Professionals investing as market surges

Written on the 2 December 2013 by Gold Coast PR company Consulting Hall

Professionals Real Estate Group has scored a trademark coup and is ramping up its internet presence as it moves to further grow its position in Australia and New Zealand while the region’s property sector surges.

The real estate network, which is one of only a few membership groups in the market, has welcomed another eight Australian agencies to its stable since June and it is looking is to encourage more principals to move away from existing privately owned franchised networks.

Professionals Global chairman Ian Cornell said Professionals was in a strong position to grow its presence within Australia and it was investing heavily in the network’s future.

The group has secured Australian trademarks for the “Professionals” brand in classes covering trademark clauses 35, 36, and 43.

Those classes include advertising; business management; business administration; office functions, insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs, services for providing food and drink and temporary accommodation.

Mr Cornell said the real estate chain had also invested heavily on the network’s websites and its internet presence.

“With the huge growth in the use of tablet devices in recent years, we have made a major shift in focus when it comes to the design of web platforms,’’ said Mr Cornell.

“Desktop users are now no longer the focus.

“With the new Professionals websites, tablet and mobile users became the initial focus, with the idea that ‘if it works on a tablet, it will work on a desktop’.”

Mr Cornell said the move would mean users switching between devices such as a tablet to a desktop computer, would always experience the same websites, with no new or different navigation tools or layouts.

He said the membership group was aggressively looking to target agencies who were tired of dealing with the privately owned franchisors.

“Franchisees in Australia are always looking for better options than the standard model and our model, which is focussed on providing real value for money, is very attractive because it provides for more upside.

“Under our model the agents only pay their membership fee, which gives access to a whole suite of service offerings, and our members enjoy the full benefits of their achievements when they grow.”

Mr Cornell said the recent surge in property sales across Australia was good news for agents and for the Professionals group.

“It is an ideal time for Professionals Real Estate Group to be investing in our future and helping our network to grow,’’ Mr Cornell said.

“The economy is improving, interest rates are low, the property marketing is enjoying an upswing throughout most of Australia and business confidence is returning.

Mr Cornell said the Australian housing market had been in growth mode since May 2012, however the performance of the housing market was quite varied from region to region.

“According to the research from our partners at RPData, all capital cities except for Adelaide and Hobart have recorded an increase in home values over the past 12 months

“Sydney (8.0%) and Perth (7.6%) have been the stand-out markets for capital gains over the year.

“Hobart (-2.9%) and Adelaide (-0.8%) are the only capital cities to have recorded a fall in values over the year however, growth has been relatively limited in Brisbane (1.1%) and Darwin (2.2%).

Mr Cornell said the supply of houses on the market was 6.2 per cent lower across Australian and was 13.9% lower than last year across the capital cities.

RP Data’s Listing Index, which tracks real estate agent activity across their property platforms, has surged, indicating more properties are being prepared for spring listings.
“Our feedback from our principals also indicate that it is going to be a very busy spring for real estate agents across Australia,’’ he said.
“Buyers have returned to the market and property owners who have been thinking of selling, can see there is now pent-up demand for good quality housing in the market.

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