Buyer’s agents work with many different types of property buyers, including:

• First home buyers

• Property investors

• Busy professionals and families

• People relocating to Taranaki

• Buyers upsizing or downsizing

• Lifestyle and holiday home buyers

• Buyers struggling to secure property

• Buyers wanting access to off-market opportunities

• Anyone wanting experienced guidance and support through the buying process

At The Finders, our services can be tailored to suit different goals, situations, and levels of support needed.

A buyer’s agent is a licensed real estate professional who represents you, the buyer.

One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate is that salespeople work for both sellers and buyers.

In reality, a real estate salesperson represents the vendor (their client). Their job is to help the vendor achieve the best possible outcome for them.

A buyer’s agent represents the buyer (their client). At The Finders, we are engaged directly by the buyer and work exclusively in their interests throughout the property buying process.

A buyer’s agent manages the process from search through to acquisition, tailored to your needs.

This includes identifying and shortlisting suitable properties (including off-market opportunities), carrying out due diligence, assessing value, and developing a clear negotiation strategy. We can also represent you at auction or negotiate on a property you’ve already found.

Whether you’re searching for a single property or building a portfolio, the approach is always considered, strategic, and aligned with your goals.

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An off-market property is one that is not publicly advertised.

Through long-standing relationships within the Taranaki property industry, buyers working with The Finders become aware of opportunities earlier. These opportunities may be pre-market and off-market properties that never formally reach the open market.

These are commonly referred to as:

• Pre-market opportunities (properties in the early stage of hitting the market)

• Off-market opportunities (properties that are not advertised to the public/quiet listings)

Accessing these properties can provide greater flexibility and less competition, allowing for a more strategic approach to securing the property.

No. While many real estate salespeople are happy to assist buyers, they are ultimately engaged by the seller (vendor) and have a responsibility to act in the seller’s best interests throughout the sale process. In most cases, a salesperson’s primary focus will be on properties listed by their own agency, as this is where they are most directly involved in the transaction and paid for their work.

A buyer’s agent works exclusively for you and searches across the entire market. That includes properties listed with any agency, private sales, and off-market opportunities that many buyers may never hear about.

We provide independent advice, objective property assessments, due diligence support, and negotiation expertise, all with one goal: helping you secure the right property at the best possible outcome for you.

The key difference is who the service is designed to represent. Listing agencies and their salespeople work for sellers. Buyer’s agents work for buyers.

You can absolutely buy property on your own, and many people do. However, most people only buy a handful of properties (or less) throughout their lifetime, meaning their experience is naturally limited.

A buyer’s agent buys properties every week, they bring experience, market knowledge, and buy on facts not emotion that can help you make more informed decisions, identify potential risks, and buy with greater confidence.

We help by:

• Identifying suitable opportunities, including some not widely advertised

• Accessing comparable sales data and market statistics to help assess value

• Providing objective advice on properties you're considering

• Identifying potential red flags that less experienced buyers may overlook

• Coordinating and reviewing due diligence

• Developing a tailored negotiation strategy

• Managing the process from search to settlement

While friends and family who offer to assist often have good intentions, most are not property professionals and may only be drawing on their own limited experiences. Every property and transaction is different and the market is constantly evolving.

With over 13 years of real estate sales experience and more than 250 property transactions behind him, Thomas provides the market knowledge, negotiation expertise, and strategic guidance that can make a significant difference when you're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

Not at all. Buyer’s agents can help a wide range of buyers, from first home buyers and families through to investors and relocators.

Property is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make, and making a smart purchase is important regardless of your budget. Many buyers choose to work with a buyer’s agent to gain access to professional advice, market insights, off-market opportunities, due diligence support, and experienced negotiation.

The reality is that buying the wrong property, overlooking a major issue, or overpaying can have long-term financial consequences. For many buyers, having expert guidance and access to opportunities they may not find on their own is less about luxury and more about making a smarter property decision.

“I believe your first home purchase is one of the most important financial decisions you'll ever make.

Buy the wrong property, and unexpected issues can cost you tens of thousands, sometimes even hundreds of thousands, of dollars in repairs, maintenance, or lost opportunities.

Buy the right property, and it can become the foundation of your future wealth. A smart first home purchase can help you build equity faster, create financial security, and provide opportunities that make your next property, and possibly many more, move much easier.”

Thomas Watt - Buyer’s Agent