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Home › Real Estate Agents › How to Choose a Real Estate Agent: 9 Proven Tips (2025)
Choosing the right agent can be the difference between an outstanding result and money left on the table. CoreLogic’s latest Pain & Gain update shows Australian sellers booked a record $306,000 median profit on resales in late 2024, yet thousands still sold with little or no gain often because their listing wasn’t handled by a top performer. The same research reports that homes in the combined capital-city markets now sit on the market about 35 days on average, up from 30 days a year earlier.
A skilled, well-matched agent can beat both statistics selling faster and lifting your final price because they understand your suburb, know how to pitch your property and have the negotiation chops to hold firm when the offers start. The tips that follow will show you exactly how to spot that kind of agent and avoid the costly mistakes that less-prepared sellers make.
Those who live and breathe the area in which you sell your property are more likely to have a comprehensive and up-to-date database of potential buyers for your property, before it is even marketed.
The quality real estate agents develop relationships with potential buyers and actively stay in touch and inform their database when new properties come onto the market that fall within their search criteria.
Often these are the committed and serious buyers as they have been actively looking for a while and may have missed out on purchasing a property previously, and are therefore highly motivated and likely to pay a full price. Do NOT list your property with an agent who cannot show you their extensive experience at selling in and around the same area, even the same street, your property is on.
Selling a studio apartment versus a three-storey heritage-listed terrace are vastly different processes.
Given the multitude of factors that impact the particular property type from heritage and strata issues to the demographic of the potential buyers, you want an agent experienced at selling your type of property.
Not only would an unsuitable agent have an inadequate buyers database to sell your type of property, but they would be at a disadvantage trying to give an accurate appraisal to you, and could have trouble giving ideas on renovations or styling changes that add value, leading to over-capitalisation.
Presenting the property in its best possible light is a skill that shouldn’t be underestimated.
A quality real estate agent will know exactly where and when to take the photos, when to conduct the open homes, whether display furniture is required, if vacant possession should be sought, and so forth.
LJ Hooker conducted a survey amongst its agents that found that property styling generally increased the final sales price of a property from 7.5% to 12.5%. That increase in value could cover your real estate agent’s commission and more – but it needs to be done right.
This is more than listing the property on the standard listing websites and passing some flyers out. A quality real estate agent will determine the buyer demographic of the property and target advertising and structure a marketing campaign accordingly.
If it is a high-end property this may, for example, include targeted advertising in business media and inspections by appointment e.g. out-of-work hours to suit the buyer demographic.
New technologies are also assisting agents in marketing and advertising every day. Facebook and Instagram ads, drone photography, emailing lists – a good agent might be on the cutting-edge of property advertising technology.
Although the method of sale for your property is ultimately up to you, a real estate agent doing their job correctly can explain exactly why a particular sale method may suit you and your property.
Each sale method (and their variations) – auction, tender/expression of interest and private treaty – all have different pros and cons. Some are dependent on similar pricing in the area guiding buyers and the listing price, while others are suitable for unique, high-end properties without a clear value.
If an agent can’t pick a method of sale for your property and explain why they have done so in detail, you should look elsewhere for experience and expertise.
Identifying who is genuinely ready to buy and then turning those prospects into a fair, time-limited contest is one of the hallmarks of a top-tier real-estate agent. Under NSW law, for example, the selling agent must create a formal Bidders Record for every auction and assign each registered buyer a unique number; this ensures only verified, finance-ready bidders take part and that every offer is traceable. Victoria’s regulations go even further, requiring agents to make all reasonable enquiries about each party to a transaction and to present every bona-fide offer to the seller promptly and in writing. Nationally, the ACCC reminds agents they must give buyers truthful, complete information and avoid any conduct that could mislead or distort competition.
What does this look like in practice? A skilled agent doesn’t just collect phone numbers at the door; they maintain a living database of local buyers, noting finance status, preferred settlement dates and past offers. Before a property even hits the portals, they call those hot prospects, schedule early viewings and set clear cut-off times for offers. By the first public open, you already have motivated parties competing raising urgency and price.
Agents without that network or process often struggle to recognise serious interest; they let deadlines drift, negotiations drag and momentum fade. The result is fewer offers, longer days on market and, too often, a lower sale price. Choose an agent who can demonstrate a compliant, well-oiled buyer-qualification system and you’ll feel the difference in your pocket come settlement day.
Awareness of other similar properties on the market (the competition) and understanding your properties relative strengths and weaknesses is crucial, particularly when negotiating.
That is why the quality real estate agents will spend time visiting their competitors’ open homes, as well as managing their own.
Agents need to notice the big and small things in your property and other properties in your area. Then, they need to estimate property values, sometimes with little supporting information available to them. It takes a skilled agent with experience in the area to know just what they have on their hands and how to leverage it for the best price.
In order to negotiate effectively the real estate agent must have a strong understanding of the local market and comparable properties so they are confident in the value of your property and its relative position in the market.
An experienced agent who can talk confidently about the asking price, qualify buyers effectively and talk with authority on recent comparable sales will ensure your property is sold at its optimal price.
Someone that knows when to walk away from a deal or go all-in and explain exactly why is a huge plus. Good real estate agents know how house sellers and buyers work, and the ability to effectively manage expectations about price or time is a skill that you want on your side.
Most successful agents have one, two or even three support agents who assist them with their listings, as they can have as many as 15 properties live at any one time. Understanding the competency of the support and when and to what extent they are going to be involved is crucial in selecting your agent.
Supporting real estate agents or assistants help by answering buyer enquiries, completing day-to-day administrative tasks and generally free up the lead agent to do what they are best at doing – getting the best price for your property.
Seeing too many people choose a real estate agent who didn’t possess the above, unique factors, and the poor results that eventuated lead to the formation of Which Real Estate Agent.
We spend 100% of our time identifying quality agents for our clients. See how we help Australians every day choose a real estate agent that possess the above factors by visiting our homepage and using our agent comparison tool.
Typical commission ranges from 1.6% to 2.5% of the sale price, plus marketing costs.
Not necessarily, discount agents often achieve lower sale prices, wiping out any fee savings.
Yes. Major industry surveys show styling can lift sale prices by 7–12%
Yes, but check your exclusive-agency agreement for notice periods and termination fees.
Across capital-city markets, median days on market sit between 25 and 45 days; a top local agent will aim for the lower end.
