In Australia, the selling agent works for the seller. Their job is to secure the best possible price and terms for the vendor, not for you. That makes the questions you ask before making an offer one of your most valuable tools. Asking them early puts you in a stronger position from the first conversation.
Good questions can reveal why the owners are selling and how long the property has been listed. They can also show how much buyer interest exists. Asking about comparable sales helps you test the price guide too. Every answer, and every hesitation, gives you a clearer view of what a fair offer looks like.
This buyer’s guide covers the key questions to ask a selling agent before you make an offer. Whether you are a first home buyer, investor or downsizer, they help you negotiate with evidence, not guesswork. Moove’s buyer’s agents use questions like these, alongside independent comparable sales research, when assessing properties for clients.
Why the Selling Agent’s Role Matters
A selling agent in Australia works for the seller, not the buyer. The agent’s job is to secure the best possible price and terms for the vendor, not for you. Buyers who understand that role ask sharper questions and read every answer with the seller’s goals in mind.
Who the Selling Agent Works For
The seller appoints a selling agent to market the property and negotiate offers. Selling agents are experienced professionals, and their job is to achieve the highest possible price for the seller.
A buyer’s agent plays the opposite role to a selling agent. A buyer’s agent is a licensed professional whose sole job is to represent the buyer’s interests, not the seller’s.
How Commission Shapes the Conversation
Sellers usually pay the selling agent a commission when the property sells. Commission is often a percentage of the sale price. A higher price usually means a higher fee for the agent. That does not make selling agents dishonest. It simply means the agent’s goals and the buyer’s goals often pull in opposite directions.
What the Law Requires of Selling Agents
Australian selling agents cannot mislead buyers, and state laws regulate price guides. New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland each enforce rules against misleading price guides.
A price guide is a selling agent’s estimate of the likely sale price, not a valuation. A compliant price guide can still sit below the final sale price. At auction, the seller’s reserve price stays confidential.
Selling Agent vs Buyer’s Agent
| Selling agent | Buyer’s agent | |
| Who they represent | The seller | The buyer |
| Main goal | The highest price and best terms for the seller | The right property at the right price for the buyer |
| Who pays | The seller, usually through commission | The buyer (Moove publishes its fees upfront and offers fixed-fee packages for properties under $2.5 million) |
| Price information | Publishes the price guide | Runs independent comparable sales research |
How Moove Helps Buyers Deal With Selling Agents
Buyers face several challenges when dealing with a selling agent. The selling agent knows the seller’s motivation and buyer interest, and the buyer usually does not. A price guide is only an estimate, and final prices can land above it. Auctions and competing offers push buyers to overextend their budget. Chasing agents and booking inspections takes hours.
Moove is a tech-enabled buyer’s agent that represents home buyers and investors across Australia. Moove’s buyer’s agents ask selling agents targeted questions and report the answers back to clients. Moove runs its own comparable sales analysis on every property a client considers. A Moove buyer’s agent negotiates or bids within a pre-agreed ceiling. Moove also shortlists suitable properties, sets up viewings and handles communication with selling agents.
Each Moove buyer’s agent completes around 40 deals a year, compared with an industry average of about 5 to 10. More deals mean deeper relationships with local selling agents and a sharper read on the market. Moove’s buyer’s agents also identify active selling agents in each search area. That gives Moove clients access to off-market, pre-market and on-market opportunities that match the client’s criteria. Clients can log in to the Moove portal at any time to see what is complete and what comes next.
Key takeaway: A selling agent represents the seller, so every buyer needs an independent source of advice. Moove’s buyer’s agents fill that role through published, fixed-fee packages.
Questions About the Seller’s Situation and Timeline
Questions about the seller’s situation help a buyer judge how flexible a seller may be. A selling agent represents the seller, so some details may stay private. Even a guarded answer gives a buyer useful clues before making an offer.
Questions to Ask the Selling Agent
Buyers can ask a selling agent these questions about the seller’s situation and timeline:
- Why is the seller selling?
- How long have the owners lived in the property?
- Has the seller already bought another property?
- Does the seller need a particular settlement date?
- Is the seller open to a shorter or longer settlement period?
- Will the property be vacant at settlement?
- Does the seller want a quick sale, or will the seller wait for the right offer?
Why the Seller’s Reason for Selling Matters
A seller’s reason for selling shapes how the seller may respond to an offer. A seller who has already bought another home may want a quick sale. A seller who needs time to find a new home may prefer a longer settlement.
A selling agent may decline to explain why the vendor is selling. The agent acts for the vendor and may keep personal details private. Buyers can still listen for clues, such as how soon the agent wants offers.
