Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should
Every now and then I hear versions of the following statement;
"We're just going to have a go ourselves first."
And honestly, I get it.
We live in an age where AI, YouTube, podcasts and endless online resources can teach us almost anything. Most of us could learn enough to buy a property ourselves.
But here's the question:
Just because you can do something yourself, does that mean you'll get the best result?
People shop around for dentists. They seek advice from lawyers. They'll spend hours researching a new car, a holiday, or even a pair of shoes. Yet when it comes to buying what is often the biggest asset of their lives, many are happy to go it alone.
The irony? Sitting across from them is a sales agent whose job is to get the highest possible price for the seller. They're a professional negotiator.
They're not working for you.
They're working for the vendor - and they do a great job! Would I want them on my side if I was selling - absolutely! ... But you are not. You are buying.
And while the average buyer might purchase a handful of properties in their lifetime, agents negotiate property transactions every single day.
Buying property isn't just attending home opens and scrolling through listings. It's understanding value, reading the market, spotting red flags, uncovering opportunities, carrying out due diligence, and negotiating strategically.It's a full-time job.
So when this comes up in conversations, I sometimes find myself fumbling for an answer because my first thought is always, "Well, of course you can buy a property yourself."
And honestly, before I worked in this industry, I probably wouldn't have considered using a buyer's agent either.
Why would I? I could search online, attend home opens, compare properties and speak with agents.
But that's the thing about property: you don't know what you don't know.
It wasn't until I was immersed in the industry every day that I realised how much happens behind the scenes. The subtle negotiation tactics, the value hidden between comparable sales, the red flags most buyers never spot, the opportunities that never make it online, and the small decisions that can save, or cost, tens of thousands of dollars.
Looking back, I completely understand why many buyers think they can do it alone. I probably would have thought the same. But what I've learned is that finding a property is often the easy part. Knowing its true value, understanding the risks, and negotiating the best possible outcome is where experience really matters. That's why the question isn't whether you can buy property yourself. It's whether you'll buy as well as you possibly can.
One of the biggest objections to using a buyer's agent is the fee. People naturally want to save money. But many buyers focus on the visible cost while overlooking the hidden ones.
Paying too much, especially in this current market. Missing an issue. Buying the wrong property. Making an emotional decision. Accepting unfavorable terms, just to name a few...
These mistakes can cost far more than the fee they were trying to save.
A great buyer's agent doesn't simply help you buy a property. They help you avoid expensive mistakes, negotiate from a position of strength, draw on their professional networks and often save their fees multiple times over.
Could you buy a property yourself?
Absolutely.
Many people do.
But the real question isn't whether you can. It's whether you'll buy as confidently, strategically, and successfully as you could with an expert in your corner.
When you're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, it's maybe worth asking:
If I wouldn't perform my own dental work or represent myself in court, why would I choose to be the least experienced person in the property negotiation?
Sometimes the most expensive decision isn't paying for expert advice.It's deciding not to.