BiG Tips: When buying or selling a home, or investment property, you might research using some of the property gurus or analysts and commentators in BiG. Many give you free information and advice in podcasts, blogs, webinars, or courses. But real estate involves many “ancillary service providers” to help with the process, like:

• accountants
• conveyancers
• financial planners
• finance providers, mortgage brokers see BiG’s Finance; Loans; Mortgages; Mortgage Brokers and Credit and Finance| Compare credit cards, get financial information and advice
• people who source property
  • developers
  • real estate agents
  • buyer’s agents)
• property and strata managers
• quantity surveyors

Here BiG focusses on the real estate services agents provide in the process of buying, selling and managing property. If they “educate” you’ll probably find them, rated in BiG’s property gurus list. Put their name in BiG’s SEARCH, see if an agent’s there.

Property investment professionals:

Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) “Our aim is to be the peak Property Investment Industry Association. Our members subscribe to a Code of Conduct which considers all consumers and commits to disclosure and a high standard of Best Practice. All of our members must work toward obtaining the Qualified Property Investment Adviser (QPIA®) qualification which will ensure that consumers can confidently deal with them, knowing that they have a minimum level of expertise and are continuing with regular professional development.”

Real estate agents:

We’re not a real estate agent ‘yellow pages’ as the internet already has many directories (e.g. in the various real estate institute member sites).

If you want to ask others who they’ve used to buy, sell or manage property, in many blogs and forums investors discuss their experiences with agents and real estate issues in general, such as commissions. Some are:

• Share Investing Strategies and Theories Forum PropertyChat (investing generally)
• PropertyChat – previously Somersoft (property)
• Whirlpool (internet in general)

Tips and Sites to help you find a real estate agent:

How to select the right real estate agent Finder

Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) Helping and protecting consumers with property investment

Open Agent

Rate my Agent

Sell my castle – Local Agent Finder

Buyers agents:

Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) – Why investors should consider using a buyer’s agent

Rental Properties/Landlords:

Don’t Rent Me “Review & list bad landlords, bad property managers and bad rental properties.”