What Does a Buyer's Agent Charge in Melbourne?
Buyer's agent fees in Melbourne vary based on the service level. Here's our transparent fee structure — which is representative of the market:
Investment Property (Full Service): $15,800 + GST This includes everything: property sourcing, due diligence (8+ hours per property), negotiation, conveyancing lawyer fees, and settlement coordination. Payment is staged:
- Deposit: $4,000 (to begin search)
- Unconditional stage: $6,000
- Settlement: $3,800
- Multi-property discount: $1,000 off each property from the 2nd purchase onwards
Self-Occupied Property (Gatekeeping): 0.8% of purchase price (minimum $8,800) You find the property, we do the due diligence and negotiation. This is our "check and negotiate" service.
Self-Occupied Property (Full Delegation): 1.6–2% of purchase price (minimum $15,800–$35,800) We handle everything from search to settlement, similar to investment service but tailored for owner-occupier priorities.
Is a Buyer's Agent Worth the Cost?
Our negotiation track record shows average savings of $30,000–$80,000 per purchase. On a $700K property, that means the $15,800 fee pays for itself 2–5 times over.
But savings aren't the only value. Consider the cost of mistakes:
- Buying in a flood zone (SBO): Potential $100K+ loss in value
- Missing an easement that prevents granny flat construction: $150K+ in lost rental income over 10 years
- Overpaying by 5%: $35,000 on a $700K property
- Buying in a stagnant suburb (e.g., Point Cook): Years of zero growth while holding costs accumulate
Our team inspects every property personally, checks for high-voltage power lines, flood overlays, heritage restrictions, slope issues, and social housing proximity. This due diligence takes 8+ hours per property — a standard buyer simply doesn't have the tools or knowledge to do this.
Bottom line: One avoided mistake pays for the fee multiple times over. The BA fee is added to your cost base for CGT purposes — so you recover a portion when you eventually sell.
What's Included in the Fee?
Our full-service investment package includes:
- Strategy session: Financial analysis, borrowing capacity assessment, investment strategy selection (negative gearing, granny flat, or rooming house)
- Property sourcing: Access to off-market deals (50% trade below bank valuation), on-market screening, 3–4 shortlisted properties per search cycle
- Due diligence: 8+ hours per property — title search, zoning verification, overlay checks, flood zone assessment, easement mapping, slope analysis, video inspection reports for interstate clients
- Negotiation: Unconditional offer strategy where possible, settlement period leverage, average $30K–$80K savings
- Conveyancing: Lawyer fees included — Section 32 review, contract preparation, settlement coordination
- Post-purchase support: Connection to renovation team, granny flat construction team, and property management (at separate rates)
What's NOT included: Stamp duty (~5.5% of purchase price), building & pest inspection ($450–$550), and ongoing property management fees.