Home matchmakers pay off

THE Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) says buyer’s agents have become an increasingly attractive option for homebuyers, as a means to take the stress out of researching property and suburbs.
REIQ managing director Dan Malloy says the service, which is available at a fee, is particularly popular with time-poor local, interstate and overseas buyers.

“Buyers’ agents can provide people with all the data and information they need so they can make an informed and educated buying decision,” says Malloy.

“Many buyers know how frustrating it can be attending endless inspections to try and find the right property at the right price.
“Buyers’ agents can do all this leg work for you – they research the market, specific localities or suburbs and can attend inspections on your behalf.”
Through this type of home matchmaking service unsuitable properties are eliminated quickly, saving valuable time for buyers.

Paddington-based buyer’s agent RedRoof has noticed that most people who use its services are either not from Brisbane or are first home buyers.

RedRoof principal director Yvette Goulter says most of her business comes not from locals but from people moving to Brisbane, such as interstate executives from Sydney and Melbourne, as well as investors from abroad.
“We get expat investors from Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and London who are driven by attractive exchange rates with the money they earn overseas,” says Goulter.

“An interesting trend has also been with first-home buyers, as they are a demographic that is more willing to pay for professional services – they feel they are most susceptible to being sold a dud.
“People in their 40s, 50s and 60s tend not to put as much of a value on time and they sometimes feel that paying for professional services could be a waste of money, whereas the younger generation see the value of our services.”