How Settlement Terms Affect Your Offer
Settlement is the date when the buyer pays the remaining purchase price and takes ownership of the property. Settlement terms are negotiable in many sales. The right settlement period can make an offer more attractive, even when the price stays the same.
| Seller situation | What it may suggest | How a buyer can respond |
| The seller has already bought another property | The seller may want a faster sale to fund the purchase | Offer a shorter settlement period |
| The seller needs time to find a new home | The seller may value a longer settlement | Offer a longer settlement period |
| The seller wants certainty | The seller may favour a clean offer over the highest price | Limit conditions, but only after finance and inspection checks are complete |
What to Share With the Selling Agent
Selling agents often ask buyers about budget, finance and timing. Those answers reveal a buyer’s negotiating position. A buyer can confirm finance approval without naming a maximum price.
How Moove Helps Buyers Read the Seller’s Position
Buyers often lack context about the seller’s situation, and selling agents may not share it. Moove’s buyer’s agents deal with selling agents for clients. Each Moove buyer’s agent completes around 40 deals a year, compared with an industry average of about 5 to 10. That volume builds deeper relationships with local selling agents and a sharper read on the market.
Moove’s buyer’s agents use what they learn to structure the offer. That includes the settlement period, inclusions and subject-to clauses, along with the price. Moove’s buyer’s agents negotiate within a pre-agreed ceiling, so the client’s maximum budget stays private.
Key takeaway: The seller’s situation and timeline shape which offer terms will appeal to the seller. A Moove buyer’s agent asks the right questions, reads the answers and structures the offer for the client.
Questions About the Property’s Sale History
A property’s sale history shows how buyers have responded to the property before. The selling agent knows how long the property has been listed and what offers the seller has received. The answers help a buyer judge the asking price and the seller’s flexibility.
Questions to Ask the Selling Agent
Buyers can ask a selling agent these questions about a property’s sale history:
- How long has the property been on the market?
- Has the property been listed before, with this agent or another?
- Did the property pass in at auction or come off the market?
- Has the asking price or price guide changed since the first listing?
- Has the seller received any offers, and why did they not proceed?
- If a previous sale fell through, what caused it?
- When did the current owners buy the property?
Why Time on Market Matters
Time on market is the number of days a property has been advertised for sale. A long listing period may mean the asking price or the property’s condition puts buyers off. That can create room to negotiate. A short listing period may signal strong demand, so buyers may need to act quickly.
Time on market alone does not explain why a property has not sold. Seasonal slowdowns and weak marketing can also play a part. Buyers should ask for the reason, then check the answer against recent comparable sales.
Auction Pass-Ins and Withdrawn Listings
A property passes in at auction when bidding stops below the seller’s reserve price. After a pass-in, the selling agent often negotiates privately with the highest bidder. Buyers can ask what the highest bid was.
A withdrawn listing means the seller took the property off the market before it sold. Buyers can ask why the seller withdrew the property and whether the price expectations have changed.
What a Property’s Sale History May Suggest
| History detail | What it may suggest | What a buyer can ask or do |
| Long time on the market | The price or condition may be putting buyers off | Ask how many offers the seller has received, then compare the price with recent comparable sales |
| Passed in at auction | The bidding did not reach the seller’s reserve price | Ask for the highest bid and whether the seller will negotiate |
| Previous sale fell through | Finance, inspection or contract issues may have ended the earlier deal | Ask what caused it, and order a building and pest inspection before you offer |
| Price reduced or relisted | The seller may have adjusted expectations, or the first price may have been too high | Ask what changed and check the new price against recent sales |
How to Check the Agent’s Answers
Buyers can verify part of a property’s history without the selling agent. Property portals such as Domain and realestate.com.au often show past listings and sale prices. Data providers such as CoreLogic list recent comparable sales. Selling agents cannot mislead buyers, so a buyer can compare the agent’s answers against these records.
How Moove Helps Buyers Read a Property’s History
A selling agent’s account of a property can leave gaps in its listing history. Moove researches comparable sales and reviews the contract of sale for each property a client considers. Moove also provides research reports that cover comparable sales and data-backed price estimates.
After an auction passes in, buyers may not know how to negotiate. Moove sets a bidding limit with the client, bids on the client’s behalf and negotiates the price and terms. If an earlier sale fell through, Moove checks the contract for red flags and coordinates building and pest inspections. Moove’s buyer’s agents also deal with the selling agent directly, so clients do not have to ask each question themselves.
Key takeaway: A property’s sale history helps a buyer judge the price and the seller’s flexibility. A Moove buyer’s agent checks the history against independent research before the client makes an offer.
Questions About Price and Comparable Sales
Price questions help a buyer test an asking price against evidence. The selling agent prepares the price guide and can explain which recent sales support it. Buyers who ask for that evidence can make a more confident offer.
Questions to Ask the Selling Agent
Buyers can ask a selling agent these questions about price and comparable sales:
- How did you arrive at the price guide?
- Which comparable sales support the price guide?
- Can I see a Comparative Market Analysis for this property?
- Is there a statement of information for this property?
- Has the price guide changed since the campaign started?
