Trust, Tactics & Tangles: Who Helps (and Who Doesn’t) When You Buy
The Hidden “Frenemies” Sabotaging Your Property Purchase
(AKA: Who’s Actually On Your Team When You Buy Property)
When you’re buying a home, you’ll meet a cast of characters—some helpful, some harmless, and some who accidentally make your stress levels spike like you’ve had three coffees and a bad night's sleep. Most of them mean well. But when you're already running on emotional high alert, it’s easy to question everyone’s motives. So let’s take a breath and sort out who’s a friend, who’s a foe, and who’s a “hmm… proceed with caution.”
The Selling Agent: Friend? Foe? Frenemy?
Let’s be honest: selling agents don’t work for you. They work for the vendor. Their job?
Gather intel from buyers
Build a case for the vendor
Squeeze out the biggest possible price from your tiny pocket
You, meanwhile, would like to not overpay. So yes, your interests collide beautifully.
Some agents will chat your ear off at the open home because they’re hoping you’ll list your place with them. Others are genuinely lovely humans, but still—their loyalty is locked in.
How to play it smart:
Keep your cards close. Your exact budget? Never reveal.
Give constructive feedback, not your life story.
If they ask “What do you think it’s worth?”—answer honestly but strategically. They’re collecting buyer sentiment, not setting a trap.
And always, always flip it back:
“What’s the vendor’s price expectation?”
Take the wheel. Drive the conversation. Beep beep!
Selling agents can be a goldmine for early insights and upcoming listings if you strike the right balance: warm, engaged… but not oversharing like it’s therapy.
Questions Buyers Don’t Often Ask But Should:
Have they bought elsewhere? (this will give you an insight into their motivation to take a deal and the timeline pressure on them)
Are there any planning overlays or guidelines I should know about? (knowing how the land can and can’t be used can stop you in your tracks)
Is the land clean—no easements, covenants or restrictions?
What are the outgoings? (the house price is one thing, but if the Owners Corporation fees are astronomical and ongoing, that’s going to hurt your daily living)
This isn’t small talk. This is leverage. If the agent doesn’t know the answers to these questions, make a mental note - this agent isn’t do their job properly. They should ALL know the answers to the above - they should know what they’re selling.
And the one question I hear the most that I think doesn’t actually matter,
Why are the vendors selling? (to be honest, this doesn’t really matter - unless the answer is “because of constant police raids at the Bikie Gang Clubhouse next door.”)
Now, Your Actual Friends:
There are plenty of people who genuinely have your back.
Conveyancers / Property Lawyers – The guardians of your sanity and the gatekeepers of your contracts. They make sure the fine print doesn’t bite you later.
Building & Pest Inspectors – Brutally honest, exactly as they should be. Not every issue is a deal-breaker. Their job isn’t to scare you—it’s to give you the facts so you can make smart, confident moves (or points with which to negotiate a better deal).
Buyers Advocates (hello, that’s us) – Your calm, evidence-driven, emotionally-neutral superheroes. We live and breathe this stuff every day, and we don’t get rattled so you don’t have to.
And Then… The Possible Foes:
Your well meaning mates who have zero experience buying.
Your family. Who overthink and catastrophize each step.
Your neighbour who “used to be in real estate in the 90s.”
Other buyers who suddenly become hyper-friendly at open homes.
They’re not villains—they just come with their own opinions, fears, and biases. And sometimes those get louder than your own instincts.
So Who Should You Listen To?
The people who:
Know what they’re talking about
Aren’t emotionally tangled up in your outcome
Don’t stand to gain anything from your decision
Block out the noise.
Do your due diligence.
Ask questions.
Get curious.
Buying property isn’t just about location, price, or features—it’s about the people around you. Some are your allies, guiding you with expertise and evidence; others unintentionally complicate your journey with opinions, agendas, or conflicting advice. Know who’s on your side, who to keep at arm’s length, and how to use the right relationships to your advantage. Ask questions, stay curious, and focus on facts over noise. At the end of the day, it’s your property, your investment, and your future—make it work for you.
