Choosing a real estate agent is one of the most consequential decisions you will make in the selling process. The right agent will add tens of thousands of dollars to your result. The wrong one will cost you just as much, and make the process painful along the way.
Here is what I have learned from 18 years on Brisbane's south side about what separates the agents who consistently deliver from those who consistently disappoint.
The most common mistake vendors make
The single most common mistake I see vendors make is choosing the agent who quoted the highest appraisal price. It is completely understandable. You hear a number that is $100,000 higher than everyone else quoted and your instinct is that this agent must know something the others do not.
They do not. They are telling you what you want to hear to win the listing.
The agent who quotes you the highest price is not always the one who will deliver it. In fact, they are often the one least likely to.
What follows is predictable. The property launches at an inflated price. Buyer feedback is poor. Days on market accumulate. Price reductions begin. The property eventually sells below what a correctly priced, well-run auction campaign would have achieved from day one.
This practice is so prevalent in the industry that it has a name. It is called buying the listing. And the vendor is the one who pays for it.
The red flags
Red Flags When Choosing an Agent
- Quoting a price significantly higher than other agents without comparable sales to support it
- Recommending private treaty without a clear, reasoned explanation for why auction is not appropriate
- Vague or evasive answers when you ask about their auction clearance rate
- Pressure to sign a Form 6 at the first appointment
- No clear marketing plan, or a generic plan that does not account for your specific property
- Limited local presence in your suburb or street
- Slow response times at the start of the relationship
What a good agent looks like
What a Good Agent Looks Like
- Shows you comparable sales that support their appraisal
- Has a clear, evidenced auction clearance rate and recent results in your suburb
- Active buyer database and a specific plan for how your property will be marketed to it
- Asks questions about your situation, timeline, and goals
- Honest about what the market is doing, even when the news is not what you want to hear
- Professional social media presence with real property content
- Responds quickly and communicates clearly from the very first interaction
The questions to ask at every listing appointment
What is your auction clearance rate for the last 12 months? Can you show me the comparable sales that support your appraisal? How many properties have you sold in this suburb in the last 12 months? What does your marketing plan look like specifically for my property? How will you keep me informed throughout the campaign? What happens if we pass in at auction?
If an agent cannot answer these questions confidently and specifically, that tells you everything you need to know.
A word on fees
Commission rates on Brisbane's south side typically range from 1.5% to 3% depending on the agency and the agent. It is tempting to choose the agent who quotes the lowest fee.
Resist that temptation. A 0.5% difference in commission on a $1.5m property is $7,500. If the right agent achieves even $20,000 more than the discount agent, the higher fee has paid for itself three times over. Focus on the net result, not the fee.
My commitment to you
I will never quote you an inflated price to win your listing. I will show you every comparable sale I use to justify my appraisal. I will give you my honest view of the market even when it is not the news you were hoping for. And I will work harder than any other agent you will meet to get you the best possible result on auction day.
That is not a marketing line. It is how I have built my business over 18 years on Brisbane's south side.
Call me on 0410 218 499 for a listing appointment with no pressure and no obligation.
Market data sourced from Pricefinder, prepared June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to meet an agent who will tell you the truth?
I will show you exactly what your property is worth, back it with data, and give you a clear plan to achieve the best possible result. No inflated numbers. No pressure. Call 0410 218 499 or book online.
Know someone about to choose a real estate agent? This could save them a lot of money.
Written by
Junaid Ally
Ray White Rochedale agent. I've been selling homes across Brisbane's south side for 18+ years. I write about what I see on the ground each week: auctions, results, seller questions and the small things that make a real difference to a sale.
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