In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Chris Bates and Amy Lunardi unpack a question more buyers are asking in softer conditions: do you still need a buyer’s agent when the market feels like it has swung in your favour?
The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Amy explains why a good buyer’s agent is not just there to chase off-market listings or bid at auction. The real value often sits in strategy, due diligence, negotiation and filtering out wasted time, especially when buyers think a softer market means every vendor is suddenly desperate. Chris and Amy compare buyer’s markets and seller’s markets, explain why the psychology changes in each, and show how poor framing, lowball offers and bad process can quietly ruin a deal.
They also dig into what separates true advisory-led buyer’s agents from louder operators built on marketing promises. From off-market access and agent relationships to knowing when to push, when to pause and when to walk away, this episode is a practical guide for home buyers and investors trying to make better property decisions without getting caught by FOMO, false confidence or the wrong advice. It also tackles one of the biggest traps in a buyer’s market: assuming more time automatically means more leverage, when the best properties and best opportunities can still disappear quickly.