- Do you expect the property to sell above the price guide?
- Is the guide a single figure or a range?
How a Price Guide Works
A price guide is a selling agent’s estimate of what a property is likely to sell for. It is not a valuation, a fixed price or a guarantee. The agent bases the estimate on comparable sales, market conditions and the property’s features.
A reserve price is the confidential minimum the seller will accept at auction. Buyers never see the reserve price beforehand. A price guide and a reserve price are different figures.
Why Comparable Sales Matter
Comparable sales are recent sales of similar properties in the same area. Agents ideally look at sales from the last three to six months. They compare dwelling type, bedrooms, bathrooms, land size and condition.
A Comparative Market Analysis lays out the comparable sales behind a price estimate. It shows the reasoning, not only the number.
Asking for the Agent’s Evidence
Buyers can ask the selling agent for a Comparative Market Analysis. The document lists the comparable sales that support the estimate. If an agent hesitates to share how the agent reached a figure, that reluctance is worth noting.
Some states require a statement of information alongside a price guide. The statement lists the comparable sales and the reasoning behind the estimate. Buyers can request one even where the law does not require it.
Reading the Agent’s Language
Vague phrases such as “offers over” or a price followed by a plus sign are a red flag. Several states restrict these phrases because they can hide the agent’s real estimate. A tight price range grounded in recent sales is usually more trustworthy than a broad one.
Why Sale Prices Can Exceed the Guide
Sale prices often land above the price guide. The most common reason is buyer competition. Emotional bidding and scarcity can push prices higher still. At auction, the seller’s reserve price can sit above the published guide.
According to Moove, the typical above-guide sale across Australian capital cities overshoots the guide by four to nine per cent. Sydney records the largest gaps. A guide set two or three weeks earlier can already be out of date.
What Each Question Reveals
| Question | Why it matters | What a useful answer may look like |
| How did you arrive at the price guide? | It shows whether the agent used comparable sales | The agent names recent sales of similar nearby properties |
| Can I see the comparable sales? | It lets the buyer check the evidence | The agent shares a Comparative Market Analysis or statement of information |
| Has the price guide changed? | A guide set weeks earlier may be out of date | The agent explains what prompted the change |
| Do you expect it to sell above the guide? | It signals the agent’s read on buyer competition | The agent gives a reason based on buyer interest, not only a number |
How Moove Helps Buyers Test the Price
A price guide is one agent’s estimate, not a valuation. Moove runs its own comparable sales analysis on every property a client considers. Moove’s buyer’s agents cross-check the advertised guide against real market data rather than taking it at face value. Moove also provides research reports with comparable sales and data-backed price estimates. Clients then know what a property is genuinely worth to them before a negotiation or auction.
Auctions and competing offers can push buyers past their budget. Moove sets a bidding limit based on the client’s borrowing power and can bid on the client’s behalf. Moove’s buyer’s agents also put the price questions to the selling agent, so clients do not have to.
Key takeaway: A price guide is an estimate, so a buyer needs evidence behind it. A Moove buyer’s agent tests every guide against independent comparable sales research before the client makes an offer.
Questions About Buyer Interest and Competing Offers
Buyer interest shows how much competition a buyer faces. The selling agent knows how many people have inspected the property and whether other offers exist. Those answers help a buyer decide how quickly to act and how strongly to offer.
Questions to Ask the Selling Agent
Buyers can ask a selling agent these questions about buyer interest and competing offers:
- How many buyers have inspected the property?
- Has the seller received any offers so far?
- Do you expect more than one offer?
- Is there an offer deadline?
- Will the seller consider an offer before the deadline or auction?
- How will the seller compare offers?
- Will you ask buyers for a best and final offer?
- How will you present my offer to the seller?
Why Buyer Interest Matters
Buyer competition is the most common reason a property sells above its price guide. When several buyers want the same home, an auction or multiple-offer process drives the price upward. Buyers who know the level of interest can set a realistic offer.
Each sale method shows competition differently. At auction, all bids are public, so buyers see the competition in real time. In a private sale, buyers do not see other offers on the table.
What Selling Agents Can and Cannot Tell You
A selling agent can usually tell a buyer that other offers exist. Agents generally cannot reveal the amount of a competing offer. Agents also cannot mislead buyers about the level of interest. Offer rules differ between states, so buyers should check the rules that apply to their sale.
Signs of Competition
| Sign | What it may suggest | What a buyer can do |
| Many inspections and enquiries | Demand for the property is strong | Confirm finance approval and set a maximum price before offering |
| The agent sets an offer deadline | The seller expects several offers or wants to compare them | Submit the strongest offer the budget allows before the deadline |
| The agent asks for a best and final offer | Several offers are in play | Offer only a price the buyer can afford to pay |
| Few inspections and enquiries | Competition may be light | Use the extra time for due diligence and negotiation |
How Sellers Compare Offers
A seller weighs more than price. Sellers also compare the deposit, the settlement period and any conditions. A high offer with many conditions may lose to a lower offer with fewer conditions.
