Buyers agent fees in Adelaide, published in full
My fees are paid only by you. Residential and SMSF purchases are a flat $15,000 including GST. Commercial and development sites are from $20,000 including GST. You pay me, the seller doesn't. That's the whole point.
01 · The principle
Read the fees before you speak to me.
I'm based in Adelaide, and the fee is the same whether I buy in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney or anywhere else the numbers point. I publish these figures so you can read them before you speak to me. If you want the industry comparison, city by city, I've written it up in buyers agent fees in Australia.
Residential and SMSF are flat. A $450,000 purchase and a $900,000 purchase cost the same to buy through me, so I have no reason to push you towards a dearer property.
02 · The fees
What I charge, by lane.
All figures include GST. The retainer is paid by bank transfer at the start of the engagement and is refundable in the first 4 weeks, no questions asked. The balance is paid at unconditional exchange.
| Lane | Total fee (inc GST) | Retainer to start | Balance, paid at unconditional exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential investment | $15,000flat | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| SMSF property | $15,000flat | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Commercial | From $20,000$5,000 to start, balance at unconditional exchange | $5,000 | $15,000 or 2% of the purchase price, whichever is greater |
| Development sites | From $20,000$5,000 to start, balance at unconditional exchange | $5,000 | $15,000 or 2% of the purchase price, whichever is greater |
| Strategy call | Free30 minutes | n/a | n/a |
The strategy call is 30 minutes, and you leave with the property analysis and cash flow model whether you engage me or not.
03 · The commercial formula
How the commercial fee scales
Commercial and development are a floor with a percentage above it, because deal sizes vary by an order of magnitude and the work scales with them. A $600,000 strata suite and a $6 million industrial site are not the same job. The percentage only overtakes the $15,000 floor once the purchase price passes $750,000. These are illustrations, not quotes.
| Purchase price | 2% of price | Success fee (greater of $15,000 or 2%) | Retainer | Total (inc GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $600,000 | $12,000 | $15,000 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| $750,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $5,000 | $45,000 |
Every figure on this page includes GST, the percentage included. That matters when you compare quotes. A fee quoted as 2% plus GST is really 2.2% once GST is added, so on an $800,000 purchase that hypothetical quote is $17,600, not $16,000.
04 · How payment works
Two payments, and the second only exists if I secure the property.
The retainer, $5,000 inc GST
You pay this at the start of the engagement, by bank transfer. It funds the strategy session, the market and pocket analysis and the shortlist modelling. It is refundable in the first 4 weeks, no questions asked.
The balance, at unconditional exchange
On residential and SMSF it is $10,000 inc GST. On commercial and development it is $15,000 or 2% of the purchase price, whichever is greater, inc GST. If the numbers don't say yes on any property, you don't buy, and the balance never exists.
You engage me directly, and the retainer and the balance are paid to me. Nothing else on this page is paid to me.
Third-party costs are separate. Building and pest inspections, valuations, your solicitor and your broker are paid to those providers, not to me. As a guide, allow approximately $3,000 to $5,000 for residential, and $5,000 to $30,000 for commercial depending on the size of the transaction. That is an allowance, not a quote, and the actual amounts depend on the property and the providers you use.
05 · What the fee covers
One fee, strategy through to settlement.
- A strategy session and your numbers modelled before we look at a listing
- The search and shortlist
- Due diligence on the asset
- Negotiation and contract review coordination
- Off-market and pre-market access through agent relationships
- Settlement coordination
Formal legal review sits with your solicitor, and tax and credit advice sit with your licensed adviser and broker. I work through their findings with them before you're committed.
06 · What I never take
I take money from one person: you.
I'm a client-side buyers agent. That is the whole model.
If you're comparing agents, ask who else pays them. The only comfortable answer is nobody. I wrote up the other four questions in is a buyers agent worth it.
- No sell-side commissions. Nothing from the vendor, the selling agent or the agency.
- No developer commissions. If a property would pay me to recommend it, I don't recommend it.
- No referral fees from anyone. I don't receive referral fees from any third party, whether that's a broker, solicitor, accountant or anyone else.
- No percentage that rises with your price on residential or SMSF. The fee is flat, so my interest is the same on every price point.
07 · Who this suits
Who the fee is built for.
I only work with investors. If you're buying a home to live in, other agents do that well and I don't do it at all. If you're not at the fit below yet, take the free Cash Flow Check first. It takes about two minutes and tells you whether your next purchase still stacks up under the post-May 2027 rules.
Start the Cash Flow CheckNot sure which lane fits? The Commercial Ready Check and the 7-Test SMSF Property Filter are free too. If your plan is Adelaide property specifically, the Adelaide buying guide covers the South Australian contract and disclosure rules that catch interstate buyers.
08 · The proof
What clients say
Word for word, from Google.
Highly recommend Shayne. Shayne as a Buyers Agent eliminated a lot of decision paralysis for me and outsourcing to Shayne made me more confident in my purchasing decision. Shayne is open, honest, very responsive and full of knowledge. From market insights to negotiation skills Shayne excels at every step ensuring a smooth and successful transaction.
Shayne was excellent to work with. As first-time buyers, we had plenty of questions, and he was patient, responsive and clear throughout the process. He took the time to understand our situation and long-term investment goals, gave us multiple options and explained the trade-offs honestly.
He kept us updated as policies and regulations changed and made sure we understood each decision before moving forward. With Shayne’s guidance, we secured a great property that fits our investment strategy. We’d confidently recommend him and look forward to working with him again!
We used Shayne as a buyers agent, and as a first time buyer, he made it such a seamless and easy process. Shayne is super proactive and really takes the stress out of it. Thanks so much for your help with everything Shayne!
They helped us buy two properties for two different purposes. They are very flexible and cooperative for achieving the client's goals. They can provide stress free service. We are happy to hire them again.
FAQ
Questions investors ask before engaging
How much does a buyers agent cost in Adelaide?
When do I pay, and what if you don't find a property?
Is the fee the same if I buy interstate?
Why is commercial a floor plus a percentage when residential is flat?
Is the $5,000 retainer refundable?
What other costs should I allow for?
Do you take money from sellers, developers or anyone else?
Bring the goal. I'll bring the numbers.
A strategy call is 30 minutes. You leave with the property analysis and cash flow model either way, free. If the fee or the fit isn't right, I'll tell you on the call.
Book a free strategy callPrefer to start on your own? Take the free Cash Flow Check first.