Common questions
What's the difference between a buyers advocate and a real estate agent?
A real estate agent is engaged by, and legally acts for, the seller. A buyers advocate is engaged and paid by you, and acts only for you.
What does a vendor advocate actually do?
A vendor advocate represents the seller independently of the listing agent. I help choose the agent, negotiate fees, set the pricing and campaign strategy, and negotiate offers or manage the auction.
How are your fees structured?
Fees are agreed up front in a written agreement, so you know the cost before you commit. For buyers on my full service, the engagement fee is 50% of the agreed fee. The balance is paid in two parts: 30% at the three-week mark (21 days into the assignment) and the final 20% on unconditional contract. My fee is separate from the agent's commission: the buyer pays my fee, and the vendor pays the agent. For vendor advocacy I ask for a $7,500 engagement fee, which I reimburse to you when I'm paid by the agent.
Do I need an advocate if I'm selling through a good agent?
A good agent is valuable, but their interests don't perfectly align with yours. Having independent oversight on price, commission and negotiation protects your outcome.
Can you help if I'm buying and selling at the same time?
Yes. Coordinating both sides is one of the strongest reasons to use an advocate, because timing and budget are so closely linked.
What does your full buyers advocate service include?
Once you engage me for my full service, I will inspect as many properties, negotiate on as many, and attend as many auctions as it takes to acquire the right property for you. You deal directly with me throughout.
How long does it take you to buy a property?
I generally buy in between two and four weeks for my clients. The timing depends on your brief, your budget and the market, and I keep you informed at every step.
Why choose David Quinn as my buyers advocate?
I have eight years' experience as a buyers advocate, have bought in all market conditions, and have secured strong results for international clients buying from overseas. You deal with me directly.
What areas do you cover?
I cover all of Melbourne, with a particular focus on the Bayside suburbs, Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley, Ashburton, Ashwood and Burwood. In the inner east I know Abbotsford, Richmond, Fitzroy, Kew and Balwyn well, and in the outer east Croydon, Croydon South, Bayswater, Bayswater North, Boronia, Ringwood, Ringwood East and Heathmont. I also act for buyers and vendors in Brighton, Middle Park, Albert Park, Toorak, Malvern, Kooyong, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Deepdene, Kew East, Collingwood, East Melbourne, Ivanhoe, Ivanhoe East and Eaglemont. I also buy interstate for investors, and I'll travel to other interstate or regional areas when the client covers the travel costs.
Do you buy off-market properties?
Yes. Off-market properties are one of my specialties and part of the mix I look at when buying for clients, alongside properties on the open market.
I've already found a property. Can you still help?
Talk to me about my Negotiate or Auction Bid Only service. It's a one-off fee, generally $5,500, paid upfront before I start any work. If we don't secure the property you bring to me, you can move to my full service by paying the balance of the engagement fee and then the balance of the full service fee.
Can you help with commercial property?
Yes. I can help you buy commercial property, and I can help you find a commercial property to rent, for a fee similar to my buyers advocacy fee. My free guides for buying and renting commercial property are in the Free guides section.
Is buying off the plan a good idea?
It can suit some buyers, but it carries risks: a long wait to settlement, a valuation that comes in below your price, a finished property that differs from the plans, and delays. The developer's sales staff work for the developer, so get independent advice and have your solicitor review the contract. My free guide, The Risks of Buying Off the Plan, covers what to check.