WA Buyers Agency Calls for Industry Reform to Reduce Property Marketing Costs

Barry Pound, Licensee of BEAGL Buyers Agents (https://www.beagl.au), is calling on the Australian real estate industry to rethink how property listings are distributed, with the aim of reducing marketing costs for sellers.

Mr Pound said recent international shifts, including strategies introduced by US brokerage Compass (https://www.compass.com) show how pre-market and off-market listings can streamline the sales process and cut down unnecessary spend.

“In Australia, many sellers are paying significant upfront marketing costs through platforms like REA Group (https://www.rea-group.com) and Domain Group (https://www.domain.com.au/group),” Mr Pound said.
“With the rise of buyer’s agents locally, there’s a real opportunity for listing agents and buyer agents to work together earlier and potentially avoid some of those costs altogether.”

He believes industry bodies such as the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (https://reiwa.com.au) could play a role in shaping more structured systems that support pre-market listings.

“Buyer’s agents represent genuine, ready-to-act buyers. If we can connect them with properties before they hit the major portals, it creates a more efficient process for everyone sellers, agents, and buyers.”

BEAGL Buyers Agency has already seen growing interest from selling agents looking to introduce properties to qualified buyers before launching full advertising campaigns.

Mr Pound said the next step for the industry is exploring how technology could support this shift, while still ensuring transparency and protecting consumers.