First Property Playbook — Buyer’s Agent Interview Guide

Most people spend more time researching a new phone than they do vetting the person they’re paying $16,000 to find their investment property.

I know because I was one of them.

I paid $16,000 for a premium buyer’s agent on my Geelong investment property. They handed me a handwritten pre-settlement checklist. They never opened the garage door. Inside was full of the vendor’s rubbish. Keys were missing. Windows wouldn’t shut. The electrical switchboard wasn’t compliant. The bathroom floor had no waterproofing and was completely rotted through.

After a $130,000 deposit I spent another $50,000 in repairs before a single tenant could move in.

A good buyer’s agent is worth every dollar. A bad one is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make in property. The difference between the two is almost always visible before you sign the agreement.

You just have to know what to ask.

What’s inside — 4 sections:

Section 1 — Credentials and Track Record

Four questions that reveal whether your agent has the experience, licensing and recent results to actually represent you. Includes what a good answer looks like and exactly what red flags sound like in practice.

Section 2 — Their Process and Your Protection

The questions most buyers never ask — who attends the pre-settlement inspection, what happens if issues are found, how they manage conflicts of interest with selling agents, and how rigorous their research process actually is.

Section 3 — Fees and Conflicts of Interest

Two direct questions about referral commissions and fee structure — the answers reveal more about an agent’s integrity than anything else in this guide.

Section 4 — Agreement Traps

Five specific clauses buried in standard buyer’s agent agreements that have cost investors tens of thousands of dollars. The non-refundable sign-up fee, the 12-month exclusivity clause, the success fee on any purchase, fees payable before settlement, and the broad property definition trap.

Plus:

A master red flags checklist — 10 things to walk away from immediately. And a full notes page to record your interview,

compare agents and make your decision.

How to use it:

Print it out before your first meeting with any buyer’s agent. Work through each section. A good agent will welcome every single question. A bad one will show you exactly who they are by how they respond.

$17 AUD · Instant download · Print and use · A4 PDF