How to choose a Real Estate Agent in Brisbane (2026 Guide)
The agent you choose will have more influence on your sale price than almost any other decision. Yet most Brisbane sellers make that choice based on a friendly appraisal meeting and a number that sounds good. How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Brisbane (2026 Guide) - here's how to do it properly.
1. Know your property's value before agents do
Before you invite anyone through, get an independent view of what your property is worth. Look at recent comparable sales in your street and suburb, not listing prices. If you know the realistic range going in, you'll recognise an inflated appraisal the moment you hear it.
2. Be wary of the highest quote
This is the single most common mistake sellers make. Agents know that sellers tend to choose whoever quotes highest, so some will overquote to win the listing, then spend the campaign lowering your expectations. Ask every agent to show you the specific comparable sales behind their figure. If they can't, or the comparables don't match your property, treat the number with caution.
3. Check their recent results in your suburb
Brisbane is a collection of very different markets. An agent who dominates in Paddington may have little experience selling family homes in the Redlands or townhouses in the northern suburbs. Ask for their sales in your suburb over the past 12 months, including days on market and how final prices compared with the initial price guide.
4. Understand how they'll sell it
Ask each agent to explain their recommended method (auction, private treaty or expressions of interest) and why it suits your property. Ask how they'll price it, who they think the likely buyer is, and how they'll reach them. Vague answers here are a warning sign.
5. Compare commission and marketing properly
Commission in Queensland is deregulated, so there's no standard rate. In 2026, inner-city suburbs such as Paddington, New Farm and Teneriffe tend to attract lower rates of around 1.8% to 2.2%, while outer areas like Logan, Ipswich and Caboolture often sit between 2.5% and 3%. Always check whether the quoted rate includes GST.
Marketing is usually a separate cost. Portal listings, photography, floorplans, signage and copywriting are generally billed separately and upfront, whether or not the property sells. Ask for an itemised budget, and question anything you don't understand.
6. Read the agency agreement before you sign
Pay attention to the length of the exclusive agency period, what happens if you want to end the agreement, and any clause that entitles the agent to commission after the agreement ends. These terms are negotiable, and a shorter exclusive period keeps the agent accountable.
7. Ask the questions most sellers don't
What's your average discount from the first price guide to the final sale? How many listings are you handling right now? Who will actually be at my open homes? How often will you report to me, and in what format? What happens if we don't sell in the first four weeks?
Want help choosing?
Our Agent Select Vendor's Advocate service does all of the above for you. We appraise your property independently, shortlist agents with a genuine track record in your part of Brisbane, run the interviews alongside you and negotiate the commission and agreement terms. There's no cost to you, because the chosen agent pays us a disclosed referral fee.
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