Vendor advocacy gives a property seller an expert guide. The guide works on the seller's side. They can help choose and manage the selling agent. They can also check the sale plan, fees and offers. If you plan to buy next, ANBA can help with that step. We match you with a buyer's agent we know and have vetted. The match is free. There is no pressure and no need to go ahead.
You shouldn't have to figure this out alone
A home sale has a lot of parts. You may need to choose an agent, a sale method and a price guide, and weigh fees, ads and offers. Each choice can change the end result. Most people sell a home only a few times; selling agents do it each week. Their pitch can sound great, yet it can be hard to test. A high profile agent may know your area well, while a less known agent may have a stronger list of buyers for your type of home. You need facts, not fame. A good vendor advocate can help you ask the right things, test each pitch and keep the sale on track.
What a vendor advocate does
A vendor advocate acts as a guide for a vendor. Their first task is to learn your goals. You may want the best price, a fast sale, or a long end date so your next move can work.
The advocate may ask local selling agents to pitch, then check recent sales, fees and each agent's plan to give you a sound base for your choice. Once you choose an agent, the advocate may help set the plan: the price guide, photos, ads, open homes and the choice of auction or private sale. The selling agent still runs the campaign.
During the sale, the advocate can read the agent's reports and help you weigh a change in price or plan, then judge offers at the end. Vendor advocacy does not shift the final choice: you still choose the agent, the sale terms and whether to take an offer. The point is to make those calls with more care and less stress.
Vendor advocate and selling agent roles
The two roles are not the same. A selling agent takes the home to market: they list it, show it, speak with buyers and seek the best sale terms under their agency deal.
A vendor advocate sits one step back. They help you choose and manage the selling agent, but may not hold the listing or meet each buyer. Ask who will do each task before you sign. Some advocate businesses offer a broad service; some only help you pick an agent; some give styling or move help through other firms.
What to check before you hire
A well-known name is not proof of fit. The best vendor advocate for you should know your type of home and local market, and be clear on how they are paid.
- Scope. Ask what they do before, during and after the sale.
- Skill. Check their licence, past work and recent sales near you.
- Fees. Get all fees, shares and rebates in plain words.
- Links. Ask if they have a deal with any selling agent.
- Choice. Check how many agents they will assess and why.
- Reports. Ask when and how they will keep you up to date.
- Exit terms. Know how you can end the deal if the fit is poor.
Do not be swayed by a high profile name. A tale about one large sale may not show how the firm works each day. Ask for facts that match your home, price band and area.
We're ANBA, and we do things differently
ANBA helps with the buy side of your move. We match property buyers with a buyer's agent we know, having checked their work, results and areas of skill. We are not a list of names, an algorithm or a tick-and-flick service. We make a personal match from your needs, which is vital when your sale and next buy must line up.
You may already use a vendor advocate for the sale. That is fine. Tell us how the sale is set to run, and we can seek a buyer's agent who can work with those dates. When we make a match, we put our name on the line.
What ANBA vets for
We look past the pitch. Each buyer's agent must hold the right licence. We check real deals and client results, and look for sound care, plain advice and local skill.
Fit is just as key. A good agent for a first home may not suit a high value move; a city unit expert may not suit a rural home. We match the agent to your goal, budget and search area, and look at how they work with others, since your move may involve a vendor advocate, selling agent, lawyer and broker. A good buyer's agent keeps their role clear and works well with the team.
Who vendor advocacy may suit
Vendor advocacy can help if you lack time or sale skill. You may live far from the home, be selling for an older parent or an estate, or feel too close to the home to judge offers with a clear head. It may also help when you need to sell and buy at once, since the dates can be hard to plan.
The service may not suit each sale. A plain home in a strong local market may be easy to list, and if you know a good agent and feel sure of the plan, the added fee may not add enough value.
Planning the sale campaign
A sound plan starts with the likely sale range. Look at fresh sales of close homes, and match land, size, age and state, giving more weight to recent sales. Next, choose the sale method. Auction can build a set date and a sense of pace, and works well where many buyers want the same type of home. Private sale may give more time and room on terms. Ask for an ad plan with a clear cost, since more spend does not always mean more reach.
How to assess offers
The top price is not the only part of an offer. Check the deposit, end date and any terms. A cash offer with few terms may be worth more than a high offer that can fail. Ask if the buyer has loan approval, and if there is a sale term, how far their own sale has gone. Your lawyer should check the contract; a vendor advocate is not a stand-in for legal advice.
Keep your own needs in view too: a longer end date may give you time to buy, while a short one may help if you have moved out. Good vendor advocacy weighs the full set of facts to help you make a calm call.
Selling first or buying first
There is no one right order. If you sell first, you know how much cash you have, though you may need to rent if you do not find a home in time. If you buy first, you can move once, but may need a loan that spans both homes. Speak with your broker, then set a plan with both agents. A buyer's agent can shape the search around your sale and rule out homes with end dates that do not fit.
Typical vendor advocacy costs
There is no one set fee for vendor advocacy in Australia. Some firms charge the seller a fixed fee, some receive a set share of the selling agent's fee, and some use both, based on the work.
Do not assume the service is free just because you get no bill. The selling agent may pay part of their fee to the advocate, and that is still part of the sale cost. Ask who pays, how much and when. Check if the fee changes with the sale price, and ask about added fees for ads, styling or an auction. Get the full sum, with GST, in writing.
ANBA does not charge you for a buyer's agent match. The agent will state their own buy-side fees before you hire them, with no pressure and no obligation to go on.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a vendor advocate cost?
Fees vary by firm and scope. Some vendor advocates charge a set fee. Some charge a share of the selling agent's fee, or receive part of that fee by agreement. Ask for all fees, rebates and links to agents in writing before you sign.
Can a vendor advocate help me buy my next home?
Only if they are licensed for that work and it is part of their service. Selling and buying need different skills. For the next purchase, ANBA can match you with a buyer's agent we know and have vetted. The introduction is free.
How does ANBA help when I am selling and buying?
Tell us about your sale, budget, time frame and next purchase. We match you with a vetted buyer's agent who suits your area and type of buy. The agent can plan the buy around your sale dates. Your ANBA introduction is free, with no pressure and no obligation.
Find My Buyer's Agent
Are you set to sell and then buy? Tell us what you need from your next home. ANBA will match you with a buyer's agent we know and have vetted. The match is free, with no pressure and no obligation. You can also learn about an auction bidding service, find an investment property buyer's agent, or read about buyer's agent costs. We can also find your match in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.