New awards to recognise client-centric advisers

The Investors Choice Awards, an initiative of Sterling Publishing in partnership with homesales.com.au, has been created to highlight those businesses that are best servicing property investors across the entire investment process – from the buyer’s agents locating and negotiating properties to the accountants supporting investors seeking more efficient tax arrangements to build bigger and more effective portfolios.

Being recognised with an Investors Choice Award will be the top accolade in a profession within which trust is essential and results are expected.

Russell Stephenson, publisher of ifa, is encouraging advisers to use this as an opportunity to reach out to their clients and get feedback on their service.

“At a time when regulators and politicians are turning up the heat on investors, the property industry and the banks, an Investors Choice Award will empower advisers to stand out from the crowd and build their business on the back of referrals and recommendations,” he said.

homesales.com.au general manager Rhett Dallwitz said the group was proud to be supporting the new initiative which would enable advisers who are trusted and respected by their existing database to demonstrate their points of differentiation.

“We live in a reputation-based economy now and so testimonials and results speak for themselves,” he said.

“We’ve all had positive and negative experiences regardless of what industry. If you’ve [provided] great service and [helped investors achieve their] investment goals, most investors within the investor community will usually want to talk about it to the people they know. Social media and the internet have made it far easier to call out bad service and performance. Reputation is vital.”

Mr Dallwitz said endorsements by real-life investors who have experienced the ups and downs of property investment will carry significant weight – making an Investors Choice Award a valuable marketing tool.

“In today’s reputation economy, the recommendations of investors are vital. Industry awards are good at rewarding excellence from peers, but it is far more important to be recognised by actual investors. The reputation of the investment and advice sector has been damaged over recent years and so to find out what investors actually think and who they trust is vital.”

Mr Stephenson encouraged advisers to reach out to their database and ask their clients to vote in the awards. Marketing collateral is available here: http://www.investorschoiceawards.com.au/marketing-collateral/

Awards will be given across all categories on a state-by-state basis, highlighting the localised nature of property investment and the individual services provided in different markets across Australia.

Voting will run from 15 June until 31 July 2015 and is open to investors who have used a professional to support the purchase of a property (whether an investment property or owner-occupied).

It is possible to vote across multiple categories as well as for multiple companies.

In addition to supporting their preferred property professional or organisation, participants can go into a draw to win an Apple Watch or Samsung Gear S.

For more information about the Investors Choice Awards, click here.