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As the overseas property industry battles against the worldwide financial crisis, the difficult climate increasingly separates the good agents from the bad, but how can purchasers spot the good amongst the bad?

A good reputation and a proven track record are more important in the overseas property industry than ever before. Property agents which have a successful history spanning many years are more likely to have a solid underpinning with which they can advise customers old and new through these turbulent times.

Property purchasers and investors need to carry out their own due diligence on the agents they are considering their next purchase through. This includes how long that agent has been trading, how many properties they’ve handed over to customers in the past and whether they are members of any trade associations such as the AIPP (Association of International Property Professionals).

Purchasers often forget that the agent is their lifeline to their developer. If there are any problems or if they need assistance, this is where their relationship with their agent becomes vital to their investment. Purchasers often make the mistake of taking an agent at face value but in this unforgiving market, this simple mistake is now costing purchasers large sums of money.

Robin Barrasford, Managing Director of Barrasford & Bird and a Founding Member of the AIPP strongly believes that purchasers must look beyond the temptingly low price of their proposed property and consider the cost should their agent not be there to assist them beyond the purchase. “As a founding member of the AIPP and as the managing director of an overseas property agents that has been successfully selling properties from worldwide destination since 2003 we are one of the most qualified authorities in the industry today. We pride ourselves on the fact that we’ve handed over several thousand completed properties and helped countless customers realise their property dreams abroad. The importance of buying through an established and recommended agent cannot be overlooked, especially during these tougher financial times.” He continues, “There are investment opportunities out there, but purchasers must carefully consider who they are buying through, not just where they want to buy.”