Conditions such as finance approval and building inspections protect the buyer. Buyers should limit conditions only after finance and building and pest checks are complete.
Keeping Your Budget in Check
Competition pushes buyers to stretch. Buyers racing a competing offer are more likely to overextend, particularly first home buyers. A buyer should set a maximum price before negotiations start and hold to it.
How Moove Helps Buyers Handle Competition
Private sales do not show other offers, so buyers cannot see how much competition exists. Moove’s buyer’s agents ask the selling agent about buyer interest, then build a strategy from comparable sales research. Moove also gives clients access to properties before they hit the market.
Competing offers and auction crowds create emotional pressure. A Moove buyer’s agent negotiates or bids on the client’s behalf within a pre-agreed ceiling. Moove structures offers around price, settlement period, inclusions and subject-to clauses. At auction, Moove helps clients set a bidding limit based on borrowing power. That keeps the process grounded in what the property is worth, not what the moment demands.
Key takeaway: Competing buyers push prices up, and emotion pushes budgets past their limits. A Moove buyer’s agent reads the level of interest, sets a clear ceiling and negotiates the offer for the client.
Questions About the Sale Method and Process
The sale method decides how a buyer must compete, how much time the buyer has and what protections apply. A selling agent can explain the method, the timeline and the offer process for the property. Buyers who ask early can prepare finance and inspections in time.
Questions to Ask the Selling Agent
Buyers can ask a selling agent these questions about the sale method and process:
- Is the property selling by auction, private sale or another method?
- If it is an auction, what are the date and time, and how do I register to bid?
- Will the seller consider an offer before the auction?
- If it is a private sale, is there an offer deadline?
- How do you want buyers to submit an offer?
- When can my solicitor or conveyancer review the contract of sale?
- Does a cooling-off period apply to this sale?
- Is the property off-market or pre-market, and will it be listed publicly?
How an Auction Works
An auction is a public sale where buyers bid openly for a property. The highest bidder wins, provided bidding meets the seller’s reserve price. Auctions have a fixed date and time, and buyers register beforehand.
When the hammer falls, the sale is final and legally binding. An auction has no cooling-off period, so buyers must complete inspections and finance checks before auction day. Auctions often have a fixed settlement period of 30 to 60 days.
How a Private Sale Works
In a private sale, the buyer negotiates directly with the seller or the selling agent. The negotiation usually starts from an advertised asking price or a price guide. There is no set deadline, so buyers generally have more time to organise inspections and finance.
Buyers usually get a cooling-off period after signing a private sale contract. Buyers can also include conditions such as finance approval or building inspections. Cooling-off rules vary by state.
Off-Market and Pre-Market Sales
Off-market properties are homes sold quietly, through private networks, before a listing goes live. Some sellers go off-market because their selling agent already has a ready buyer. Off-market access does not guarantee a bargain, so buyers still need to check the price.
Pre-market properties are about to go on-market. The selling agent may show them to selected buyers first. Buyers usually hear about these properties through agent relationships, not public portals.
Auction vs Private Sale at a Glance
| Feature | Auction | Private sale |
| How the price forms | Open bidding on a set date | Negotiation from an asking price or price guide |
| Cooling-off period | None, because the sale is final when the hammer falls | Usually applies after signing (rules vary by state) |
| Time to decide | Buyers must be ready to bid on the day | Buyers generally have more time |
| Transparency | All bids are public | Buyers cannot see other offers |
| Conditions | Buyers complete checks before the auction | Buyers can include conditions such as finance approval and building inspections |
How Buyers Submit an Offer
Selling agents decide how they accept offers. Some agents take a verbal offer, and others ask for a written offer or a signed contract. Buyers should ask a solicitor or conveyancer before signing anything.
How Moove Helps Buyers Through the Sale Process
Auctions ask buyers to bid on the spot with no cooling-off period. Moove sets a bidding limit based on the client’s borrowing power and can attend and bid on the client’s behalf. In a private sale, Moove negotiates price and terms and coordinates building and pest inspections and valuations.
Portals do not advertise off-market properties. Moove sources on-market, pre-market and off-market properties, and access is included across its core service packages. Buyers who have already found a property can use Moove’s Negotiate package. It covers appraisal and negotiation support for up to three properties the buyer brings. Moove’s buyer’s agents also liaise with the client’s broker or financial advisor, whichever sale method the seller chooses.
Key takeaway: Auctions and private sales set different rules on time, transparency and cooling-off. A Moove buyer’s agent prepares the client for either method and negotiates or bids on the client’s behalf.
Questions About the Property Itself
Questions about the property itself help a buyer uncover problems before making an offer. The selling agent knows what the seller has disclosed about the property’s condition, building work and inclusions. The agent may not know every defect, so buyers should also arrange independent checks.
