The secret weapon that helped a Raiders star buy his…

“The more I started looking, the more overwhelming the process became [was]”.

But the New Zealand international became an owner earlier this year with the help of a buying agent.

After months of searching on his own, Timoko said it took him about four weeks to find his future home with the help of a professional.

Buyers agents are fast becoming the secret weapon of choice for many Canberra buyers – and not just NRL players.

Busy families and those moving interstate or overseas are also among those who see the value in outsourcing their property purchase.

Canberra buyers' agent Claire Corby, who has run Capital Buyers Agency for 10 years, says she has as many clients with a $500,000 budget as buyers with millions to spend.

“It’s not like everyone is at a certain price point – absolutely not,” she says.

“It’s more about people needing advice and recognizing that they don’t know what they don’t know.”

What is a buyer's agent and how do they work?

Buyer's agents are licensed real estate agents who act on behalf of the buyer, as opposed to a real estate agent who represents the seller.

They typically offer a range of services including searching and screening properties, inspecting homes, and bidding or negotiating a private sale on behalf of buyers.

Sometimes they can find properties that a regular buyer wouldn't be able to find, through pre-market or off-market sales.

A buyer's agent may charge a flat fee for their service or work on a commission structure, typically charging between 1.5 and 3 percent of the purchase price.

Typically, buyer agents are independent businesses and not affiliated with a real estate agency.

The rise of the buyer’s agent

The awareness of buyers' agents has increased over the past decade, partly thanks to real estate reality TV shows and naturally through word of mouth marketing, Ms Corby says.

“People are talking about it more and suggesting [it] to their friends,” she said.

With more people looking for advice, the number of buying agencies has also increased.

The Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia has around 90 members across the country, up from 53 in 2014.

To be registered with the association, a buyer's agent must not have properties for sale or be involved in the direct sale of properties.

In this regard, a new entrant to the Canberra real estate scene is disrupting the market.

Fyshwick-based estate agency Jonny Warren Properties has introduced a new buyer’s agency arm, led by Ben Power.

Mr Power says that while he will show clients properties advertised for sale through Jonny Warren Properties if they are suitable, he is under no obligation to do so.

“Essentially I still work independently under the Jonny Warren brand and I source the best property for the client and buy that property from any sales agent,” he says.

Who uses buyer agents?

Since launching buying agency Jonny Warren in May, Mr Power has worked with a variety of clients, including a retired woman who lives in regional New South Wales and is moving to Canberra.

“It’s the first time she’s bought a property,” he says.

Mr Power says high-profile people, like his client Timoko, also see the value of the service.

“Sometimes they like privacy or they're short on time and not available on weekends,” he says.

He has also worked with busy families, buyers relocating from overseas, and people who are ill or unable to physically visit properties.

Ms Corby's client list is also diverse.

“We purchased units [for clients] as little as $250,000,” she says.

She says buyers who use agents don't have a common budget, but rather share the same desire for advice and advocacy.

“We don't mind how much you spend on your property, as our duty and responsibility is to get it at the best possible price,” says Ms Corby.

What to look out for when using a buyer's agent

Buyers can check whether a buyer's agent holds a current real estate license by searching the ACT Public Register.

Ms Corby, who is the ACT state representative on REBAA, says a good buyers agent will have a clear policy on how they deal with conflicts of interest, should they arise.

This can help buyers know how the agent would react in a situation such as two clients looking for the same type of property.

Under ACT legislation, an agent must disclose whether they receive a rebate, rebate, commission or benefit for referring a buyer to a service provider, such as a developer or sales agent.

The nature and value of any benefit must also be disclosed.

Ms Corby says the real estate industry is full of referrals and kickbacks. It is therefore important that buyers find independent agents who do not accept commission.

It's also worth asking the agent how many clients they work with, says Ms Corby.

“The amount of work that goes into analyzing properties and writing reports – we count our clients on one hand,” she says.