8 Property Experts You Need On Your Investment Team

As you embark on the journey of investing in property, you’ll soon realise you can’t do it alone, and the value of property experts is indispensable. 

The Australian property market, renowned for its stability and consistent growth, presents a promising avenue for investors. But, like any investment arena, it’s not without its challenges. You’re stepping into a world of fluctuating market trends, complex tax laws, and a lot of legal formalities.

To navigate these waters successfully, you can’t rely on your intuition alone. You need a team of professionals by your side – a team that’s well-versed in all aspects of the Australian property market. 

Here are the 8 key members you need on your team and why they’re invaluable to your success.

The Role of Property Experts in Your Investment Team

Investing in property isn’t a one-man venture. It requires the effective collaboration of various professionals, each contributing their unique expertise to the cause. Property experts are the cornerstone of any successful property investment strategy. Their knowledge and skills are your secret weapon in the competitive Australian property market.

Your property experts will conduct comprehensive market research, provide financial advice, manage legal formalities, and even oversee the daily operations of your investment properties. They will be your eyes and ears in the market, constantly staying updated on industry trends and legislative changes. They’ll help you craft a tailored investment strategy, balancing risks and rewards, to ensure you achieve your financial objectives.

Moreover, property experts will help you make informed decisions, minimising the risks associated with property investment. They’ll also assist you in understanding the implications of your investment decisions, from tax consequences to property management considerations.

Types of Property Experts Crucial for Investment Success:

Each of the following experts will play a unique role in your property journey.

Accountants

Accountants are the financial wizards on your property investment team. They’ll help you structure your investments for maximum tax efficiency, ensuring you’re benefiting from all available deductions and concessions. 

A key role for accountants is preparing investors’ annual tax returns. They will incorporate depreciation schedules and other documentation to ensure you are claiming all eligible tax deductions. They’ll also prepare and manage your financial statements, giving you a clear picture of your investment’s performance.

Financial Planners

Financial planners assist you in creating a comprehensive investment strategy. They’ll evaluate your financial goals and risk tolerance, tailoring an investment plan that aligns with your objectives. They’ll also help you diversify your investment portfolio, spreading risks and increasing the likelihood of higher returns.

Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents play a pivotal role in the property acquisition process. They’ll help you find suitable properties, negotiate deals, and manage the whole process. They possess a deep understanding of the local property market, guiding you towards profitable investment opportunities.

Insurance Brokers

Insurance brokers play a key role in helping you properly insure your investments against risks. They will assess the specific risks associated with each of your properties, such as their location, construction materials, and potential natural disasters. 

The broker will then recommend the right insurance policies and coverage amounts to sufficiently protect your properties against damages or losses from events like fires, floods, storms, tenant damages, and more. 

Good insurance brokers will make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered by different policies. They can also provide advice on getting the right balance of premiums and coverage for your needs. Ongoing, they will manage policy renewals and help you update coverage as needed when improvements are made to your properties. 

Conveyancer/ Solicitor

Conveyancers and solicitors manage the legal aspects of your property transaction. They’ll handle the property transfer process, ensure compliance with property laws, and manage any legal disputes that may arise.

Property Valuers

A property valuer will conduct detailed valuations on properties you are considering purchasing to ensure you do not overpay. They determine a property’s current market value by analysing recent comparable sales, area demand, and factors that impact value like size, condition, amenities, and location.

Valuers provide an objective valuation report outlining their methodology, assumptions, and determined value range for the property. This independent assessment gives you confidence that the purchase price aligns with true market value. It prevents you from overpaying due to emotion or a lack of experience.

Ongoing, a valuer can provide updated valuations if you are considering refinancing or need to resolve an insurance dispute. Their expertise ensures you have accurate knowledge of your equity position and maximises the financial opportunities for your investments.

Property Managers

Property managers oversee the day-to-day operations of your investment properties. They’ll handle tenant relations, property maintenance, rent collection, and more, ensuring your property remains profitable and well-maintained.

Quantity Surveyors (Tax Depreciation Experts)

In Australia, property investors can claim tax deductions on the depreciation of assets in their investment properties. This includes deductions for the wear and tear of the building itself (capital works deductions) as well as deductions for the depreciation of assets within the property like ovens, carpets, blinds, etc. (plant and equipment deductions). 

To maximise these tax deductions, you need to hire a quantity surveyor who specialises in tax depreciation to help you inspect the property and prepare a detailed depreciation schedule listing all the assets that you can claim deductions on. They also work closely with your accountant to ensure that you’re claiming all eligible depreciation deductions each year. 

Having an expert quantity surveyor analyse the property and identify all eligible depreciation deductions can help you significantly reduce your taxable income.

