Member Benefits
1. Networking
Get to know industry leaders and the REBAA members at the Annual General Meeting. This flagship annual event provides exposure to the ‘Brains Trust’ exchange of tips and best practice in the buyer’s agency industry. It’s also the chance to come together with your interstate counterparts annually and celebrate with a dinner. Get connected at your local level by participating in quarterly member events with your local state representative.
2. Code of Ethics & Best Practice
Be recognised as a professional who stands for honesty, truth, integrity and ethical standards.
3. Credibility
As a REBAA member you have instant credibility with the real estate industry and buyers. As Australia’s largest professional body representing independent buyer’s agents, we are a trusted brand.
4. Branding
As a full REBAA member you have the ability to use our brand on your website and in other marketing.
5. Referrals straight to your inbox
Having your individual profile on the REBAA website (full and provisional members only) gives you the opportunity to receive direct business referrals straight to your inbox.
6. Legislative Representation
For many years, REBAA has enjoyed success protecting you, your business and your clients from poorly intended legislation. REBAA members have been actively involved in the drafting of legislation in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia to ensure the activity of buyer’s agents is considered in drafting amendments.
7. REBAA Members Forum
Get access to a members-only section of the REBAA website and expand your network instantly. The intranet provides instant access to experienced buyer’s agents who can answer your day-to-day business questions. Feel a part of something larger with others working in your industry.
8. Group Discounts
As Australia’s largest body of professional buyer’s agents we can offer discounted PI insurance for all our REBAA members. We are actively expanding our range of member discounts. Ask us today about our group discounts and save.
9. REBAA Buyer’s Agents Agreement
Did you know REBAA has its own Buyer’s Agents Agreement? This document is free to all members who join and particularly useful for those starting out in the industry. Members can download this document anytime from the members area on the REBAA website.
10. REBAA Mentoring Program
The mentor program is free and involves an experienced buyer’s agent pairing with a learner or new buyer’s agent who might need some peer support to help them succeed in the day-to-day business. Mentors are some of the most experienced buyer’s agents in the country who understand the challenges of starting a small business. They can provide guidance on; business planning and systems, overcoming call reluctance or improving sales/signing up processes, recognising your niche, SWOT analysis and workshopping challenges, marketing and PR, managing staff effectively, confidence, presentation and ‘who’ to ask for help in the industry/outsourcing.
11. Media Relations
REBAA works closely with the media to ensure buyer’s agents have a voice in the property industry and to profile the benefits of buyer’s agents for consumers. In this way we are working hard to raise awareness of buyer’s agents, their services and their credibility, to the broader public.
How to become a buyer's agent
Education & training requirements
The minimum training requirements vary from state to state, but generally speaking is a short course run by the Real Estate Institute in your State plus TAFE and some private institutions. Successful completion of this course would then entitle you to become a “registered” buyer’s agent or real estate agent with the Office of Fair Trading in your state.
Further study can be undertaken through the same channels to become a “fully licensed” buyer’s agent or real estate agent, with an appropriate upgrade of licensing through the Office of Fair Trading.
If you are starting your own buyer’s agency, a degree in business to aid in running your own business, including some Marketing units, would be beneficial.
In terms of training, it is essentially “on the job”. However, buyer’s agents can come from many different backgrounds – each offering their own benefits which can be transferred and utilised as a buyer’s agent. Client service or professional services experience can aid in managing clients; research and analysis can aid in finding and assessing properties; risk management can aid in managing contracts; and selling agent experience can aid in negotiating contracts. Past property investment experience can also be drawn upon.
Licensing
Each State has its own laws and licensing requirements regarding property transactions, so you will need to hold a licence for the state that you will be buying property in. Generally speaking, there are two types of licences – a “registration” suitable for employees, or a “full licence” for senior employees and agency principals. The terminology may differ from state to state. To get started, please make an enquiry with your state-based Department of Fair Trading.
Buyers agents require a restricted buyers agent real estate licence as minimum to operate a business in NSW. A full real estate licence is preferable however, and mandatory if you require to maintain a trust account. The minimum requirement to work as an employee buyers agent representative, under a licensed buyers agency, is a NSW Certificate of Registration.
The full real estate agent licence allows you to do all that you are legally obliged to when operating as a buyers agent, including but not limited to:
- own or manage a real estate agency (REBAA members focus on representing property buyers)
- buy, exchange or rent houses, businesses, land or any interest in these
- negotiate for the buying, exchanging or renting of houses,
- businesses or land
- show property to potential buyers
- inspect and assess property for sale (on behalf of a third party) or rent
- manage an apartment complex
- operate a trust account on behalf of buyers
- Complete Certificate IV, which is the full course
- Complete 12 months practical experience within 3 years of applying for the licence
The minimum requirement is a Certificate IV in Property Services (real estate) to obtain registration and work as a buyers agent representative (or sales representative) for a fully licensed agent;
A Full licence (Registered Land Agent) is required if you wish to open your own agency (buying or selling) with a Complete Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management) required.