Questions to Ask the Selling Agent
Buyers can ask a selling agent these questions about the property:
- Does the seller know of any defects, such as cracks, water damage or termite activity?
- What renovations or building work have the owners completed?
- Did the council approve that building work?
- Are there any flood, bushfire or other overlays on the property?
- Are there any council notices or orders on the property?
- Which fixtures and fittings does the sale include or exclude?
- Can I arrange a building and pest inspection before making an offer?
- For an apartment or townhouse, what are the strata levies, and are special levies planned?
- For an investment property, what are the current rent and the lease end date?
Why Independent Inspections Matter
A casual walkthrough may not reveal hidden problems. A property inspection is a comprehensive assessment of a property’s condition by a qualified inspector. It looks for structural, electrical and plumbing problems and for safety hazards.
Inspection costs typically run into the hundreds of dollars per property. Significant structural issues can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Inspection findings can help a buyer negotiate a lower price, ask the seller to make repairs or walk away.
Auctions have no cooling-off period, so buyers should complete inspections before auction day. Buyers should choose an inspector with a relevant building or pest control qualification and professional indemnity insurance.
Types of Property Inspections
| Inspection | What it checks | Why it matters |
| Building (pre-purchase) | The foundation, walls, roof and other structural parts | It reveals structural damage or wear |
| Pest | Signs of termites or rodents | Termites can cause significant structural damage |
| Electrical | Wiring, outlets and switches | It finds safety hazards and costly repairs |
| Plumbing | Pipes, drains and fixtures | It finds leaks and blockages |
Renovations and Council Approvals
Renovations can add value, but unapproved work can create costs for the next owner. Buyers can ask the selling agent which renovations the owners completed and whether the council approved them. A solicitor or conveyancer can then check the contract and council records.
Flood, Bushfire and Zoning Risks
Australia applies strict building standards to protect homes from bushfires and floods. Flood and bushfire overlays, zoning changes and council restrictions can affect a property’s value. Buyers can ask the agent about known overlays, then check council records.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions are the fixtures and fittings that stay with the property. Exclusions are the items the seller takes. Buyers should confirm items such as light fittings, curtains and appliances in the contract of sale.
Apartments and Townhouses
Strata levies are the regular fees owners pay toward the shared costs of a building or complex. Some states call the owners’ group a body corporate or an owners corporation. Buyers can ask for the levy details and check whether the group plans special levies. The costs and risks of an apartment often sit in the building, not only in the unit.
How Moove Helps Buyers Check the Property
A walkthrough cannot show everything, and overlays, zoning and council rules can change a property’s value. Moove coordinates building and pest inspections and reviews the contract of sale for red flags. Moove’s due diligence also covers flood and bushfire overlays, zoning changes and council restrictions.
The costs and problems in an apartment often sit in the building, not the unit. Moove’s buyer’s agents assess which apartment buildings stack up on due diligence and which to avoid. Moove uses inspection findings when negotiating price and terms. For investors, Moove’s research covers rental yields, vacancy rates and long-term capital growth. Moove’s buyer’s agents also put property questions to the selling agent and check the answers against independent research.
Key takeaway: A selling agent knows what the seller has disclosed, but only independent checks show a property’s true condition. A Moove buyer’s agent coordinates those checks and uses the findings when negotiating.
Questions About the Contract and Settlement
The contract of sale sets the deposit, the settlement date and any conditions. A selling agent can explain which terms the seller wants and where the seller may bend. Buyers who ask early can avoid surprises after the sale becomes binding.
Questions to Ask the Selling Agent
Buyers can ask a selling agent these questions about the contract and settlement:
- How much is the deposit, and when is it due?
- What settlement period does the seller want?
- Is the seller flexible on the settlement date?
- Does the contract include any special conditions?
- Will the seller amend any contract terms?
- Does a cooling-off period apply, and how long does it last?
- Can I inspect the property before settlement?
- Can my solicitor or conveyancer review the contract before I sign?
Why Contract Terms Matter
Exchange of contracts makes a sale legally binding. At auction, the sale becomes binding when the hammer falls. Buyers should understand the contract terms before either moment. A solicitor or conveyancer can explain how the contract applies in each state.
How the Deposit Works
A deposit is part of the purchase price that the buyer pays when contracts are exchanged. The contract sets the amount, and it is often between 5 and 10 per cent of the purchase price. A trust account holds the deposit until settlement. At auction, the buyer usually pays the deposit when the hammer falls.
How Cooling-Off Works
A cooling-off period lets a buyer withdraw from a contract within a set time. Private sales usually include one, and auctions do not. In New South Wales, the cooling-off period for private treaty sales is five business days after exchange. A buyer who withdraws usually pays a penalty based on the sale price. Other states have different rules.
