Tenant Buyer vs Selling Agent: The Anti-Love Story

CASE STUDY: CITY

A tenant realises the owner of the home that they lease is wanting to sell. Great news, the tenant couldn't imagine living anywhere else and wants to buy the home. A match made in heaven? Not so.

The Promising Beginning

Not every great property story starts with a search. Sometimes, the perfect home is the one you’re already in.

That was the case for Steve - a devoted tenant who had grown to love not just the house he lived in, but the lifestyle it afforded him.

Steve had what so many buyers dream of: clarity. There was no market overwhelm, no weeks of weekend inspections - just a clean opportunity to buy the home he already knew fit. So when the owner quietly flagged their intention to sell, Steve was ready to step up.

It was a situation many would describe as a “win-win”: the seller had a buyer, and the buyer had a home. What could possibly go wrong?

The Inherent Issue

New to buying in Queensland, Steve was relying on the sales agent to help him secure his dream home - until the bias became clear.  The sales agent was assertively acting solely in the seller's best interest, as they should.

In Queensland, the selling agent has a legal and contractual obligation to act in the seller’s best interests - not the buyer’s. It became clear very quickly that Steve was out of his depth.

Negotiations started to turn. Communication felt clipped. Pressure was mounting. The agent was doing their job - but Steve didn’t have anyone doing his.

The Buyerworks Difference

When Steve called us, the clock was already ticking. The property was scheduled to hit the open market in days, and once it did, competition would spike - and so would the price.

We stepped in and changed the dynamic completely.

• We immediately took over the negotiation, resetting the tone and tempo.

• We ran urgent checks on value and condition, to ensure Steve wasn’t overpaying or overlooking any hidden risks.

• We assembled a rapid-response team - brokers, solicitors, building and pest inspectors - to meet the timeline.

  
  

Just 24 hours before the property was due to go public, we secured the deal.

The Happy Ending

The result? Steve bought the home he loved - off-market, within budget, and without having to fight a dozen other buyers at open homes.

But the impact didn’t end there. Just a week later, a nearly identical property in the same suburb sold for 20% more.

A Timely Reminder

In real estate, good intentions aren’t enough. Even in seemingly simple scenarios - like a tenant buying from a landlord — the playing field is rarely level. That’s where Buyerworks comes in.

We don’t deal in hypotheticals or hope. Buyerworks brings strategy, clarity and representation to every buying decision - no matter how it starts. Because a dream home deserves more than just a love story. It deserves a smart ending, too.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for general informational purposes only and buyers should conduct their own due diligence and seek independent financial and legal advice before making any decisions. Bueyrworks assumes no liability for any errors, omissions or changes to property contracts.