On average most Sydney buyers search for 9 before putting in their first offer on a property (usually to miss out) And most buyer's wait closer to 12 months before engaging in a discussion with a buyer’s agent. In that time, property prices often rise 3% to 8% - frequently more than a buyer’s agent’s fee.
So why do people wait?
- “It’ll just happen.”
- Many buyers believe their purchase is just around the corner. They assume the right property will appear soon, so they keep searching themselves.
- They see others buying and think they’re close too.
- Friends or colleagues purchase, and buyers feel like they must be next — even if their own strategy or process isn’t working.
- Most people have never used a buyer’s agent.
- Their parents didn’t use one. Their friends didn’t use one. So paying someone to help buy feels unfamiliar... even though they’ll happily pay an agent to sell their property every time.
- Fear of getting ripped off.
- Let’s be honest... the real estate industry doesn’t always have the best reputation. For some, it sits in the same trust category as used car sales, recruitment, or even politics. That hesitation is understandable.
- This is why working with a reputable buyer’s agent matters... ideally a buyer's agent recommended by people you trust or a member of organisations like the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA), where there are professional standards, documented processes, and industry compliance requirements.