Buyer's Advocate & Agent

We know how selling agents think. Because we used to be them.

Buying property is one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll ever make. Yet many buyers enter the process alone, competing against experienced selling agents whose role is to achieve the best outcome for the vendor.

Our story is different.

Bayside Real Estate Advocates was founded on decades of experience working inside the real estate industry. We’ve negotiated countless transactions, managed campaigns and represented sellers throughout Melbourne’s Bayside suburbs.

Today, we use that experience exclusively to advocate for buyers.

Why Hire a Bayside Buyer’s Agent?

Our Bayside REA buyer’s advocate services offers you so many benefits

Time saving

Time-saving

Get your weekends back. Time-saving benefits through finding, assessing and shortlisting properties

Secure the right property

Secure the right property

Because securing the right property isn’t just about searching harder — it’s about searching smarter.

Off market properties

Off-market properties

Give you access to many off-market properties, opportunities you would not normally have

Expert purchasing advice

Expert purchasing advice

Backed by more than 40 years’ experience on both sides of the table.

Negotiation

Negotiation

We negotiate strategically to ensure you never pay more than you should.

Personalised service

Personalised service

Providing a personalised service ensures your needs at the forefront

Free guide

Winning at Auction: The Complete Buyer's Guide

The strategies Melbourne’s most prepared buyers use to secure property at the right price.

BaysideREA Winning at Auction landing page

The Bayside REA Tailored Approach to Buyer’s Advocacy

Our Buyer’s Advocate process

It starts with understanding your goals, your future and what home truly means to you. We then uncover the best opportunities both on and off the market, undertake meticulous research and due diligence, and negotiate strategically to secure the right property on the right terms.

After years representing sellers, we know exactly how selling agents think. We’ve negotiated against buyers for years. Now we negotiate for them.

01
Introduction and discovery
Every successful property purchase starts with understanding. In our initial face-to-face or Zoom meeting, we take the time to learn exactly what you're looking for and why it matters. From location and property type to lifestyle goals, future plans and the details others often overlook, we build a clear picture of your ideal outcome. Because before we can negotiate the right property for you, we need to understand what "right" truly looks like.
02
Property and market analysis
Our first priority is to perform a detailed property market analysis on the selected area/s to provide relevant feedback and helpful information which can assist our buyers in the decision making process regarding their property purchase. Researching previously sold properties, properties currently on the market, median value, average days on market, short and long term market growth, past and future area developments and location advantages.
02
Property and market analysis
Our first priority is to perform a detailed property market analysis on the selected area/s to provide relevant feedback and helpful information which can assist our buyers in the decision making process regarding their property purchase. Researching previously sold properties, properties currently on the market, median value, average days on market, short and long term market growth, past and future area developments and location advantages.
03
On and off market property search
With your brief in place, we tap into our extensive network of selling agents to uncover off-market opportunities before they reach the broader market. Years spent building trusted relationships means we know who to call, what questions to ask and how to uncover opportunities others miss. Alongside this, we continuously monitor and assess on-market listings, rigorously shortlisting only those that truly fit your brief. Because securing the right property isn't just about searching harder — it's about searching smarter.
04
Property inspections and shortlisting
Presenting the purchaser with a list of potential properties that fit their brief. Contacting agents and attending open for inspections for both off market and on market properties with our buyers. If our client can't make the inspection, we will send them a detailed report of the property including our recommendations and whether they should view the property. Once we have shortlisted the property or properties they wish to purchase, we will perform our due diligence on the property and documentation.
05
Negotiation and purchase
Whether at auction or through private sale, we approach every purchase with a clear strategy and meticulous preparation. We analyse comparable sales, assess market sentiment and engage directly with the selling agent to understand the landscape before acting on your behalf. From pre-auction planning and bidding strategy to private sale negotiations, contract execution and settlement terms, we manage the entire process with confidence and precision.
06
Settlement
Once the contracts have been signed, we assist in ensuring the solicitors or conveyancers have all the documentation required. Attend the final inspection with the purchaser/s before settlement to check the property condition and presentation. Upon the purchasers request we can assist in connecting all the utilities and other services like pay TV and internet to the new property free of charge.

Service options we offer

In every purchasing transaction, we have managed to save our clients tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars off their purchase. Not finished until you’ve settled in, our personalized service extends assistance and coordination through the packing and moving phases.

As a buyer’s advocate, we offer different options to you, our buyer, depending on your current situation and needs. These services include:

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Full search, select and purchase

Detailed property search for on and off-market properties, individual property assessment, attending open for inspections, property short listing, buying strategy, negotiation and buyer representation, contract due diligence and settlement management.

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Guided search, select and purchase

Detailed property search for off-market properties, attending open for inspections from buyers recommendations, property short listing, buying strategy, negotiation and buyer representation, contract due diligence and settlement management

Auction bidding and contract negotiation

Buying strategy, negotiation and buyer representation. On-site auction bidding on behalf of our buyers and contract due diligence.

First home buyer service

Specialised first home buyer package including full search, select and purchase. Special package rate for these clients.

Investment property advisors

If you’re looking to buy an investment property in Melbourne, we are here to offer expert advice to help you achieve your investment goals.

