Question 1

How do I book a strategy call with NOVAQ?

Accepted Answer

Fill in the short strategy-call form on our Contact page (your goal, timeframe and budget). The moment you submit, our live booking calendar appears on the next screen. Pick any time that suits you and you'll receive an instant email confirmation with the call details. There's no waiting for us to get back to you.

Question 2

How long is the call and is it really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your first strategy call is a free, no-obligation 60-minute conversation with one of our founders. Nothing is charged until you formally engage NOVAQ and a written engagement letter is signed. We use the time to understand your goal, current position and whether property is the right tool, not to pitch you.

Question 3

Can I reschedule or cancel my booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your confirmation email includes a one-click reschedule and cancel link. Life happens, no need to call or email us, just use the link in the email and pick another time from the live calendar.

Question 4

Is NOVAQ actually independent, or do you take vendor commissions?

Accepted Answer

Fee-for-service only. We charge you and only you. We do not accept payment from vendors, developers, marketing agencies, brokers, inspectors or solicitors. We aren&rsquo;t on any developer&rsquo;s stock list. Full breakdown, plus the eight questions to ask any buyer&rsquo;s agent, at /resources/articles/is-your-buyers-agent-actually-independent.

Question 5

Do you recommend off-the-plan or SDA / NDIS stock?

Accepted Answer

No project stock, no off-the-plan panels, no SDA developer partnerships. If a client asks us to review an SDA or off-the-plan pitch, we&rsquo;ll read it with them and flag the compliance gaps, but we don&rsquo;t sell it.

Question 6

What does NOVAQ Realty actually do as a buyers agent?

Accepted Answer

We act exclusively for buyers, never vendors. Our engagement covers the full buyer-side process: clarifying your brief (budget, location, property type, timeframe), market research and suburb selection, sourcing on-market and off-market opportunities, independent property assessment with comparable sales, strategy and negotiation with selling agents, written offers and counter-offers, auction bidding up to an agreed cap, coordination of due diligence (building & pest, strata, flood, planning), and liaison with your broker and conveyancer through to unconditional contract and settlement. We then provide general buyer-side support post-settlement until keys are handed over.

Question 7

What's NOT included in the buyers agency engagement?

Accepted Answer

We do not provide legal advice, conveyancing or contract drafting (your solicitor handles that). We do not provide financial, taxation or investment advice. We do not provide loan broking under this engagement (broking is a separately scoped service). We do not produce independent valuations or engineering reports, we can refer trusted third parties. We also do not offer property management services post-settlement, renovation/design or cost-estimating services as part of buyers agency. We give no warranties as to capital growth, rental yield or future performance, no agent legitimately can.

Question 8

What is a Form 6 and why does NOVAQ need one?

Accepted Answer

Under the Property Occupations Act 2014 (Qld), a buyers agent can only be paid for services after a written appointment in the approved Form 6 is signed by both parties. The Form 6 specifies our services, any limits, the commission/fee structure and payment due dates. Our engagement letter sits alongside the Form 6, if there's any inconsistency, the Form 6 prevails.

Question 9

Is the appointment exclusive? Can I use another buyers agent at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our appointment is exclusive for the term. During the engagement you cannot appoint another buyers agent or purchase a property we have introduced to you except through us. If you appoint another agent before the engagement ends, you may be liable for double commission or damages. If you (or a related entity) buy a property we introduced within 12 months after termination, our agreed fee remains payable.

Question 10

Do you accept commissions or kickbacks from selling agents, developers or builders?

Accepted Answer

No. We act exclusively for buyers in this engagement and we do not accept vendor-paid commissions. We disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest. This is core to how we operate, we cannot independently negotiate against a party that's paying us.

Question 11

How are NOVAQ's fees structured?

Accepted Answer

As a general guide, NOVAQ's buyers agency fee is typically around 2% of the purchase price + GST, sitting at the lower/fairer end of the broader Australian buyers agency market range of approximately 2–3% + GST. The fee may be capped depending on the price point of the property so that higher-budget purchases remain fair and proportionate. The exact basis is agreed in writing in the engagement letter and Form 6 before any work begins, so you have complete certainty up front. Fees are walked through transparently on the initial strategy call (which is free and no-obligation) and confirmed in writing before any commitment.

Question 12

When are fees paid? Is there a deposit?

Accepted Answer

Payment is split into two milestones. A non-refundable retainer of 50% + GST of the agreed fee is payable on signing the engagement letter and Form 6, this covers the considerable upfront work we begin immediately, including strategy, suburb research, sourcing and due diligence. The remaining balance is payable at settlement of the property. The exact dollar amounts are confirmed in writing in your engagement letter before any work begins.

Question 13

Is GST included in the fee?

Accepted Answer

No, GST is added in addition to the agreed fee, in line with Australian tax requirements.

Question 14

Are buyers agency fees tax deductible in Australia?

Accepted Answer

For investment property, buyers agency fees are generally treated as a capital cost (added to your cost base for CGT purposes) rather than an outright deduction in the year incurred. For owner-occupied purchases they are not deductible. This is general information only, speak to a registered tax agent about your circumstances.

Question 15

Are fees refundable if I don't end up buying?

