Is it free to talk to a real estate agent? What's in it for them

Yes, and here is why

Yes. Talking to a real estate agent, asking questions and getting an appraisal are normally free. You do not owe an agent anything until you sign an agency agreement to sell your property, and even then, commission is generally only paid when the property sells.

How agents are actually paid

Most residential agents in NSW earn a commission, a percentage of the sale price or a set fee, which is paid when a sale goes through under a signed agency agreement. Sellers also commonly pay for marketing, such as photography and online listings, and those costs should be set out in the agreement before any money is spent.

That payment model is exactly why advice before you sign is free. It is the agent's chance to show what they know.

So what is in it for them?

Put simply, trust. Most people who ask an agent a question are not selling this month. They might sell next year, or in five years. An agent who gives honest, useful advice now is the one many people call when the time comes. Good agents treat free advice as the start of a long relationship.

Some agents, of course, use a free appraisal mainly as a way to win a listing quickly. Knowing the difference is easy once you know what to look for.

What you owe after a conversation: nothing

• No fee for questions or an appraisal. If anyone asks you to pay for a chat or a market opinion, ask why.
• No commitment until you sign. A conversation, an email or an appraisal does not bind you to that agent.
• You can talk to several agents. It is normal to get more than one opinion before you choose.

Your protections in NSW

• Agents must be licensed. You can check an agent's licence on the NSW Government's Verify licence service.
• Agreements are in writing. A residential agency agreement sets out the commission, costs, the agency period and the agent's estimated selling price, and the agent needs reasonable grounds for that estimate.
• There is a cooling-off period. Residential agency agreements in NSW come with a cooling-off period under section 59 of the Property and Stock Agents Act. It can only be waived in writing using the approved form, so do not sign a waiver you do not understand. See NSW Fair Trading's consumer guide to the cooling-off period.

Signs you are getting a sales pitch, not advice

• A price well above every other opinion, with little evidence behind it
• Pressure to sign an agreement at the first meeting
• Vague answers about fees and marketing costs
• Repeated calls after you have said you are not ready

None of these mean the agent is dishonest, but they are a signal to slow down, ask for evidence, and compare opinions.

How to get advice without the sales calls

1. Say what you want up front, for example: "I'm not selling yet, I'd just like a sense of value and what I should fix first."
2. Ask for the answer by email, so you can read it in your own time.
3. Ask for evidence, such as the recent sales behind any price.
4. Use a service built for questions. You can ask a local agent a question here, free, with a reply by email and no cold calls.

For a list of the best questions to ask, see free real estate advice: what to ask a local agent.