About Mike Bentley
I have a passion for helping overseas families with their Australian real estate needs. I am a trusted, experiencedand well qualified professional who strives to provide you with the best solution.
Clients are impressed with the dedication and expertise I put into making sure they receive top quality service and amazing results.
I provide services that help investors and families sell their homes for the maximum price quickly and with less stress, while also saving money in marketing costs. I act as a professional "go-between" between the owner and the Agents, to help sellers save a lot of money, and get the maximum price for their beloved home or investment.
Discover why I love real estate, and love providing services especially to my overseas clients.
Why Do I Need an "Advisor" When Selling?
"If the idea of having someone in your corner, advising and overseeing the agents, someone very experienced, is appealing, then it can’t hurt to have a quick chat"
Surely my Trusted Real Estate Agent Will Handle the Sale For Me?
In the fast-paced world of Australian real estate, navigating through the complexities of property transactions can be overwhelming. Legalities, inspections, repairs, marketing, and negotiations are just a few of the moving parts that need to align seamlessly to achieve a successful sale. To ensure a smooth process that puts your needs first, my Sellers Advisory is your reliable and trustworthy partner throughout your property selling journey.
Not a Salesperson: Your Trusted Partner
As your Seller's Advocate I am NOT involved in the sale of of your property. I am not acting as YOUR salesperson. I am are committed to acting as your dedicated partner, understanding your unique goals and tailoring my approach to suit your specific needs. I will be able to guide you through every step of the process, providing you with peace of mind and support.
I will also oversee the marketing, appointing estate agents, open houses, the legal contract, building inspections, repairs and upkeep, staging, then negotiating offers as they come in. Finally, I will oversee the whole process to completion and settlement.
Why Cant I leave it To My Agent Get Me or Maximum Gains, With Least Hassle?
When it comes to negotiating the best deal for your property, if you have a great agent, a trusted agent (and NOT your rental agent!) then you probably can leave it to them.
According to the latest Governance Institute of Australia Ethics Index, real estate agents are the least trusted professionals in Australia. So, let's have a quick chat, and I can let you know whether your prosed agent has a good reputation, good reviews from others, and is likely to put your needs ahead of theirs. Many do. Not all though.
I am NOT competing with your agent as I DON'T sell homes. So it is critical for YOU to select the correct agent. I will work in conjunction with your Agent to secure the highest possible price for your property from the buyer. Trust my experience to navigate the negotiations with finesse, always keeping your best interests at heart, and not leaving any money on the table.
Dependable and Reliable: Your Stress-Reliever
Selling a property involves an huge array of tasks, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. There’s the real estate agent, responsible for handling the sale of your property. Often there’s a highly skilled professional buyer’s agent, who represents the person buying the property.
There are lawyers involved to issue and check the contracts, as well as some other smaller but vital cogs of the motor, like building inspectors, staging stylists, marketing and advertising agents, pest inspectors, and more.
But there’s also an increasingly prominent piece that more and more sellers are relying on – a Vendor Adviser.
What do I do? And do you need ME for the sale of YOUR property?
NO you don't. There’s a lot at stake. The number of hoops you have to jump through is high. The potential to mess it all up is quite high, too.
But NO. You don't NEED me at all.
If you are thinking of selling, there are 24 expensive and common selling mistakes I have seen over and over again.
Download your copy of my booklet with these mistakes outlined. This alone will help ensure you do not fall prey to these mistakes which can cost you thousands and in some cases, tens of thousands, of dollars.
That's where I may be able to help. From finding the right real estate agent to negotiating commissions and reviewing marketing plans, they handle it all. With regular updates and recommendations keep you informed and at ease throughout the process.
A Vendor Advocate is a person you enlist to take the angst out of selling your place by essentially taking care of everything for you.
Before you put your property on the market, I will find out what you’re hoping to achieve and then go search and suggest an agent that’s right for your property.
They’ll usually come back with a shortlist that you meet with to make the final decision.
They negotiate the commission, review the marketing plan and budget and make sure all the boxes are ticked.
Should you go to auction or not? Private Treaty? Expression of Interest? Selling timeline? Marketing strategy? Marketing budget? Which Agent to use? Sign or no sign? Sell with tenants, or without? Stage the property, or not? How much to spend on marketing? How long will it take? How to get my money out? How much tax will I pay? Can I get my tenant out? And much more that needs to be addressed.
Cost-Effective Support with No Fees
If you think your real estate agent will help you with the above, you may be be sadly disappointed. Agents are incredibly busy.