How Settlement Works
Settlement is the legal process where ownership transfers to the buyer and the buyer pays the remaining purchase price. The contract sets the settlement period, which commonly runs from 30 to 90 days after exchange. In New South Wales, settlement generally happens about six weeks after exchange.
A solicitor or conveyancer can check and negotiate the settlement period with the seller. Delays can come from outstanding conditions, slow loan approval, missing paperwork or title issues.
Special Conditions
A special condition is a term that must be met for the sale to proceed, such as finance approval or a building inspection. Conditions protect the buyer. Sellers often prefer fewer conditions. Buyers should remove conditions only after finance and inspection checks are complete.
Pre-Settlement Inspection
A pre-settlement inspection lets the buyer check the property’s condition before settlement. Buyers can confirm the property matches the contract and that the agreed inclusions remain. Buyers can ask the selling agent when the inspection can happen.
Costs Beyond the Purchase Price
Buying a property involves costs beyond the purchase price. These costs include stamp duty (also called transfer duty), legal and conveyancing fees, and building and pest inspections. Buyers with a deposit under 20 per cent may also pay lenders mortgage insurance. Loan establishment and moving costs add to the total.
Key Stages From Contract to Settlement
| Stage | What happens | What a buyer can ask |
| Contract review | A solicitor or conveyancer reviews the contract of sale | Can I have the contract before I offer or sign? |
| Exchange | Both sides sign, the buyer pays the deposit and the sale becomes binding | How much is the deposit, and when is it due? |
| Cooling-off | The buyer may withdraw within a set time in some private sales | Does cooling-off apply, and for how long? |
| Pre-settlement inspection | The buyer checks the property’s condition | When can I inspect before settlement? |
| Settlement | The buyer pays the balance and takes ownership | What is the settlement date, and can it change? |
How Moove Helps Buyers Through Contract and Settlement
Contracts use legal language and special conditions, and key dates arrive quickly. Moove reviews the contract of sale for red flags and works with the client’s solicitor or conveyancer. Moove follows up finance approvals and ensures all contractual deadlines are met. Moove also negotiates settlement periods, inclusions and subject-to clauses.
Buyers otherwise deal with the selling agent, broker and legal team separately. Moove acts as the central point of contact between all parties. Moove’s buyer’s agents guide clients through exchange with their financier and legal team. Moove ensures the pre-settlement inspection happens. The team then supports the client through to settlement.
Key takeaway: The contract sets the deposit, the conditions and the settlement date, and the sale becomes binding at exchange or when the hammer falls. A Moove buyer’s agent works with the client’s solicitor or conveyancer to protect the client through to settlement.
How to Read the Agent’s Answers
A selling agent’s answers give a buyer useful information, but the agent works for the seller. Buyers get the most value when they compare each answer against independent evidence. Clear, specific answers usually help, while vague answers signal a need to dig deeper.
Why Answers Need Checking
A selling agent represents the seller and aims to secure the best price and terms for the seller. That does not make every answer misleading. It does mean buyers should verify key claims about price, buyer interest and property condition.
What a Useful Answer Looks Like
A useful answer is specific, backed by evidence and consistent with public records. An agent who names recent comparable sales gives a buyer something to check. An agent who explains why the seller is selling gives a buyer context for an offer. Buyers can also test any answer with a follow-up question.
Red Flags in a Selling Agent’s Answers
| Red flag | What it may mean | What a buyer can do |
| Vague price wording, such as “offers over” or a price followed by a plus sign | The agent may be hiding the real price estimate | Ask for the comparable sales and compare them with sold data |
| Reluctance to share comparable sales or how the agent reached a figure | The evidence may not support the price | Request a Comparative Market Analysis and check sales on Domain or CoreLogic |
| A price guide below what the property sold for before | The guide may be unrealistic | Check the sales history on property portals and ask the agent to explain |
| Pressure to offer fast without details on other offers | The agent may use urgency to lift the price | Ask how many offers exist, then stick to a pre-set maximum price |
| Answers that change between conversations | The agent may not have a firm basis for the claim | Ask the agent to confirm key points by email |
| Dodging questions about defects or approvals | The seller may not know, or may not want to say | Order independent inspections and ask a solicitor or conveyancer to check records |
Common Agent Phrases and Follow-Up Questions
| What the agent says | A useful follow-up question |
| “The price guide is realistic.” | Which recent comparable sales support it? |
| “We have a lot of interest.” | How many buyers have inspected or made offers? |
| “The seller is flexible.” | Is the seller flexible on price, settlement or both? |
| “The seller wants a quick sale.” | Does the seller have a deadline? |
| “The renovation was done properly.” | Did the council approve the work? |
| “It won’t last long at this price.” | What is the offer deadline, and will the seller sell before it? |
How to Verify What an Agent Says
Buyers can check price claims against sales data on Domain, realestate.com.au and CoreLogic. Buyers can check an agent’s licence on the online register that each state and territory keeps. Solicitors and conveyancers can check contract terms and council records. Independent building and pest inspectors can check a property’s condition.
