It's similar in New Zealand: sellers (usually) hire a real-estate agent, and buyers (usually) hire a lawyer to check the sale and purchase agreement, provide ad

It's similar in New Zealand: sellers (usually) hire a real-estate agent, and buyers (usually) hire a lawyer to check the sale and purchase agreement, provide advice, and manage the exchange of money (kind of like escrow). The lawyer is much cheaper than the real-estate agent.