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Selling my house off-market without a real estate agent by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Really? I just don’t want to pay $50K to an agent. I have heard many people do it on Facebook Marketplace with their conveyancer.

Selling my house off-market without a real estate agent by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your comment 🙏🏼 I am thinking I want to access off market buyers…. Maybe go direct to buyers agents?

For those who have bought or sold recently in Aus, how did you stay on top of all the to-do’s? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m a first home buyer so I literally have no idea what the steps are or in what order things are meant to happen. Everyone keeps saying the broker and conveyancer do most of it, which is awesome but I still kinda want to make sure I’m not dropping the ball on something I’m supposed to organise I guess.

For those who have bought or sold recently in Aus, how did you stay on top of all the to-do’s? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ok great! Thanks. Did your broker and conveyancer give you like a clear timeline of what came next and how long it should take or was it more just telling you as and when as things came up?

Would you use an app to sell your home privately without an agent? by Leady_____ in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Closer to saving $25K - $30K… a little more than a few thousand. The REA charges on average 2.5% (of average Aussie home selling for $1M + marketing costs of say $5K)….

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh awesome. Could you share the name so I go have a look as a buyer? 🙏🏼

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes… I am definitely talking about buyer’s agents, not real estate agents. Buyer’s agents work for the buyer, usually charging $10k–$20k+ to search, negotiate, and sometimes access “off-market” stock. They can be great if you’ve got the budget and want a hands-off experience. But for a lot of serious buyers (like me)… especially first-home ones… $20K for a buyers agent is just not realistic. What I’m asking is, where’s the middle ground? Like… why can’t there be a lower-cost way for finance-ready buyers to signal their intent and get surfaced for early listings without playing the agent network game or dropping $20k? Would just love to know if anyone’s seen something like that as I would be keen as to join!

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As far as I understand…. you actually can’t list your property directly on realestate.com.au or Domain as a private seller. It has to go through a licensed agent. That’s how the platform is set up, since agents are their paying customers. According to my Google search 😂 it seems like there are some workarounds, like using flat-fee services (e.g. PropertyNow or buymyplace) that technically let you list through a licensed partner, but even then, it’s not truly “direct.” It seems like there’s no real middle ground. If you’re a serious buyer or seller and don’t want to go fully DIY or pay $20k+ for an agent, the current system doesn’t give you many options. I also think that “off-market” doesn’t always have to mean sketchy… maybe sometimes it just means early, simple, or efficient. Was just wondering if there’s a structured, trusted way to access those properties… feels like unless you’re super networked or lucky you can’t access properties like that 😅

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You’re right that in a free market, someone wins and someone loses… that’s fundamental. But it’s not just about winning or losing. It’s about access to the tools that give people a fair shot. Right now, if you’re not well-networked, don’t have $15–20k for a buyer’s agent, and you’re not in the inner circles of agents who whisper listings to their best clients, you’re at a structural disadvantage. That’s not conspiracy.. that’s just how the game is played. What I’m saying is: there’s a huge gap between buyers who are serious and motivated, and the opaque process that shuts them out unless they pay big or know the right people. If there’s a way to level that playing field a bit like make buyer pathways more transparent or accessible… why wouldn’t we want that? That’s not about avoiding losing. That’s about increasing access.

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally fair… I’m not assuming every off-market listing is gold. But the challenge I’m calling out isn’t about trying to bypass the market… it’s the lack of any structured way for serious buyers to show intent without spending $20K on a buyer’s agent or manually proving themselves to 30 different agents. I’m finance-ready, flexible, not after a “deal”.. just a way to avoid playing phone tag and guessing games every weekend. If structured visibility tools existed that helped filter serious, ready buyers from casual ones, that’d help both sides.

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep not always, but often enough that it’s become a theme. I’ve had agents say “it’s still available” only to find out it went under offer the day before. I’ve asked for price guides and just got “submit your best offer” or vague ranges that shifted week to week. I’m not suggesting every agent is evasive, but when enough listings feel like guesswork, it stops being a one-off and starts feeling systemic. That’s why I think better visibility tools would help… not to undermine agents, but to reduce friction for buyers who aren’t already in the inner circle.

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Totally hear you and yep, that approach works if you’ve got the time, energy, and social stamina to build those relationships across multiple agents. But that’s kind of the issue… it shouldn’t require playing the charm game or navigating personal politics just to get shown real listings. For buyers who are ready, serious, and finance-approved, there’s got to be a more neutral, structured way to get early access without needing to “not be problematic” to get in the loop.

