Question 1

What areas does Find My Place service?

Accepted Answer

Find My Place is an independent real estate agency specialising in coastal and lifestyle properties across the beautiful Bega Valley region of the NSW Sapphire Coast. Service areas include: Bermagui, Wallaga Lake, Barragga Bay, Tanja, Tathra, Kalaru, Bournda, Wallagoot, Bega, Tarraganda, Springvale, Buckajo, Quaama, Candelo, Wolumla, Tura Beach and Merimbula.

We are also licensed under a Stock and Station Licence to sell larger rural and lifestyle properties over 20 hectares, supporting clients across farmland, acreage, and coastal hinterland opportunities throughout the wider Bega Valley.

Question 2

Do you offer Buyer’s Agent services outside your local area?

Accepted Answer

Yes. As a dedicated buyer’s agent, Find My Place assists clients Australia-wide and internationally to secure their ideal property on the beautiful Sapphire Coast (also known as the Far South Coast). We specialise in helping buyers purchase across the coastal corridor from Narooma to Pambula, supporting sea-change buyers, lifestyle purchasers, investors, and those relocating from interstate or overseas.

Question 3

What is the role of a Buyer's Agent?

Accepted Answer

Think of us as the mirror image of a selling agent. While the person on the "For Sale" sign, the one showing you through the house, is legally bound to get the best result for the seller, we are legally bound to protect you. We’re your professional advocate, researcher, and negotiator throughout the entire buying journey.

Question 4

What different services can a Buyer’s Agent provide?

Accepted Answer

It’s a "concierge" service for property. We can handle everything from creating a strategy and sourcing properties (including those "hidden" off-market ones) to performing deep due diligence, inspecting council property files, analysing true market value, and managing the final settlement process.

Question 5

How can a Buyer’s Agent save you money, time and stress?

Accepted Answer

We work with you to guide, and possibly prevent, you from overpaying in the heat of the moment. By using "hard data" rather than emotion, we aim to negotiate prices, on your behalf, and ensure the best purchase conditions for your personal situation. We also aim to save you from the lemon,  buying a house with hidden structural or legal issues that could cost you thousands later.

We do the dirty work so you don't have to. Instead of spending every Saturday at disappointing open homes, we can assist you in shortlisting so you only see the properties that actually fit your brief. We can handle the paperwork, attend preliminary inspections, negotiate with the agents, and minimise the stress, so you just focus on the exciting part - moving in.

Question 6

Why do I need a Buyer’s Agent if I can search online myself?

Accepted Answer

Online portals only show you what everyone else is already seeing. We work with other agents to find silent listings and off-market properties before they ever hit the web. We see past the professional staging, can read between the lines of the selling agent and can help to spot the issues that a glossy photo won't show you.

Question 7

How do Buyer’s Agent fees work in NSW?

Accepted Answer

Typically, there’s a small upfront engagement retainer to start the search, followed by the balance of the agreed fee once we’ve helped you secure your property. This fee is either a flat rate or a small percentage of the purchase price, depending on the complexity of your brief.

Question 8

Does a Buyer’s Agent need a License?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. In NSW, it is illegal to act as a Buyer’s Agent without a valid license from NSW Fair Trading. You should always ensure your advocate is fully qualified and insured.

Question 9

What License does a Buyer’s Agent need?

Accepted Answer

In NSW, we must hold either a Class 1 or Class 2 Real Estate Agent License. This is the same rigorous qualification held by the agents selling the homes, ensuring we have the same level of legal and ethical training.

Question 10

Can a Buyer’s Agent represent or assist at auctions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and for many clients especially in the city, this is a most valuable service. We bid on your behalf to keep the emotion out of the room, ensuring you stick to your limit and don't get caught up in a bidding war.

Question 11

If I can just talk to a selling agent myself, why would I pay a Buyer’s Agent?

Accepted Answer

The selling agent’s job is to get the highest price for their client (the vendor). If you go in alone, you’re negotiating against a pro who does this every day. Paying for an advocate levels the playing field so you have a pro on your side of the table.

Question 12

Can a Buyer’s Agent negotiate for me?

Accepted Answer

Negotiation is our specialty. We advocate for your interests to secure the right property at the right price. We take the voice of the buyer and use market evidence and potential property issues to negotiate the price, often also securing terms, like a longer settlement or repairs, that a solo buyer wouldn't know to ask for.

Question 13

How do you choose a good agent?

Accepted Answer

Look for a track record in your specific area, read past testimonials and make sure they have a communication style that feels transparent and right for you. If an agent tells you exactly what you want to hear just to get the listing, be wary. You want an agent who is honest about the market, not just the loudest, telling you the highest price or offering a deal too good to be true.

Question 14

Is the agent’s commission negotiable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, commissions in NSW are not set by law and are entirely negotiable. However, remember that the cheapest agent isn’t always the best value, and it is not necessarily the best way to choose your agent. You want someone who is a skilled enough negotiator to protect your sale price and get the overall best outcome for you.

Question 15

Does the commission include marketing costs and photography?

Accepted Answer

Usually, no. The commission is the agent's fee for their service. Marketing (photography, floor plans, and listing fees on sites like https://www.google.com/search?q=RealEstate.com.au is typically an additional upfront cost that helps your home stand out. This can be a point of negotiation, or an inclusion that an agent might offer.

Question 16

Do I need to pay for a property appraisal?

Accepted Answer

Most agents will provide a Market Appraisal for free as part of their pitch. Just keep in mind this is an estimate of what they think it will sell for. A formal "Valuation" for legal or bank purposes is a different document that requires a paid, registered valuer.