How to Find and Choose Property Experts

Choosing the right property experts is a key part of your team’s success. Start by seeking recommendations from friends, family, or professional networks. Online reviews and ratings are also a great source of information.

When choosing property experts, consider their qualifications, experience, and reputation in the industry. Ensure they hold the necessary licences and are members of relevant professional bodies. It’s also advisable to meet them in person or virtually to assess their communication skills, professionalism, and compatibility with your investment objectives.

Remember, your property experts will be your partners in this investment journey. So, choose professionals who understand your vision and are committed to helping you achieve it.

Key Takeaways

• Investing in the Australian property market is an exciting journey. But to ensure it’s equally rewarding, you need a whole team of property experts by your side. 
• Key experts include accountants, financial planners, property valuers, real estate agents, insurance brokers, lawyers, property managers, and quantity surveyors.
• Each expert plays a unique role in ensuring your investment’s success – from tax planning to managing tenants. Relying on their expertise helps minimise risks.
• Do your research to find qualified experts with strong reputations. Meet with them to ensure they understand your goals and investment style.
• Assemble a collaborative team that brings together specialised skills and knowledge. With the right property experts guiding you, your likelihood of investment success is greatly increased.

Investing in property requires specialised expertise. Let Duo Tax provide key support for maximising your tax deductions through depreciation schedules. Our quantity surveyors have the experience to identify every eligible deduction on your investment property. 

Contact Duo Tax today to learn more about how they can help build your all-star property investment team

FAQs

Do I Need to Submit a Tax Return for my Investment Property?

Yes, you must submit a tax return for any income earned from an investment property in Australia. The Australian Taxation Office requires all rental income and expenses to be declared, even if the property is not cash flow positive. 

Failing to report rental income and claim allowable deductions could result in penalties from the ATO. Your accountant can assist in preparing your investment property tax return and maximising deductions to reduce your taxable income. Keep accurate rental records and provide them to your accountant for completion of your return each financial year.

Can I Claim Tax Deductions for my Rental Property?

There are many tax deductions available to Australian landlords to reduce taxable rental income. Common deductions include mortgage interest, property management fees, council rates, maintenance and repairs, capital works, and depreciation of the building and assets. 

The ATO allows deductions for expenses directly related to producing rental income. To claim deductions, keep all receipts and have a quantity surveyor draft a depreciation schedule. Record expenses accurately in a rental property logbook. Your accountant can best advise which expenses are eligible based on your circumstances when completing your annual tax return.

What is Depreciation?

Depreciation refers to the wear and tear over time on a rental property’s structure and assets. As buildings and assets age within the property, their value decreases. This depreciation can be claimed as an annual tax deduction. 

There are two types – capital works depreciation on the building itself and plant and equipment depreciation for assets like ovens, carpets, blinds, etc. A quantity surveyor inspects the property and creates a depreciation schedule listing all claimable deductions. The schedule is submitted with your tax return so your accountant can maximise your depreciation claims each year.

What Type of Insurance Do I Need for my Rental Property?

It’s crucial for landlords to have appropriate insurance coverage on rental properties. At minimum, you need building/property insurance to cover damage to the dwelling and contents insurance to cover your possessions kept on site. You may also need public liability insurance to cover injuries to tenants or guests. 

Many experts recommend landlord insurance bundled policies that provide broad protection. Review risks like floods, storms, theft, and tenant damage to ensure you have adequate coverage amounts. An insurance broker can advise on must-have protections for your property type and location. Ongoing, inform your broker of any changes, like renovations, so your policy reflects the property’s current status.

What are Property Buyers?

Property buyers, also known as buyer’s agents, are professionals who assist property investors in finding and purchasing investment properties that match their goals. They have extensive knowledge of the local property market and leverage contacts with real estate agents to access off-market deals. 

Property buyers conduct research to identify properties with strong capital growth potential, rental yields, and tax benefits for investors. They can bid at auctions, negotiate deals, and manage the buying process on your behalf. Their independent guidance removes emotional attachment and provides insights investors may miss themselves. They help investors buy quality properties at fair prices.

How Will a Real Estate Agent Help Me Understand the Property Market?

A knowledgeable real estate agent is an invaluable property expert for helping investors thoroughly understand local market conditions and trends. They have daily exposure to the area’s sales, pricing, and buyer and seller activity. Agents can provide historical sales data to identify growth areas and advice on suburbs that best match your investment goals. 

They have insights on market supply and demand dynamics as well as infrastructure and development changes coming. Agents have relationships with builders, developers, and other local experts. Post purchase,, they can update you on market shifts, new listings and projects, price changes, and factors impacting buying and selling property. Their insights and perspectives allow investors to make informed decisions and avoid overpaying.