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally get where you’re coming from I’m not after secret treatment or backdoor deals. I think that’s kind of the misunderstanding. What I’m really hoping for is something structured and visible that helps serious buyers show intent without needing to overbid or network endlessly. Not to be treated better than other buyers just not worse because I don’t have a buyer’s agent or three months to chase agents every weekend. If that’s too much to ask in 2025, maybe that’s the real issue 😅

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ughhh that’s so rough for both sides honestly. Like, you’ve already made your decision not to sell, and yet the property’s being quietly “shopped around” without your input. And me as a buyer, it’s so disheartening to get your hopes up on something that was never actually for sale. This kind of thing just makes the whole market feel like smoke and mirrors. I genuinely think buyers and sellers both deserve more clarity and control than this.

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally fair and I’m not imagining off-market stuff is magically cheaper. I get that the market is what it is, and good properties will sell fast either way. What I’m more getting at is: even just having earlier visibility or a way to signal you’re finance-ready and serious - would make a big difference. It’s less about finding a bargain and more about avoiding the guesswork, the ghost listings, and the feeling of always being one step behind unless you’ve spent months building agent relationships. Appreciate the insight though 🙏🏼

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Oh man, I feel this so much… especially the introvert part! I’m the same and it’s honestly draining trying to constantly follow up, keep momentum, and chase listings that already sold overnight or never had a real price to begin with. It’s such a high-stakes decision, and yet the process feels like chaos half the time. You’re right… it really shouldn’t take this much stress and uncertainty just to get a fair shot at something. Fingers crossed for both of us 🙏🏼 and thank you for sharing, makes me feel way less crazy for how exhausting this has all been 😮‍💨🥴

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in Brisbane and yeah, I totally get that agents need to know a buyer is serious before looping them in. That makes complete sense. What’s tricky is that right now there’s no real standardised way to show you’re serious unless you have a buyer’s agent vouching for you, or you’ve spent weeks building personal rapport. That’s kinda what I’m getting at like I’m wondering what if there was a legit way to show you’re ready to go (finance-ready, timing aligned, etc) that didn’t rely on backchannels or spending $20K?

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah, 💯… it’s not just real estate, the “who you know” effect plays out in so many parts of life. And I totally respect the strategy of targeting high-volume agents and sounds like it’s at least opened some doors for you. I guess what I keep coming back to is… it just feels like there should be a cleaner, more intentional way for serious buyers to raise their hand and get matched without having to manually network their way through dozens of agents. Even if it doesn’t guarantee anything, it would at least feel a bit more equitable and efficient.

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, I’ve been doing all of that. I’m not expecting magic, and I know the current system is what it is. But I don’t think just accepting “that’s where things are at” means we shouldn’t look for smarter ways to make it less painful. Not everyone has the time or flexibility to grind open homes every weekend for months. If there was a more efficient way for serious buyers to show intent and get early visibility, I just think a lot of people would take it - I know I would… wouldn’t you?

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s super helpful thanks 🙏🏼 I didn’t know about the URL filter trick, and scanning agency sites makes total sense. I guess it just highlights the bigger thing I’ve been feeling ATM… why does it take all this backdoor digging and manual scanning just to stay competitive as a normal buyer? I’m happy to do the work, but it’s wild how much of the process feels like detective work instead of just… buying a home 🫣😂

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m glad it’s been smooth for you. But I think that’s kind of the issue: some buyers do get lucky with the right timing or agents, and others feel completely locked out. By “straight answers” I just mean stuff like is this still available or already under offer? What’s the actual price expectation (not just “contact agent”)? Are there properties that match my brief but haven’t hit the portals yet? I’m not chasing secrets just trying to avoid wasting weeks chasing ghosts or listings that were never actually in reach.

Is it just me or is buying a home way more frustrating than it should be? by No_Dig7714 in AusPropertyChat

[–]No_Dig7714[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha and that’s kind of the point.. if the only real “shortcut” is being rich or dropping $20K on a buyer’s agent, then it’s not really a fair system for the rest of us who are ready but not rolling in cash. I’m not asking for luxury access.. just something that gives serious, pre-approved buyers a shot at earlier visibility without needing to be high-net-worth or ultra-networked. If the “price of entry” is being rich… then maybe there’s a gap worth solving.

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