Login
What Gen Z should look for in an agent
With the introduction of the expanded 5 per cent scheme, Gen Z buyers have become major players in property, steadily entering the market.
While more resources are available online, Gen Z buyers can still struggle to find their footing in the property market, making the connection with a trusted real estate agent a vital link throughout the process.
According to Barry Plant Glenroy sales agent Alex Briggs, Gen Z should ensure they find an agent whose communication style aligns with their own and who is patient enough to handle their complex needs.
“This is the biggest time in their lives, and just because I do this every day as an agent doesn’t mean that they will necessarily get the chance to do it again, ever,” Briggs said.
“You have really got to hold their hands from start to finish.”
When it comes to communication, Briggs said Gen Z typically places more emphasis on it and often prefers less traditional methods, such as text, voice notes, and even FaceTime.
“[My Gen Z] clients don’t get emailed, because they don’t use it.”
“There is a lot of communication and a lot of questions to be answered.”
“If I know they are interested in something, I will be communicating with them almost every second day.”
Find the agent who goes the extra mile
Briggs said many younger buyers entered transactions with their walls up, having been burned by prior transactions.
“I feel like I’m getting a lot of buyers left over potentially from other agents who have left a bad taste in their mouth, so when I meet with them, their guards are completely up.”
“The agents promised them it'll sell for this price, but it doesn't, and they have missed out.”
She said buyers should search for an agent who is transparent and tells them their realistic chances rather than stringing them along.
“I think it is about educating them on likely competition, talking honestly about the price and outlining the best and worst case scenarios so that if they were to compete in an auction environment, they are not surprised.”
“It's about setting expectations early and guiding them through that process.”
By finding an agent they can trust, younger buyers can feel more confident that they are receiving the right guidance throughout their property journey.
“I know that if I weren’t in the industry, I would really want an agent that I could rely on and trust what they were saying, and that in five or 10 years, I would want to go back to.”
“People don’t remember what you say; they remember how you made them feel.”
Not a forever home
Briggs said younger buyers were often too focused on finding the perfect home, and were paralysed by the process.
“Don’t expect a property to tick all of the boxes. If you like it, go for it.”
“I find buyers looking at 30 properties, and it gets to the point where they end up not buying at all because they become overwhelmed with the process.”
She said it was more important for buyers to enter the market when the opportunity arose, rather than wait to land their dream home.
“Stop trying to find that perfect property, because any property is going to be perfect for you to enter the market.”
“You can never go wrong investing in property, even if it doesn’t tick every box now,” Briggs concluded.