You might be pleasantly surprised to know that the Vendor's Advocates services are typically free. They work diligently to optimize the selling agent's performance, ultimately benefiting you with a higher sales price.
Instead of charging you separately, they receive a portion of the buying agent's commission, ensuring you get professional support at no extra cost.
This is a WIN WIN WIN for all parties - YOU as the seller get TWO for the price of one, with the Vendor's Advocate your personal ears and eyes, combined with years of experience, to ensure your Agent is not just looking for an easy sale. Your AGENT gets direct communication to you from the Vendor's Advocate, with their experience and knowledge a sounding board for the vendor. In addition the selling Agent knows the Vendor is being looked after. The Vendor's Agent wins also, by being able to represent the Vendor in discussions, using their skills to get the best price for all parties.
The Independent Voice in Your Real Estate Journey
The Seller's Advocate is not a replacement for your sales agent; instead, they serve as your independent voice in the process. Just like a celebrity's agent working behind the scenes, they ensure you're getting the best deal possible, leaving you to focus on what matters most to you.
Vendor Adviser vs Real Estate Agents
Most vendor advocates are qualified real estate agents but they’re not a replacement for having your own sales agent. They monitor and work with your estate agent.
When to Consider My Sellers Advisory Service?
If the thought of entrusting an experienced professional to help handle the complexities of selling your property appeals to you, then we should probably talk. I offer valuable assistance in getting the highest price for your property and ensure transparency throughout the process.
I can help with all the complex marketing decisions you need to make. I will ensure you are not "railroaded" into making a quick decision.
If you have never sold an Australian property before, then I urge you to read my FREE book on How to Sell With Confidence and Avoid Selling Mistakes, before you do anything else.
When NOT to Use my Sellers Advisory Service
My service is NOT free - of course! - And YOU MAY NOT NEED my help if you have previously sold a few Aussie properties. If you have done so, for SURE you have made at least a few of the 24 Common Errors Seller Make - and no doubt you have learnt from these and will not make hem again!
A Seller's Advocate may not be necessary if you're a hands-on person who prefers managing every detail yourself. Similarly, if you possess extensive real estate experience or have a strong personal relationship with your current estate agent, you might feel confident handling the process independently.
Avoid Common Mistakes: Choose Wisely
One of the most common errors sellers make is appointing their rental management agent as their selling agent. While they might excel at property management, they might not possess the expertise needed for effective selling and negotiations. To make an informed decision, interview multiple agents and ensure you're selecting the best fit for your selling needs.
NEVER, EVER MAKE THIS MISTAKE: INTERVIEWING JUST ONE AGENT, THEN SELECTING THEM TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY
Embrace the Support of Your Seller's Advocate
In the dynamic real estate landscape, having a reliable and experienced Vendor's Advocate by your side can make all the difference. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, ensuring you achieve the best possible outcome from your property sale.
So, why not empower yourself with a trusted partner who truly cares about your success?
You’ll still have an agent handling the sale of the property.
The vendor advocate is kind of like your independent voice in the scenario. Imagine you’re a celebrity – they’re your agent, thrashing out behind the scenes to make sure you’re getting the best deal, leaving you to simply smile and look pretty.
QUICK TIP #1: REMEMBER: These days, many buyers employ their own BUYERS AGENTS to represent them and get the possible price (the lowest) for their client the buyer. You need to be sure YOUR estate agent is skilled enough, and keen enough, to get YOU the highest possible price and not just want a quick sale.
QUICK TIP #2: Your estate agent may well fight back against you employing a Vendor's Advocate. Firstly, they do not want someone watching EVERY step they take. Secondly, they may want your marketing money to grow their business. The don't want your Vendor's Agent cutting this back. Third, they don't want to share a small proportion of their commission with the Vendor Agent.
Finally, good Vendor's Agents are very experienced agents and know how the real estate game works. They can greatly help you when the negotiation comes along. But, how to select your Vendor's Agent?
Selecting Your Australian Property Vendor's Agent: The Golden Rules:
Most importantly, ensure your Vendor's Agent has at least 10 years specific real estate experience, in either building, developing, selling or buying homes. Any less than that, and it is unlikely they will have enough knowledge to be able to deal with and handle your agent and the Buyers Agent.
Secondly, they should have bought and/or sold at least 3 to 5 properties of THEIR OWN. How else would they REALLY know what sellers are going through?
Don't be afraid to ask them hard questions.