The Property Couch

How do you know whether you're choosing a good buyer's agent?

Following the recent collapse of several buyer's agency businesses, Shane Pope and Ben Thompson tackle an important question:

What should property buyers be looking for when selecting a buyer's agent?

In this week's FUNdamental Friday, they discuss the red flags, warning signs and key qualities that can help buyers make a more informed decision.

They explore:
✅ Why paying large fees upfront may be risky
✅ The importance of proven philosophies and track records
✅ Why "one-size-fits-all" property advice should raise concerns
✅ Questions to ask before engaging a buyer's agent
✅ The dangers of silver-bullet investment strategies
✅ Why longevity and consistency matter
✅ What genuine buyer advocacy should look like

Because when you're trusting someone to help build long-term wealth, due diligence matters.

🏡 Buying a home soon?

Before your next open for inspection, check out PRE-Purchase, our free 10-part video series designed to help Australians buy property with greater clarity and confidence.

From creating a property brief and researching the market, through to negotiating, bidding at auction and understanding settlement, we've broken the buying journey into easy-to-follow episodes.

🎥 Watch the full series here:
 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/prepurchase

🎁 FREE UPDATED $3,000 A WEEK CASE STUDIES

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We'll send you FREE access to our updated video case studies, refreshed for today's property market, negative gearing and capital gains tax changes.

🕰️Timestamps
0:00 The hill Shane is willing to die on
1:04 Recent buyer's agency collapses
2:19 What to look for in a buyer's agency
3:03 The biggest red flag
3:24 Why business structure matters
4:15 Longevity and consistency
5:00 Why philosophy matters
5:46 Too many hats
7:02 Beware the silver bullet
8:11 The Victorian unit debate
8:50 Why one-size-fits-all doesn't work
10:07 How performance should be presented
11:05 Be critical of marketing claims
11:29 The biggest warning sign
11:55 Why Shane believes fees should be paid at the end

#PropertyInvesting #BuyersAgent #PropertyAdvice #PropertyInvestor #PropertyStrategy #InvestmentProperty #WealthCreation #PropertyMarket #ThePropertyCouch #FUNdamentalFridays
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

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With borrowing capacity tightening and negative gearing changes reshaping the numbers, investors are being pushed towards cheaper properties, higher yields and new strategies. 

But could adapting to the new environment mean compromising the quality of your assets? 

In this jam-packed Q&A episode, Ben, Polly and Luke unpack the post-budget property traps investors need to avoid, before answering listener questions about grandfathering, offset accounts, upgrading the family home and preserving financial flexibility. 
Listen now!  
FREE STUFF MENTIONED
📊 The Upgraded Case Study Series
Explore seven refreshed case studies plus a brand-new Live-Vesting strategy, updated for today’s lending, tax and cash-flow environment. 
As thanks for being part of our community, use COUCH17 to access the series for just $17 (RRP $197).
👉 Explore the Case Studies 
🎥 The PRE-Purchase Series
A free ten-part, bite-sized series designed to guide you through the three key stages of purchasing property—Preparation, Research and Execution.
👉 Access the free series 
🐖 Moorr: Your Home for Property, Finance & Money Management
Bring your cash flow, properties, loans and overall financial position together, so you can understand your numbers and make more informed decisions.
👉 Get started with Moorr for free 
🔎 We’re Looking for a Sydney Buyer’s Agent
Empower Wealth is looking for an experienced Sydney-based Buyer’s Agent to help clients purchase quality homes.
👉 Visit Empower Wealth and head to About Us → Careers. 
 
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

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👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
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FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

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- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

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Over the past 10 episodes, we've covered the complete home-buying journey.

From defining your brief and researching the market through to inspections, negotiations, auctions, settlement and moving in, PRE-Purchase was created to help buyers navigate one of life's biggest financial decisions with greater confidence.

This final episode is simply a thank you.

Thank you for coming along on the journey, for sending in questions, and for helping shape a series that was built around the real challenges buyers face every day.

We hope the series has given you practical tools, useful frameworks and the confidence to make informed property decisions.

In This Episode

✅ Why we created PRE-Purchase
✅ The biggest lessons from the series
✅ Why preparation matters
✅ Why research creates confidence
✅ The value of asking questions
✅ When professional advice can help
✅ Next steps for buyers
✅ How to submit questions for the Q&A episode

Need Help With Your Property Journey?

If this series has raised questions about your own property situation, the team at Empower Wealth offers a complimentary initial consultation.

Whether you're buying your first home, upgrading or investing, we're happy to help you understand your options.

👉 https://empowerwealth.com.au/request-free-consultation/

Got A Question?