Keep a Record of the Answers
Buyers can write down the agent’s answers after each conversation. For key points such as price, offers and deadlines, buyers can ask the agent to confirm by email. A written record makes it easier to spot answers that change.
When to Walk Away
Buyers should walk away when the evidence does not support the price. Buyers should also walk away when pressure replaces information. A calm decision protects the budget and avoids a purchase the buyer regrets.
How Moove Helps Buyers Read the Agent
Selling agents represent the seller, so answers can leave gaps. Moove’s buyer’s agents deal with the selling agent and check the answers against independent research. Moove’s due diligence covers comparable sales and red flags in the property and the contract. Moove also supports every decision with market data and suburb-level insights.
Competing offers and auction crowds push buyers to act fast. Moove sets a pre-agreed ceiling and bids or negotiates on the client’s behalf. Moove’s buyer’s agents work for the buyer only, and Moove’s approach puts honesty first. The most valuable thing a buyer’s agent can do is tell the client the truth, including when to walk away.
Key takeaway: A selling agent’s answers are a starting point, not the full picture. A Moove buyer’s agent checks each answer against independent research and helps the client walk away when the evidence does not add up.
Common Mistakes Buyers Make When Speaking to Selling Agents
The first conversation with a selling agent can shape the rest of the negotiation. Small mistakes with budget, emotion and evidence can add up to a higher price or weaker terms. Knowing the common mistakes helps a buyer avoid them.
Mistake 1: Assuming the Selling Agent Is on Your Side
A selling agent represents the seller, not the buyer. Buyers who treat the agent as a neutral adviser may accept claims without checking them. Buyers should treat the agent’s answers as one source and verify the rest. A Moove buyer’s agent works solely for the buyer, so clients have an advocate in every conversation.
Mistake 2: Revealing Your Maximum Budget
Selling agents often ask buyers about their budget. A buyer who names a maximum price gives up negotiating room. Buyers can confirm finance approval without naming the ceiling. Moove’s buyer’s agents negotiate within a pre-agreed ceiling, so the client’s maximum stays private.
Mistake 3: Showing Too Much Emotion
Buyers who fall in love with a property are more likely to stretch their budget. First home buyers feel this pressure most in a packed auction or a race against a competing offer. Buyers can keep their excitement quiet and stay with their numbers. Moove’s buyer’s agents keep the process grounded in what a property is worth, not what the moment demands.
Mistake 4: Relying on the Price Guide Alone
A price guide is an estimate, not a valuation. Final prices can land well above the guide, and a guide set weeks earlier can already be out of date. Buyers should test the guide against recent comparable sales. Moove runs its own comparable sales analysis on every property a client considers.
Mistake 5: Not Asking for Evidence
Buyers sometimes accept a price figure without asking how the agent reached it. A Comparative Market Analysis shows the comparable sales behind the estimate. Reluctance to share that evidence is worth noting. Moove’s buyer’s agents cross-check the advertised guide against real market data.
Mistake 6: Making an Offer Before Inspections and Finance Are Ready
Buyers who offer before checking the property or their finance can face costly surprises. Auctions have no cooling-off period, and the sale is final when the hammer falls. Buyers should complete inspections, contract review and finance checks first. Moove coordinates building and pest inspections and liaises with the client’s broker or financial advisor.
Mistake 7: Focusing on Price Alone
Price is one part of an offer. Sellers also weigh the deposit, the settlement period and any conditions. A buyer who ignores these terms can lose to a lower offer with better terms. Moove negotiates settlement periods, inclusions and subject-to clauses along with the price.
Mistake 8: Chasing Properties Outside Your Real Budget
Buyers who chase properties that sell above their budget waste time and money on inspections and finance paperwork. Repeated disappointment can lead to decision fatigue, where buyers settle for a property they do not want. It can also lead to over-caution, where buyers hesitate on fair opportunities. Moove gives clients an evidence-based view of what a property is likely to sell for before they commit time or money.
Quick Reference: Mistakes and Better Approaches
| Mistake | Better approach |
| Treating the selling agent as neutral | Verify key claims with independent sources |
| Naming your maximum budget | Confirm finance approval without naming a ceiling |
| Showing strong emotion | Stay with your numbers and a pre-set maximum |
| Relying on the price guide alone | Test the guide against recent comparable sales |
| Not asking for evidence | Request a Comparative Market Analysis |
| Offering before checks are ready | Complete inspections, contract review and finance checks first |
| Focusing on price alone | Negotiate settlement, inclusions and conditions too |
| Chasing properties beyond your budget | Get an evidence-based price view before you commit |
Key takeaway: Most mistakes with selling agents come from emotion, missing evidence and unclear limits. A Moove buyer’s agent brings independent research, a firm ceiling and calm negotiation to every conversation.