Applicants for an individual licence must:
(a) be at least 18 years old;
(b) be a person of good character and repute and a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
(c) have access to sufficient assets and financial resources enabling them to comply with all the requirements of the Act;
(d) understand fully the duties and obligations imposed upon agents by the Act.
A full real estate agent licence is required in Tasmania in order to transact in property whether buying or selling property.
Qualifications for Property Agents
Property agents are required, under Division 2, Sections 64-66, of the Act, to have qualifications before conducting a business as a real estate agent, property manager, or general auctioneer, or being employed by a real estate agent, or property manager.
The qualifications are primarily: –
Real estate agent (individual) – two years’ full-time experience as a property manager or property consultant during the previous five years and the prescribed educational qualification of a Diploma in Property (Real Estate) awarded by a registered training organisation.
Real estate agent (company) – must have at least one director who is a real estate agent.
Character and Repute
In order to satisfy the Board that he or she is a person of good character and repute the applicant must provide an original National
Police Certificate issued no more than 3 months prior to the date of lodging the application. Applicants must also provide two written references to attest to their good character, reputation and fitness to hold a licence.
Contained within the application form is a statutory declaration which requests applicants to disclose previous convictions, pending
proceedings and previous disqualifications among other things. The Registrar may request that an applicant attend an interview with the Board to determine whether he or she satisfies the requirements of the Act.
Qualifications
To apply for a real estate and business agent licence you must have passed the examinations for the following course:
Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management) CPP50307
Eligibility requirements
If you already operate as a buyer’s agent, you may be eligible for membership of REBAA.
We offer five levels of membership:
Buyer’s Agent Full Members
To be a REBAA member, your business should
- Have been generally operating as a buyer’s agent for the past 24 months
- be a licensed real estate agency in the relevant state/territory in which you operate in
- be a registered agent with OFT or relevant Property Board in your state/territory
- have professional indemnity insurance
- not have properties listed for sale or be involved in direct selling
You will also need to be willing to uphold the REBAA Code of Conduct and to get actively involved in attending REBAA meetings and sharing in the activities we develop to enhance the profile and professionalism of our industry.
Fees: $250 one-off non-refundable joining fee and $1,350 non-refundable membership fee per annum ($200 per each additional state).
Provisional Members
Provisional membership is also available to newly established buyer’s agents/agencies who are not yet as experienced but have been operating their own ageny for a minimum of 12 months. REBAA offers opportunity for these organisations to learn from and network with like-minded professionals.
Fees: $200 one-off non-refundable joining fee and $1,150 non-refundable membership fee per annum.
Affiliate Partners
Affiliate partnership is offered to like-minded industry related professionals operating businesses in affiliated fields. This may include but is not limited to property conveyancers, solicitors, finance brokers, property managers. Please note that if you sell real estate you will not be eligible for our Affiliate category.
Fees: $250 one-off non-refundable joining fee and $750 non-refundable membership fee per annum.
Staff
Staff membership is offered to any staff member working within a REBAA accredited agency. This is a beneficial way of staying in touch with the industry, and staying connected with like-minded colleagues.
Fees: Nil joining fee and $150 non-refundable membership fee per annum.
Membership Category Joining Fee (once off) Annual Fee
Full membership $250 $1,350*
Provisional $200 $1150
Affiliate $250 $750
Staff Membership Nil $150
*Additional $200 per member per state
Application process
We need members to step up and speak up. Get active in the association by volunteering to participate in the executive committee or as a state representative. Enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you’re giving something back for the benefits of others in your chosen field.
If you’re interested in applying to join REBAA, please click the link below and complete the application form.
Applications are processed within three weeks of receipt.
Please refer to Eligibility Requirements for membership fee costs per category.
Application forms:
For Full, Provisional, Affiliate and Staff membership:
REBAA membership application form
REBAA Professional Standards
All members must be committed to certain standards as outlined in the REBAA Code of Conduct, which can be viewed in the “About” section of this website.
Starting your own buyer's agency business
If you are intending to set up your own buyer’s agency, you would need a full real estate agent’s licence – both for yourself as an individual, plus an agency licence for the company you will operate under. If you are currently a “registered” real estate agent, then you would need to undertake further study and apply to become a “fully licensed” real estate agent. The Real Estate Institute in your State plus TAFE and some private institutions run training courses.
In setting up your buyer’s agency, you would need to identify your market of buyers to tap into, and develop your own client service methodology, which would define your business offering. One of the main differences between a selling agent and a buyer’s agent is the reporting to clients – there are a lot more written reports provided to buyers, than to vendors, essentially to mitigate risk.
As with any new business, you would want to put together a business plan covering market entry and growth strategies; service offerings and pricing model; market research; marketing plan; operations plan; management plan; financial plan and analysis; risk analysis; research and development. This is particularly important if you are planning to approach the bank for seed capital.
As every state and territory has differing requirements for real estate it is essential you take the time to find out what is mandatory for your area and what regulation applies. The above information is intended as a guide only.