Off market properties

When purchasing a property through our buyer advocacy service, one of our main priorities is sourcing off market properties for you to purchase privately.

Client stories

100+ Happy clients

Read the stories of our clients and how they put their trust in Bayside Real Estate Advocates.

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The whole process was effortless!

Highly Recommend Clint & Nicole Payne!

We had an excellent experience with Clint Payne from Bayside Real Estate Advocates as our buyers agent. Clint is professional, honest and extremely knowledgeable. His strong relationships with local real estate agents gave us access to several off market properties, and his guidance & negotiations saved us a lot of money. The whole process was effortless, clear, and far less stressful thanks to him. We’ll happily recommend Clint to anyone looking for a buyer’s agent, especially if you’re looking for property anywhere Bayside or probably anywhere really.

- Henry and Laura, Investors – Bonbeach
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From start to finish, she was professional, knowledgeable, and proactive.

We recently worked with Nicole from Bayside Real Estate Advocates and honestly couldn’t recommend her more highly.

From start to finish, she was professional, knowledgeable, and proactive.
She took the time to meet us face to face and understand exactly what we were after and kept us well-informed throughout the process. Nicole made what could have been a stressful experience feel seamless. Not to mention she was able to find the property we ended up buying within a month.

If you’re looking for someone who is experienced and well connected, Nicole is the one to call.

- Dylan and Harriet, Frankston
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Enter Nicole Payne who achieved a great outcome!

After a number of failed attempts at renovating and extending our home over the last 20 years or so, culminating in a dual occupancy venture. We took stock and decided to sell and downsize. A chance conversation with a roofer led me to consider a real estate advocate. Enter Nicole Payne who achieved a great outcome with sale of our property. The next step in our journey is the search for an address to call home. I am confident Clint and Nicole will deliver the goods. It’s her shout next at the Two Little Monkeys Cafe.

- Paul and Megan, Bentleigh
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Her Advice was invaluable!

We highly recommend Nicole Payne from Bayside Real Estate Advocates. We have just worked with Nicole in the selling of my elderly mother’s home, that she has been living in for over 50 years. Nicole took so much stress out of this process for mum, and for us. Her advice was invaluable; what we needed or didn’t need to do to get the house ready, organising valuations, vetting the agents proposals, recommending services, and advice throughout the campaign. In fact we sold off market at a fantastic price, saving us the open for inspections and auction that would have been very stressful for mum. Nicole was also a great negotiator on the price obtained for us. On top of such a great result Nicole was very easy to deal with, very kind and caring, and mum felt very relaxed and comfortable with her. I would definitely use Nicole in the selling of any property in the future.

- Helen, Sandringham
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Nicole was my secret weapon!

Bayside real estate advocates managed my sale and I couldn’t be happier. Nicole was recommended by Aveo and the lovely staff at the George when I approached them to downsize into independent living. I had recently found myself on my own and as much as I love gardening the house was just too big for me to take care of on my own, coupled with some health concerns I knew it was time to downsize. With the help and support of Nicole at Bayside real estate advocates I chose her to be my Vendor advocate and I was so glad I did. Nicole helped get the house ready for sale and chose the agent and ran the campaign, coordinating with the agent and reporting to me along the way so I always knew what my choices were. Her experience and suggestions were exactly what I needed during the sale. We achieved a fantastic result on Auction day, Nicole negotiated with the agent on my behalf behind closed doors and I’m so grateful she was my secret weapon, I’m sure if she wasn’t there being my advocate the outcome would have been less favorable on the day. I recommend Nicole to anyone selling, using a Vendor advocate with her depth of knowledge and compassion was exactly what I needed during my sale.

- Judith, Hampton
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His negotiation skills are second to none

Engaging Clint and the team at Bayside Real Estate Advocates was the best decision we made when my wife and I started looking to buy our first property. Not only did Clint walk us through what can be a very complex process but he took the time to understand what we wanted in a house and worked to present us the best options within our budget. His negotiation skills are second to none and got us over the line on an amazing property.

- Juan and Phung, Patterson Lakes
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We can’t recommend Nicole and Clint enough!

We are so happy that we engaged Nicole and Clint from Bayside Real Estate Advocates! We absolutely smashed our reserve price at auction on the weekend after a popular January campaign. We only had three weeks to get our home ready for photography and their advice on renovating and presenting our property in that short amount of time gave us the competitive edge we needed. Nicole’s calm and assured approach to the selling process took all the stress away (we even enjoyed our planned two week holiday during the campaign), communicating with us only the essential information we needed, whilst ensuring our agent was following up on all the buyer leads. Tactically it was a perfect campaign that lead to multiple bidders on auction day which is what drove up our final price. I can’t recommend Nicole and Clint enough to sell your home through!

- Phil and Belinda, Mentone
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Let these professionals take the stress out of it!