If this episode raised a question about your own property journey, send it through and we'll answer as many as possible in our upcoming PRE-Purchase Q&A episode.

📩 Submit your question: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/contact

Timestamps

00:00 Why we created PRE-Purchase
00:16 Built from real buyer questions
00:24 The goal of the series
00:41 Send us your questions
00:50 When to speak with a buyer's agent
01:01 The value of an initial consultation
01:15 What the series demonstrates about buying property
01:23 What we hope you've learned
01:32 Closing thoughts

Hashtags

#FirstHomeBuyer #HomeBuying #PropertyEducation #BuyersAgent #PropertyTips #PropertyResearch #ThePropertyCouch #PREPurchase #PropertyJourney #HomeOwnership
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

Settlement day is finally here.

After months of preparation, research, inspections, negotiations and paperwork, ownership of the property is about to transfer into your name.

But what actually happens on settlement day?

In Episode 10 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain how settlement works, what PEXA is, when you'll receive the keys, and the practical lessons they've learned from years of helping buyers navigate moving day.

You'll also learn why settlement times aren't guarantees, how property settlements can become linked together, and how to reduce stress when organising your move.

In This Episode

✅ What happens on settlement day
✅ Understanding PEXA
✅ Why settlement times can change
✅ When you'll receive the keys
✅ Why Friday settlements can be risky
✅ Understanding property settlement chains
✅ Moving truck lessons and mistakes
✅ Organising utilities and trades
✅ Why changing the locks matters
✅ Preparing for your first night in the home

Need Help With Your Property Journey?

Whether you're buying your first home, upgrading, investing or preparing for settlement, the team at Empower Wealth offers a complimentary initial consultation.

👉 https://empowerwealth.com.au/request-free-consultation/

Got A Question?

If this episode raised a question about your own property journey, send it through and we'll answer as many as possible in our upcoming PRE-Purchase Q&A episode.

📩 Submit your question: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/contact

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction
00:12 What actually happens on settlement day?
00:21 Understanding PEXA
00:41 How funds and ownership are transferred
00:56 Why settlement times aren't guaranteed
01:28 When do you get the keys?
02:09 Why Friday settlements can be risky
02:39 Understanding settlement chains
03:20 Moving truck lessons
04:35 Not everything is within your control
04:49 Organising utilities
05:18 When should trades be booked?
05:34 Why changing the locks matters
06:07 The first things to set up
06:19 Survival tips for your first night
07:03 Settlement day recap
07:49 The most important reminder about key collection

Hashtags

#SettlementDay #FirstHomeBuyer #HomeBuying #MovingHouse #PropertySettlement #PropertyTips #BuyersAgent #ThePropertyCouch #PREPurchase #PropertyJourney
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

You've bought the property.

You've gone unconditional.

Settlement is approaching.

Now comes one final check.

In Episode 9 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain the purpose of a pre-settlement inspection, what buyers should be checking, and what to do if something isn't working or has changed since the day you purchased the property.

Many buyers mistakenly think a pre-settlement inspection is another building inspection.

It's not.

The purpose is to confirm the property is being delivered in substantially the same condition as when you agreed to buy it.

In This Episode

✅ What a pre-settlement inspection actually is
✅ Fixtures vs fittings explained
✅ What should still be working before settlement
✅ What happens if something breaks
✅ The role of your solicitor
✅ Settlement adjustments explained
✅ Why documentation matters
✅ How building inspections can help later
✅ Common pre-settlement issues buyers encounter

Need Help Navigating Settlement?

If you're approaching settlement and would like personalised guidance around your property journey, the team at Empower Wealth offers a complimentary initial consultation.

👉 https://empowerwealth.com.au/request-free-consultation/

Got A Question?

If this episode raised a question about your own property journey, send it through and we'll answer as many as possible in our upcoming PRE-Purchase Q&A episode.

📩 Submit your question: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/contact

Timestamps

00:04 Introduction
00:24 What happens after you've purchased?
00:50 What is a pre-settlement inspection?
01:09 Fixtures and fittings explained
01:37 What should still be working?
01:54 What if something is broken?
02:12 Contact your solicitor immediately
02:32 Settlement adjustments explained
03:11 Practical uses for your inspection
03:29 What if the vendor disagrees?
03:58 Why evidence matters
04:15 Building inspections and documentation
04:40 What appliances should be checked?
05:11 Episode summary

Hashtags

#PreSettlementInspection #SettlementDay #FirstHomeBuyer #HomeBuying #PropertySettlement #PropertyTips #BuyersAgent #ThePropertyCouch #PREPurchase #PropertyChecklist
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube