Let’s Get This Out of the Way… I’m Not the Cheapest
When people ask about buyer’s advocate fees, they are often searching for the lowest number. I am not the cheapest buyer’s advocate in Melbourne, and that is by design.
So yes, you will invest a little more up front. You will also avoid the costly mistakes that come from hiring someone who is still learning the ropes.
If you are making what could be a million-dollar decision, the bigger question is not how much does it cost but what am I getting for my money?
Seen It Cheaper Elsewhere? So Have Our Best Clients
Some of our best clients started out by shopping on price. One investor came back to me after hiring a cheaper advocate. They had purchased a property we had previously inspected and rejected because it didn’t meet our benchmarks.
It turned out the property had multiple expensive issues, the same issues we had flagged during our inspection, which is exactly why we had walked away. To make matters worse, their advocate paid $60,000 more than our appraisal.
By the time this buyer called us, they were already in a world of pain. As we explored options to help them out of the situation, he paused and said, “I remember calling you back when I was choosing an advocate. You were $2,000 more, so we went with someone else.”
That $2,000 saving ended up costing him over $120,000.
Our selection process is rigorous for a reason. It has been shaped by nearly two decades of hands-on experience, and it’s designed to protect our clients from these kinds of painful and avoidable mistakes.
Would you risk a million-dollar decision just to save a couple of thousand in fees?
Why Many Advocates Charge Less and What That Actually Means
My own fees have grown over the years, from $3,300 to $16,500+, and that growth is tied to hard-won experience, not inflation.
Advocates who charge less are often:
- Still learning
- Unqualified or without industry recognition
- Side-hustlers or part-timers
- Offering less access, less support, and less strategic depth
Their lower fee reflects the experience they do not yet have.
More Than a Buyer’s Advocate: What You’re Really Paying For
When you hire me, you get:
- Licensed Real Estate Agent
- Qualified Mortgage Broker
- Diploma-Certified Financial Planner
- Property Investor with 23 renovations
- Former Head of Learning and Development at REBAA
- Contributor to REIV and PIPA training
You are not paying me to just find a property. You are hiring a strategic partner who sees the whole board. While others are focused on the next open for inspection, I am thinking five steps ahead.
What’s the Risk of Choosing Based on Price Alone?
The hidden costs of poor advice can be enormous:
- Missing the right property entirely
- Overpaying
- Buying in the wrong location for your goals
- Staying stuck with an underperforming property for years
We have seen buyers, like the one outlined above, spend tens of thousands fixing mistakes that could have been avoided. Even worse, some have missed out on building the portfolio they had planned for.
The cheapest option up front is often the most expensive in the long run.
A Quick Note on Today’s Market (And Buyer Expectations)
Right now, the Melbourne property market is fiercely competitive. The stock is tight, and quality opportunities are moving fast.
We’re hearing from more interstate buyers than ever. Many have never even visited Melbourne, yet they’re asking about suburbs that some advocates won’t drive to because they don’t feel safe (that’s a red flat in itself). Often, they come to us with criteria that simply don’t match Melbourne’s market, the suburbs they’re targeting, or their actual budget.
With so much information available online, it’s easy to get off-track before you’ve even begun. Search engines and suburb ranking tools won’t tell you what’s happening at a street level. They won’t show you what a $900,000 budget really buys in today’s market, or what the compromises might be.
Our best advice? Put aside the online noise and lean into the experience of people who live and breathe Melbourne property. The ones who walk the streets, know the neighbourhoods, and understand what’s working, not in theory, but on the ground, every day.
In a market like this, experience matters more than ever. You don’t just need someone who will listen. You need someone who will challenge assumptions and guide you to what’s possible.
What Should You Ask Instead of “How Much Do You Charge?”
Better questions include:
- How do you assess risk in a purchase?
- Can you show me a deal you walked away from and why?
- What is your strategy for protecting me in a competitive market?
Anyone can show you access. Very few can show you judgment.
What’s Peace of Mind Worth to You?
The right buyer’s advocate fees are not about being the cheapest. They are about paying for the right protection, the right experience, and the right outcome.
You do not hire me to be cheap. You hire me to get it right.
To understand how our buyer’s advocate fees differ and to help you make a decision based on value, not just price, feel free to check out our fees or get in touch. We’d love to chat!
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