How a Buyer’s Agent Helps You Ask the Right Questions
A buyer’s agent asks selling agents the right questions for the buyer, then checks the answers against independent research. The buyer’s agent works only for the buyer, so the answers serve the buyer’s interests. Moove’s buyer’s agents do this for home buyers and investors across Australia.
What a Buyer’s Agent Does
A buyer’s agent is a licensed professional whose sole job is to represent the buyer’s interests. A buyer’s agent searches for and shortlists properties, researches each one and negotiates with the selling agent. The buyer’s agent then manages the purchase through to settlement. Moove is a tech-enabled buyer’s agent that works this way. Moove is not a sales agency.
Why Buyers Struggle to Ask the Right Questions Alone
Most people buy property only a handful of times in their life. Selling agents negotiate every day. That gap makes it hard to know which questions to ask and how to read the answers.
How Moove Helps With Each Type of Question
| Question area | How Moove helps |
| The seller’s situation and timeline | Moove’s buyer’s agents deal with the selling agent. Each Moove buyer’s agent completes around 40 deals a year, which builds relationships with local selling agents. |
| Sale history and price | Moove runs its own comparable sales analysis on every property a client considers. Moove also provides research reports with data-backed price estimates. |
| Buyer interest and competing offers | Moove negotiates or bids on the client’s behalf within a pre-agreed ceiling. |
| The sale method and process | Moove supports clients at auction and in private sales, and sources on-market, pre-market and off-market properties. |
| The property itself | Moove coordinates building and pest inspections and reviews the contract of sale for red flags. |
| The contract and settlement | Moove liaises with the client’s solicitor, conveyancer and lender. Moove also ensures the pre-settlement inspection happens. |
How Moove Works: Four Stages
| Stage | What Moove does |
| Search | Moove helps the client pinpoint the right location and identifies active agents in the area for off-market, pre-market and on-market opportunities. |
| Find | Moove assesses availability, builds a shortlist and sets up viewings. |
| Negotiate | Moove helps the client prepare an offer, negotiates the price and makes the formal offer on the client’s behalf. |
| Buy | Moove guides the client through exchange with the financier and legal team, ensures the pre-settlement inspection happens and guides the client through to settlement. |
How Moove’s Technology Supports Better Questions
Moove built a proprietary data and workflow platform. That platform lets each Moove buyer’s agent handle around 40 deals a year, compared with an industry average of about 5 to 10. Moove says every decision is supported by the buyer’s agent and millions of data points.
Clients can log in to the Moove platform at any time. They see what is complete, what is in progress and what comes next. Clients do not need to chase updates.
Moove’s Fees and Packages
Moove publishes its fees upfront. Moove offers fixed-fee packages for properties under $2.5 million.
| If the buyer… | Moove service | What it covers |
| Has found a property and wants negotiation help | Negotiate | Appraisal and negotiation for up to three properties the buyer brings, including auction attendance and bidding |
| Wants help finding and negotiating a home | Classic (owner-occupier) | Finding and assessing properties that meet the buyer’s criteria, unlimited negotiations and auction bidding support |
| Is buying an investment property | Investor packages | Assessing investment needs, matching locations, then searching, negotiating and securing the property |
Who Moove Helps
| Buyer type | How Moove helps |
| First home buyers | Moove guides the buyer through each step, from search to settlement, and explains the process. |
| Investors | Moove provides research on rental yields, vacancy rates and long-term capital growth, plus investor packages. |
| Interstate or time-poor buyers | Moove manages the purchase end to end, so the buyer does not need to be across every detail. |
Key takeaway: Most buyers do not know which questions to ask a selling agent or how to read the answers. A Moove buyer’s agent asks the right questions, checks the answers against independent research and negotiates for the buyer through to settlement.
Ask the Right Questions, Buy with Confidence, with Moove by Your Side
A selling agent in Australia works for the seller, so buyers need to ask the right questions before making an offer. Each answer helps a buyer judge what a fair offer looks like. The key question areas are:
- The seller’s situation and timeline
- The property’s sale history
- Price and comparable sales
- Buyer interest and competing offers
- The sale method and process
- The property itself
- The contract and settlement
Answers only help when a buyer can check them. Buyers can test price claims against recent comparable sales. Buyers can also arrange independent inspections and ask a solicitor or conveyancer to review the contract. Buyers should protect their maximum budget and walk away when the evidence does not support the price.
Moove is a tech-enabled buyer’s agent that helps Australian home buyers and investors buy better. Moove’s buyer’s agents ask selling agents the right questions for the client. Moove’s buyer’s agents check the answers against independent comparable sales research and negotiate within a pre-agreed ceiling. Moove then guides the client through exchange, the pre-settlement inspection and settlement. Moove says it can condense a property search from 18 months down to three.
Ready to buy with confidence? Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with a Moove buyer’s agent today and find out how to ask the right questions on your next property.
