Welcome to the REB Podcast Network! Our hosts are regularly joined by some of the biggest names in Australia's real estate and property circles, covering off all the latest news, trends, insights and education. With REB widely regarded as the leading real estate content brand in Australia, we provide unparalleled access to the industry's rising stars and the most revered professionals, the newest tech, as well as cutting-edge developments in the business world.
PMX: Fee wars, AI blunders, and $24k arrears: The property management mistakes driving clients away
As sales activity cools, one Brisbane principal says a rent roll can keep an agency resilient, but discounting fees and replacing personal service with AI could cost more than they save.
On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Real Estate Business editor Liam Garman speaks with Brisbane principal Cara Bergmann about building an independent agency and the role property management plays in its long-term success.
Bergmann explains how her rent roll supports the business when sales activity slows, creates opportunities to win future listings and provides long-term agency value, while acknowledging the challenges that come with acquiring one.
She also discusses holding firm on fees, prioritising quality over the number of properties each manager handles, and the risks of choosing a cheaper property manager, sharing the case of a landlord who fell $24,000 into arrears and then returned.
Bergmann argues that sales and property management teams should work as one business, with personal relationships at the centre, and warns that automated replies and AI-driven communication can leave landlords and prospective clients feeling ignored.
9 Oct 2026
Property Buzz: The commercial property trap catching residential investors out
Commercial property can offer higher yields, but poor due diligence, risky leases, and long vacancies can turn an investment into a costly mistake.
On Property Buzz, Liam Garman and Phil Tarrant examine the risks facing residential investors moving into commercial property as Smart Property Investment launches a six-part guide to the sector, warning that commercial is not an easy next step.
The hosts discuss cases of poor advice, inadequate due diligence, and fake leases, highlighting the need for investors to understand the sector before committing their money.
Garman explains how higher yields can signal greater risk, with prolonged vacancies, complex lease terms, and unexpected repair bills eroding returns.
Tarrant raises concerns about investors buying commercial property through super funds without understanding the risks, while the pair stress the importance of financial buffers and experienced commercial specialists.
7 Oct 2026
REB Discover: $50m and counting: How Place keeps high-performing offices ahead
Place New Farm has taken the network's top sales office spot, with its founders crediting collaboration, discipline, and culture for sustained performance.
On REB Discover, deputy editor Emilie Lauer is joined by Place New Farm co-founder Sarah Hackett and Place Bulimba co-founder Paul Curtain to discuss the business behind two of Place's highest-performing offices.
The pair explain how healthy competition between the offices drives performance while collaboration keeps them working together, with the two businesses generating just shy of $50 million in combined revenue.
Hackett and Curtain also share their approach to systems, recruitment, and retention, with personalised leadership and a focus on discipline helping agents stay productive through a slower market.
The conversation also covers growth, with the founders stressing the importance of listening, a strong culture, and finding the right people rather than chasing expansion for its own sake.
Who has been a guest on REB Podcast Network
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Michael Johnson
Tom Panos
Suzanne Hibberd
Alistair Shearer
John Nguyen
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
4.2 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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