How Property Advisory Works in Australia: What You Need to Know

Q: What does ACRES do?

ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) is a vertically integrated property platform that combines development site sales, project marketing, strategic acquisitions, residential sales, capital structuring, landowner advisory, property valuation, and in-house development. The business operates across South-East Queensland including Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

Q: What areas does ACRES cover?

ACRES operates across South-East Queensland covering Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and the Redlands. The business maintains suburb intelligence profiles for over 100 suburbs with detailed market data, median prices, growth trends, and planning overlays.

Q: How does ACRES sell development sites?

ACRES operates upstream of traditional agency. The acquisitions team identifies sites through door knocking, data analysis, and referral networks. Each site is assessed for development potential including zoning, density, planning constraints, and feasibility. Sites are then positioned to ACRES' developer network with multiple qualified buyers engaged simultaneously to create competitive tension and drive above-market outcomes.

Q: What is ACRES' commission structure?

ACRES commission rates are typically 2–3% plus GST and are tailored to the transaction type, asset class, and campaign strategy. Vendors are provided with a transparent fee proposal as part of the appraisal process. Contact ACRES for a tailored quote.

Q: Does ACRES offer free property valuations?

Yes. ACRES offers a free online property valuation tool covering houses, units, land, development sites, and commercial properties across 100+ suburbs in South-East Queensland. The tool provides estimated value ranges based on property type, location, block size, and zoning. For development sites, the tool assesses potential for 1 to 7+ lot subdivisions.

Q: Who are the directors of ACRES?

ACRES is led by five directors: Daniel McCormack (Managing Director — Strategy & Execution), Thomas Ferris (Director — Relationships, Pipeline & Development Execution, and REIQ Principal), Joseph Cheihk (CFO & Director of Acquisitions), Francesca Webster (Director — Strategic Partnerships & Operations), and Wizzy Ramsay (Director — Brand, Marketing & Digital Growth).

ACRES Advisory Team

iKey Facts

•Property advisors act in the client's best interest, unlike traditional agents who primarily represent sellers
•Advisory services include site identification, feasibility analysis, due diligence, and transaction management
•ACRES provides end-to-end property advisory for development sites, residential, and commercial transactions
•Advisory fees are typically performance-based, aligned with achieving the best outcome for the client
•Engaging a property advisor can increase sale prices by 15-30% through competitive tension strategies

What is Property Advisory?

Property advisory is a professional service that provides strategic guidance on property decisions — from acquisitions and disposals to development strategy and portfolio management. Unlike traditional real estate agents who primarily facilitate transactions, property advisors act as strategic partners, providing market intelligence, feasibility analysis, and tailored recommendations.

Property Advisor vs Real Estate Agent

The distinction is important:

	Real Estate Agent	Property Advisor
Primary role	Sell properties	Provide strategic guidance
Client relationship	Transactional	Ongoing partnership
Revenue model	Commission on sale	Fee-for-service or commission
Market knowledge	Local sales data	Deep market intelligence, feasibility, strategy
Typical client	Home sellers/buyers	Developers, investors, institutions

Many firms, including ACRES, operate across both spaces — providing advisory services alongside transaction execution.

What Services Do Property Advisors Provide?

Market Research and Intelligence

Detailed analysis of market conditions, comparable sales, supply pipelines, and demand drivers to inform property decisions.

Feasibility Analysis

Financial modelling of development proposals including revenue projections, cost estimates, and risk-adjusted return analysis.

"Property advisory is a professional service that provides strategic guidance on property decisions — from acquisitions and disposals to development strategy and portfolio management."

Explore our advisory services

See how ACRES can help with your next property decision.

Our Services

Acquisition Advisory

Identifying, evaluating, and negotiating property acquisitions on behalf of clients. This includes both on-market opportunities and off-market deal sourcing.

Disposal Strategy

Developing and executing sales strategies for property assets, from pricing and marketing through to settlement.

Development Advisory

End-to-end guidance through the development process, from site selection and planning through to project marketing and sales.

Portfolio Strategy

For institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals, providing strategic advice on portfolio composition, asset allocation, and timing of acquisitions or disposals.

When Should You Engage a Property Advisor?

Property advisory is most valuable when:

You're making a significant property decision (acquisition, development, or disposal above $1 million)
The transaction involves complexity (conditional contracts, multiple stakeholders, planning risk)
You need market intelligence beyond publicly available data
You want an independent perspective that's not conflicted by a listing agreement
You're entering a new market and need local expertise

How ACRES Approaches Property Advisory

At ACRES, our advisory approach is built on three pillars:

Market intelligence: We maintain detailed databases on development site transactions, planning approvals, and market conditions across South East Queensland
Relationship network: Our connections with developers, landowners, planners, and financiers give clients access to opportunities before they reach the open market
Aligned incentives: We structure our engagements so our success is tied to our client's outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is property advisory?

Property advisory is a professional service providing strategic guidance on property decisions including acquisitions, disposals, development strategy, and portfolio management. Unlike traditional agents, advisors act as strategic partners.

How much does a property advisor charge?

Fee structures vary — common models include fixed-fee retainers, success-based fees tied to transaction outcomes, or hourly consulting rates.

How is a property advisor different from a buyer's agent?

Buyer's agents primarily search for and negotiate purchases. Property advisors provide broader strategic services including feasibility analysis, market intelligence, and development advisory.

Free Zoning Check

Not sure what you can build on your property? Our team will review your zoning, overlays, and constraints — completely free, no obligation.

Published by ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group

Source: acres.au/insights/how-property-advisory-works-in-australia | ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) provides property advisory, development site sales, and residential real estate services across Brisbane and South East Queensland, Australia.