The honest answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on what you actually need.
Most content on this topic is written by buyers advocates. This is not. Here is a genuinely balanced breakdown of when buyers advocacy is worth the cost — and when it is not.
What Does a Buyers Advocate Cost?
Most Australian buyers advocates charge either:
- A fixed fee of $15,000 to $22,000 for full-service advocacy
- A percentage of the purchase price — typically 1.5% to 2.5%
On a $1.5M purchase, that is $22,500 to $37,500. On a $2M purchase, that is $30,000 to $50,000. These are significant costs — and they come on top of stamp duty, conveyancing, building inspection, and other purchase costs.
When a Buyers Advocate Is Worth It
Buyers advocacy delivers genuine value when:
- You do not have time to search for properties — full delegation is the point
- You are buying interstate in a market you do not know at all
- You have tried to buy multiple times, keep missing out, and need a professional system
- You are spending $3M+ and the advocacy fee is less than 1% of the purchase
- You want someone to manage the entire process end-to-end
When a Buyers Advocate Is Not Worth It
Buyers advocacy is expensive overkill when:
- You have already found the property yourself — you do not need sourcing
- You buy in a market you know well and just need negotiation help
- You want an independent second opinion — not full representation
- The advocacy fee represents 2%+ of your purchase price
- You are buying at the $800k-$1.5M level where fees are hardest to justify
The Alternative: Collings Property Advisory
For buyers who have found a property and need analysis, advice, and negotiation support — but not full sourcing — Collings Property Advisory delivers the most valuable part of buyers advocacy at a fraction of the cost.
| Service | Buyers Advocate | Collings Property Advisor |
|---|---|---|
| Property sourcing | Yes | No — you find the property |
| Market value assessment | Yes | Yes |
| Negotiation strategy | Yes | Yes |
| Agent negotiation | Yes | Yes |
| Auction strategy | Yes | Yes |
| Investment analysis | Yes | Yes — GeeVee powered |
| Contract guidance | Yes | Yes |
| Fee | $15,000 — $37,500+ | $4,500 + GST |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do buyers advocates have conflicts of interest?
Some do. Some buyers advocates receive referral fees from developers, conveyancers, or mortgage brokers. Always ask whether your advocate receives any income from third parties in connection with your purchase. Collings Property Advisory has no such relationships — we charge a fixed fee and nothing else.
Can a buyers advocate guarantee I get the property?
No. A buyers advocate cannot guarantee a result — only that they will represent you professionally. The market determines the outcome.
What if I just want help with one property?
That is exactly what Collings Property Advisory is designed for. You bring the property — we provide the analysis, strategy, and negotiation for $4,500 + GST.
Get Independent Property Advice — $4,500 + GST Fixed Fee
If you have found a property and want expert analysis and negotiation support, a Collings Property Advisory engagement is the most cost-effective professional help available.
Book a Property Advisory Consultation
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.
