Pioneering buyer’s agent reveals his secrets to building a fruitful property career

With a bachelor degree in building, construction, management and property, Ben pivoted away from his original plan to join the construction industry and ended up at Charter Hall, where he snagged a role as the senior development manager. But after nearly five years in the business, Ben wanted more.

Led by an entrepreneurial dream, he left for the United States where he was first acquainted with the concept of a buyer’s agent.

“I flew back from the USA. I met my former business partner in California, and we started my former company called Cohen-Handler in 2009. We grew that into the largest buyer’s agency in Australia, with offices across Australia. We had 70-plus staff and even opened up an office in California.

“We weren’t the first in Australia, but we were instrumental in creating mass consumer awareness,” Ben said.

But itching for change and perhaps a more meaningful role, Ben decided to exit the company in 2018 and founded the Buyer’s Agent Institute (BAI), which soon turned into a rapidly growing e-learning company that helps everyday Aussies turn buying property into a fun, rewarding and flexible career.

Ben’s motivation for creating BAI was to address the lack in numbers of buyer’s agents versus the demand.

“I wanted to help people get out of that employment world and show them how they could have a career like I did,” Ben recalls.

BAI has since been one of Ben’s business focuses as he readily offloads his wealth of knowledge to his members, and, as such, the results have been “phenomenal”.

The next step in his journey will be the launch of a new podcast ‘Lifestyle by design’ in partnership with Smart Property Investment, where Ben will interview six of his growing pool of over 1,620 members.  

“I am just very passionate about growing the industry,” he said.

“This podcast will be a sequel to my previous ‘Quit the 9 to 5’ show, delving into the businesses created by six of my members, showcasing their journeys, challenges and opportunities.”

But, besides wanting to impart some invaluable lessons on those looking to create a career in property, Ben will also be offering a BAI scholarship to three lucky listeners per episode.

Tune in to the first episode of ‘Lifestyle by design’ on 20 August to learn more.