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Zana van de Graaf, buyers advocate in Perth, has an MA in Property Valuation and Law and a wealth of business experience. Zana gives Perth property buyers opportunity to make informed choices based on objective guidance and often let others be the judge of her passion for Perth property buyers advocacy.
The customers who have appointed Zana as their Perth buyers agent praise her for professional advice on the process of buying property in Perth, exactitude, confidence and her ability to negotiate a very good price for the buyer. For the details on what her customers say about Zana please have a look at: Customer Feedback
You can also view Zana on youtube TV show, Episode 2, Buyers Agent Panel Discussion. If you are an overseas investor, you might be interested to read her article on the Risks of buying off-the-plan property in Perth
Here are some of Zana’s thoughts on the Perth buyer’s agent paradigm shift:
Buyers agent? Does a Perth property buyer really need one? In many countries, almost all property buyers appoint their buyers agent to look after them and negotiate on their behalf. In Perth, the real-estate transactions are dominated by sales agents who work for the sellers. The agent’s main aim is to get the maximum price for the sellers. When the Perth property buyers approach a selling agent and ask them: “Can you get me a good deal?” what can they really expect.
In some countries, such as Canada and USA, it is a common practice for the property buyers to appoint a buyers agent who acts for them. The two agents then share a commission, usually 50-50. This practice ensures an even playing field for both parties to the transaction: seller and buyer, is well defined by law and accepted by the selling agent. Not in Western Australia!
The buyers agent (or buyers advocate) concept is relatively new in Perth, WA. It’s true that the sales agents are allowed to share their sales commissions with an agent chosen by the homebuyer. This type of “conjunctional sale” will need the sales agent’s approval. Very often they would rather sell a property without sharing their commission.
Having a conjunctional agent can actually sometimes negatively affect the price due to a conflict of interest. When the property buyer in Perth has nominated a conjunctional agent, this agent is sharing a commission with the selling agent and perceived to be paid by the seller. So by granting a conjunction to another agent, which in Western Australia is not mandatory but a discretionary right of the selling agent, the selling agent has hired a subagent to help sell the house. The conjunctional agent is not an independent broker who will negotiate the best possible property deal for the Perth buyer. He too works for the seller.
