What to Look for in a Buyer's Agent Guarantee (And Why Most Don't Offer One)
A buyers agent guarantee is a written, financial commitment that spells out exactly what a buyer’s agent will do if a property they recommend doesn’t perform as expected.
When you’re paying $8,000 to $20,000 or more for a buyer’s agent, it’s reasonable to ask what happens if the property they recommend doesn’t perform.
Most buyer’s agents will tell you they’re confident in their process. Fewer will put that confidence in writing.
A genuine one is specific, not a vague marketing slogan. At Fresh Start Advisory, ours is called the Fresh Start Safety Net.
It’s built to answer exactly what’s covered, what isn’t, and what happens if things don’t go to plan. If a guarantee can’t answer those three questions clearly, it isn’t really a guarantee; it’s a satisfaction promise dressed up to sound like one.
This guide walks you through what a real property investment guarantee should include, the vague language worth watching for, and how ours is structured.
- Published: 11 September 2026
Why "Guarantee" Has Become a Marketing Word
Plenty of buyers agents use the word “guarantee” somewhere on their website. Very few define it.
Common examples include a “satisfaction guarantee” with no measurable outcome, or a “results guarantee” with no timeframe or dollar figure attached.
Others simply say “we stand behind our work”, with nothing written down anywhere.
None of these are guarantees in any real sense. They’re confidence statements.
A confidence statement might be genuine, but it gives you no recourse if the property underperforms, and no way to hold the agent accountable once settlement is done.
Four Things a Real Buyers Agent Guarantee Should Include
Before signing with any buyer’s agent, ask to see their guarantee in writing and check it covers these four things:
A Specific, Measurable Outcome
Not “strong growth”, a defined percentage over a defined period.
A Defined Remedy
What actually happens if that outcome isn’t met. A refund of the full fee? A fixed amount? Is it automatic, or does it require a dispute?
Clear Eligibility
Does it apply to everything they sell, or only specific service tiers? A guarantee that quietly excludes most of what they sell isn’t worth much.
An Exit Option
Can you walk away before you’re financially committed, if the first recommendation doesn’t feel right?
If a buyer’s agent can’t answer all four without hedging, that’s worth noting before you engage them.
Why We Built Ours This Way
Our co-founder Frank Ambesi didn’t come to this industry as an outsider looking in.
Before starting Fresh Start Advisory, Frank Ambesi and co-founder Adrian Trimboli were both sold on promises and given poor advice by buyer’s agents of their own, and ended up with underperforming properties that did little more than line their agent’s pockets.
That experience is exactly why Fresh Start Advisory exists. Frank and Adrian built the firm on a simple pledge: no client of theirs would go through what they went through.
You can read the full story on our About page.
Why Most Buyers Agents Don't Offer One
Buyers agents in Australia don’t need a licence, and there’s no industry-wide requirement to guarantee outcomes either.
That gap exists because a real guarantee shifts financial risk back onto the agent: if the research is wrong, they pay for it, not just the client.
Most firms aren’t willing to accept that risk, which is why most guarantees stop at friendly language rather than firm, written commitments.
This is the accountability gap buyers are increasingly asking about before they engage anyone.
What the Fresh Start Safety Net Actually Guarantees
Our guarantee is scoped to what we can genuinely stand behind, rather than promising identical blanket cover across every service tier we offer.
Gold Strategy, Growth Guarantee
If your Gold-tier property doesn’t achieve 7% growth within the first 12 months, we refund our full fee for that purchase.
Silver, Gold and Platinum Strategies, Rental Guarantee
If your property isn’t tenanted within 30 days, we cover the rental shortfall until it is.
Every Strategy, Try Before You Buy
You have up to 7 days after your first property presentation to walk away, no questions asked.
Our multi-dwelling (Emerald) strategy doesn’t carry a fixed 30-day rental guarantee, since tenancy timing across multiple doors makes that impractical to promise, though rent-up almost always lands within that window in practice.
Being upfront about where a guarantee applies, and where it doesn’t, is itself part of the accountability this page is about.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign With Any Buyer's Agent
- Is the guarantee a specific number and timeframe, or just a feeling (“confidence”, “satisfaction”)?
- What exactly do you get back if the outcome isn’t met, and is that written down anywhere?
- Does the guarantee apply to the service tier you’re actually paying for?
- Can you walk away before you’re financially committed?
Does Every Fresh Start Advisory Client Get a Growth Guarantee?
The Growth Guarantee currently applies to our Gold strategy. Every strategy tier includes Try Before You Buy, and Silver, Gold, and Platinum include the Rental Guarantee.
What Happens if My Property Doesn't Hit 7% Growth in 12 Months?
If your Gold-tier property doesn’t achieve 7% growth in the first 12 months, we refund our full fee for that purchase.
Does the Guarantee Mean There's No Risk at All?
No property investment is completely risk-free. The Fresh Start Safety Net reduces key risks and adds reassurance, but it sits alongside a broader long-term investment strategy backed by real client results.
Can I Change My Mind After Seeing a Property?
Yes. You have up to 7 days after your first property presentation to choose not to proceed.
Get It in Writing, Or Keep Looking
A buyer’s agent guarantee is only as good as what it actually promises in writing.
If you’re comparing buyer’s agents, ask to see it in writing before you sign anything.
Ready to see it for yourself? Book a free consultation, and we’ll walk you through exactly how the Fresh Start Safety Net applies to your situation.