Across Queensland, more and more properties are being advertised without a price guide,and the trend is creating confusion, frustration and, in many cases, unnecessary emotional distress for everyday buyers.
At a time when housing affordability is already under pressure, the last thing buyers need is uncertainty around whether a home is even within reach. Yet in many parts of the state, especially around Brisbane as well as now creeping into our region, it’s become increasingly common for listings to appear with vague language like “Contact Agent”, “Submit Offers” or simpy “For Sale”, leaving people guessing at the real price expectation.
While every seller has the right to choose how their property is marketed, the reality is simple:
BUYERS DESERVE CLARITY. Sellers deserve informed competition and agents have a responsibility to provide both.
At ASTARIS, our position is clear.
1. A Price Guide isn’t optional, it’s part of our job!
As rural and regional real estate professionals, we believe a price guide is not an inconvenience or an afterthought. It is a foundational part of our responsibility to both buyer and seller.
A guide is not a guarantee, it’s a starting point.
The strategy, marketing, negotiation and competitive momentum created throughout the campaign will always determine whether that figure is exceeded or adjusted.
But removing the guide altogether removes the ability for buyers to make informed decisions, and that’s not something we are willing to compromise on.
2. Transparency protects everyone, not just buyers
When buyers have no clear indication of price, they enter inspections with hope instead of information.
They invest time, fuel, childcare, emotion and energy, only to learn later they were never realistically in the running.
This isn’t just disappointing. It erodes trust in the entire industry.
But it also disadvantages sellers. Well-qualified buyers may skip a property entirely because it lacks a price signal. Others assume it’s outside their budget and never enquire. A lack of clarity doesn’t create competition, it creates confusion.
At ASTARIS, we believe true competition comes from informed buyers, not blind bidding.
3. Underquoting is Not Transparency — And We Reject It
In some markets across Australia, underquoting has become the focus of public frustration, agents advertising low, attracting crowds, then selling well above the guide. Queensland’s laws differ from other states, and every marketplace has its own dynamics. But regardless of what’s legislated, ethical practice must go beyond minimum compliance.
We refuse to “price low to build a crowd”. Crowds don’t create premium results, innovative strategy and qualified buyers do.
Our pricing recommendations are based on:
✓ evidence
✓ comparable sales
✓ local knowledge
✓ market movement
✓ campaign strategy
Not gamesmanship.
4. Marketing and Strategy determine the outcome, not guesswork
A price guide establishes the playing field. Astaris’ strategy sets the direction of the game. High-quality marketing, clear positioning, rural expertise and world-class negotiation influence the final result far more than any starting guide ever could.
Transparency is simply the first step in a deliberate, strategic process designed to protect, and maximise your result.
5. What Buyers Can Expect From ASTARIS
When you see an ASTARIS listing, you can rely on:
🔹 A clear, evidence-based price guide
🔹 Straightforward communication about value, competition and expectations
🔹 No “bait pricing”, no misleading tactics, no hidden agendas
🔹 Marketing built to create strong, genuine interest, not confusion
🔹 A team that values ethics, strategy and fairness equally
Because your time matters. Your hopes matter. And your investment matters.
6. What Sellers Can Expect
Price transparency doesn’t weaken a campaign, when done well, it strengthens it.
Sellers who list with us benefit from:
• More qualified buyers
• Less time wasted
• Stronger negotiation leverage
• Higher buyer confidence
• A more predictable and honest campaign
The result?
A smoother sale, better engagement, and a premium outcome driven by real competition, not chaotic guesswork!
At ASTARIS, Trust Isn’t a Tagline. It’s a Non-Negotiable.
We believe Queenslanders deserve a real estate experience built on honesty, clarity and forward-thinking strategy, not by winging it or gimmicks.
Price guides set the foundation.
Our strategy builds the result.
And transparency builds the trust that makes it all work.
If you're preparing to sell or you’re trying to navigate the market and want real clarity, real communication and real expertise, we’re always here to help.
ASTARIS. Property Agents
Focused. Forthright. Forward-thinking.
Serving the South Burnett & surrounds.