I had never bid at an auction before and was really anxious about a property we desperately wanted. I researched everything I could, watching YouTube auctions and listening to podcasts, but still felt unprepared. That’s when I spoke with Clint from Bayside Real Estate Advocates, who suggested we have Nicole bid for us. I’m so glad we did! The day before the auction, Nicole helped us set a clear bidding strategy with a price ceiling we could confidently stick to. On auction day, she was super composed, controlled the bidding pace, and outbid another experienced party. I’m sure I would’ve been overwhelmed without her expertise and might have lost our new family home. If you’re buying, let these professionals take the stress out of it!

- Phil and Bel, Mentone
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Breath of fresh air

As soon as I met Nicole she was a breath of fresh air. She took all the worry away instantly. I was so happy to let Nicole guide me through the process. She was professional and kind and full of valuable advise. I couldn’t have done it without Nicole at bayside advocates.

- Edith, Highett
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Sincere, empathetic and patient

Nicole Payne of Bayside Real Estate Advocates organised the clearing, preparation and sale of my elderly mother’s Bayside house, a family home full of the clutter of many decades. I was repeatedly impressed by Nicole’s professionalism, by her efficiency, and by her ability to find a solution to apparently insoluble problems. She is also kind, sincere, empathetic and patient. She went far beyond the call of duty in supporting my mother during a very difficult transition. And despite unpromising market conditions, Nicole secured a price that exceeded our expectations. I have no reservations in giving her my highest recommendation. She deserves 10 stars, not just 5.

- Robert, Black Rock
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Amazing help working with the agent

As a full time single parent, I am very time poor, selling my house was a daunting prospect. Nicole was an amazing help working through all the stages of getting the house ready for sale, negotiating with the real estate agents and managing the campaign. Nicole’s assistance took a lot of the stress out of what is one of life’s significant stressful events.

- Anthony, Beaumaris
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Easy and stress free

We had such a great experience working with Nicole! As first-time homebuyers, we were pretty nervous, but she made everything feel so easy and stress-free. She was always there to answer our questions and guide us through each step. We couldn’t have asked for a more supportive and kind agent. We highly recommend!

- Chris, Chelsea
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Amazing insight, support and tenacity

Real estate can be a bit of a daunting world, especially when you’re navigating it alone! After spending months looking for my perfect home and feeling very overwhelmed with the pace and pressure of the market, how lucky was I to be introduced to the beautiful Nicole! Nicole took the time to understand me and what was important to me in a home and got to work. Only a few short weeks later we were putting the sold sign on my dream home 🤩 I’m still pinching myself over it and couldn’t be more grateful to Nicole for her insight, support and tenacity in getting a great deal over the line. I can’t recommend Nicole & her team highly enough!!

- Cindy, Chelsea
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Warm, friendly and professional

We are so grateful to Bayside Real Estate Advocates for helping us find our first home. Clint and Nicole’s warm, friendly and professional approach turned what was a proving to be a challenging experience into such a smooth process. After searching on and off for nearly two years, we have now purchased a home we are thrilled with, less than six weeks after meeting Clint. Clint’s expert guidance through searching, preparation and communicating with agents was invaluable. Thanks to Nicole’s sharp bidding and negotiation skills, we were able to secure the property without overbidding — something we likely would have done without them. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Thank you Clint & Nicole!

- Anna and Phil, Aspendale
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Invaluable professional services everythime

Are you thinking of buying or selling your property? Have you thought About hiring and using the professional services of an Advocate?

Most of us go directly to a real estate agent, don’t we, but did you know, an advocate relieves the stress and takes the work out of dealing directly with an agent? They are also adept at selling property ‘off market’ as in my case, via their network of advocates.

I resonated with Nicole immediately and her obvious love of real estate. She was an absolute delight to work with. She arranged everything! from interviewing the three agents, gaining their quotes, as well as two quotes from property stagers and then helped to make the ‘right’ selection.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with how advocates are paid: If she sells directly to a buyer, you will pay a lower commission to an advocate than an estate agent, but if the agent sells your property, it is the agent who pays her commission. You can’t lose!!!

I would use Nicole’s invaluable professional services every time. Thanks Nicole… I have no hesitation in recommending you for any real estate buying or selling project. 5 Stars to Nicole.

- Louise, Frankston
Henry and Clint
Dylan and Harriet Buyers
Paul and Megan Bentleigh
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a buyer's advocate?

Are you spending every weekend going to open after open, auction after auction? Not sure where to buy or what to buy? A buyers advocate (also known as a buyer’s agent) does all the hard work for you, searching for the right property, in the right area and then negotiating on your behalf to ensure you pay the bare minimum saving you thousands of dollars.

A buyer’s advocate will either charge a fixed fee or a percentage of the purchase price depending on the type of services that is required. If the buyer has found a property and just needs a buyer’s advocate to negotiate the sale and bid at auction if needed then a fixed fee is charged.

If a buyer requires a full search, select, and purchase then we charge a small percentage of the final purchase price, Please feel free to call us to discuss further.

When purchasing a property, utilising a buyers advocate is extremely important for many reasons. One of the main reasons is we have access to a lot of off market properties that are not advertised, meaning you have a greater selection to choose from and also have exclusive access with no competition, meaning you will not pay a premium price.

Secondly, using the right buyer’s advocate to negotiate a sale can save you tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars off the purchase price.

Enquire now

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