Set the brief
Record the intended use, location, asset type and purchase budget. If appointing an agent, the written agency agreement sets out the services and terms. Confirm what the agent will do and what you must pay before signing. NSW Government: agency agreements and fees.
Arrange finance and the cost record
Confirm the funding available for the property and the separate costs of buying it. Keep the purchase contract, acquisition costs and finance records from the start. The ATO explains why these records matter for later deductions, GST credits and capital gains calculations. ATO: buying commercial property.
Use the agency fee calculator for published agent fees. It does not calculate duty, finance costs, inspections or legal costs.
Search the market
An appointed buyer's agent can find suitable properties, negotiate with the seller, carry out background checks and bid at auction. Ask how the agreed search covers listed and off-market opportunities, and how each shortlisted property fits the brief. Queensland Government: appointing a buyer's agent.
Investigate the property and documents
Check the proposed use and location before committing to a site. Business Queensland identifies zoning, council regulations and location risks as matters to investigate. Match the documents and enquiries to the actual property and intended use. Business Queensland: choosing a business location.
For a tenanted purchase, obtain the leases and related agreements as part of the transaction record. ATO guidance on a going concern explains the importance of including the operating arrangements in the sale; buying a property by itself does not establish going-concern treatment. ATO: selling a going concern.
Negotiate the offer and contract
Record the offered price and the proposed conditions, deposit and settlement arrangements. Keep the agent's appointment and fee obligations distinct from the purchase contract. The appointment should state the services, commissions, fees, expenses and payment dates. Queensland Government: appointment terms.
Check duty and GST before exchange
Transfer duty is a separate purchase cost. Check the rules for the state where the property is located: Revenue NSW, Queensland Revenue Office and Victoria's commercial and industrial property tax rules. A property's Victorian tax-transition status can affect the duty treatment of a transaction.
Commercial purchases can have different GST outcomes. A GST-free going concern requires the relevant conditions, including a written agreement between buyer and seller and the purchaser's GST registration status. The purchase contract and tax treatment need to agree. ATO: going-concern conditions.
Prepare for settlement
Reconcile the contract, funding, tax and duty documents with the amounts due at completion. Retain the purchase and expense records, including documents supporting any GST credits. ATO: purchase records and GST credits.
The buyer's agent's agreed role can continue until the sale is finalised and include liaison with other parties. Check that scope in the appointment. NSW Government: working with a buyer's agent.
Official sources: NSW Government, Queensland Government, Business Queensland, ATO, Revenue NSW, Queensland Revenue Office and State Revenue Office Victoria. Read 2026-11-09.
General information only, not financial or legal advice.