Accepted Answer

The 50% retainer paid on signing is non-refundable, it covers the considerable upfront work (strategy, data-driven suburb research, shortlisting, sourcing and due diligence) that begins immediately. The balance is only payable at settlement, so if no purchase ever proceeds you do not pay the balance. If you elect not to proceed after the initial 6-month term and don't extend, the engagement ends within 7 days of that period. Termination doesn't affect rights or fees accrued before termination.

Question 16

Who pays for building & pest, strata reports and other third-party costs?

Accepted Answer

You do. These are independent third parties (inspectors, valuers, surveyors, conveyancers). If we engage them on your behalf, you reimburse the cost on invoice or advance the funds. We do not mark up third-party costs.

Question 17

How long is a typical engagement from sign-up to keys?

Accepted Answer

The initial term of our appointment is 6 months from the date of the engagement letter. If no property is purchased in that period, we may extend by mutual agreement for a further 3 months. In practice, most engagements run 8–16 weeks from signing to settlement, depending on finance timing, suburb selection and how quickly the right property surfaces.

Question 18

Can I cancel the engagement? What's the notice period?

Accepted Answer

Either party may terminate by giving 30 days' written notice (or a shorter period if mutually agreed), consistent with the Form 6. Termination doesn't affect rights or fees accrued before termination. The 50% retainer paid on signing remains non-refundable as it covers work already done.

Question 19

What happens if you can't find me a property in the agreed term?

Accepted Answer

If no suitable property is identified within the 6-month initial term, we can extend by 3 months by mutual agreement. If you choose not to extend, the engagement ends within 7 days. The 50% non-refundable retainer covers the upfront research and strategy work; the remaining balance, payable at settlement, is not payable because no settlement has occurred.

Question 20

Why does the 12-month tail clause exist after termination?

Accepted Answer

If you (or a related party) buy a property we specifically introduced within 12 months of termination, our agreed fee is still payable. This stops a small minority of clients from terminating and then transacting privately on a property we sourced. It only applies to properties we actually presented.

Question 21

What do you need from me during the engagement?

Accepted Answer

Accurate information about your goals, budget and ability to transact. Maintaining loan pre-approval where finance is required. Prompt instructions to your solicitor/conveyancer. Attending inspections where we ask, and responding to opportunities within the agreed timeframe. You also agree not to instruct us to engage in misleading conduct, to notify us of any changes to your details or criteria, and to obtain independent legal, financial, tax and credit advice on the purchase.

Question 22

Is what NOVAQ provides financial advice?

Accepted Answer

No. NOVAQ Realty does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence as defined in s913B of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and is not authorised to provide financial product advice. Any market data or commentary we provide is general information only. Always seek independent financial, tax and legal advice before acting.

Question 23

How do you handle my personal information?

Accepted Answer

We comply with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) where it applies to us. We collect only information reasonably necessary to perform the services, give notice of collection, and apply reasonable security measures. Our Privacy Policy is on the website.

Question 24

What happens if there's a dispute?

Accepted Answer

We try to resolve disputes in writing first. Failing that, we refer the matter to mediation in Brisbane, Queensland. The engagement is governed by Queensland law.

Question 25

What makes NOVAQ different from other buyers agents in Australia?

Accepted Answer

We were founded by Chartered Accountants, so the conversation starts with your goal, your borrowing capacity and the right ownership structure (own name, trust, company, SMSF), not a hot suburb. We screen the entire country with a 50+ filter framework rather than defaulting to the agent's home turf. And we run a periodic portfolio review loop after settlement, not a one-off transaction.

Question 26

Who is NOVAQ best suited for?

Accepted Answer

Investors, first home buyers, rentvestors and SMSF buyers who want a structured, goal-based process, not a hot tip. We work best with clients willing to engage in the strategy conversation first and who treat property as one tool inside a broader financial plan.

Question 27

Who is NOVAQ not suited for?

Accepted Answer

Short-term speculators chasing the next 12-month hotspot, or anyone wanting us to recommend off-the-plan units, small townhouses or housing-commission suburbs we wouldn't buy ourselves. If an engagement requires us to compromise the methodology, we politely decline.

Question 28

Why won't you buy off-the-plan, small townhouses or housing-commission suburbs?

Accepted Answer

Each carries structural issues for most investors: weak land-to-asset ratio, settlement valuation gaps, concentrated supply risk, narrow buyer pools and tenant concentration. We explain the reasoning case by case, there are exceptions, but they're rare.

Question 29

How does NOVAQ access off-market and pre-market property?

Accepted Answer

We don't maintain a 'secret database', what we maintain is a working relationship with 200+ selling agents nationwide who know we buy every week, we don't waste their time, and our clients always have finance in place before they see the stock. That reputation is the access pass. In practice, off-market for us means three different things: pre-market (listed but not yet on realestate.com.au/Domain), silent listings (vendor wants no public campaign, privacy, divorce, deceased estate), and genuinely never-listed properties where a vendor is approached directly. Typically 30–50% of NOVAQ purchases fall into one of these three categories. Full mechanics are in /resources/articles/off-market-property-access.

Services,process,feesandengagement.

Booking a strategy call

Independence & conflicts

Services & scope

Fees, payments & refunds

Engagement term & cancellation

Your obligations as a client

How NOVAQ is different

Ready for a goal-based property strategy?