property with Collings
Track suburbs, get matched to on-market and off-market listings, and manage your whole property search in one place. Access the Collings property portal.
