Choosing the Right Trust Account Auditor Strap yourselves in for what is going to be an epic blog of epic proportions. Yet as we may joke about the dry nature of our audit topic this month, it is one to actually be taken quite seriously. Yes we are talking about the importance of using a qualified real estate trust account ... read more >>
Being Licensee & holidays...Is it really possible? Being a Licensee or Officer in Effective Control and taking a long-awaited holiday may seem like two terms that just don’t go together. If you are a Licensees who hasn’t seen the inside of your travel luggage for a good 5, 10 or perhaps even 15 years, then you are not alone. But ... read more >>
There has been lots of discussion over the past 12-18 months regarding the need to overhaul the Property Services industry. We all agree that there are areas that are crying out for an overhaul, in particular in the areas of training requirements. We have read, digested and rummaged through the points made by the NSW Fair Trading and have summarised what ... read more >>
There are times when we just want an easy fix, there are times when an easy fix is OK and legitimate, but there times when it isn’t. There will be times in your trust accounting travels that you will receive unidentified funds and the process is pretty clear on how to treat these type of transactions. The Easy Fix Create an ... read more >>
No matter how well you prepare for it, when you receive your first breach from your auditor, it may very well come as a shock. We want to help before any potential meltdowns occur. So we have compiled a list if you have been found in breach from your auditor. It highlights the top 10 list of the most common ... read more >>
It’s audit time. You’ve just come up for air after EOFY and now the topic of audits are on everyone’s minds. There is nothing like an impending audit to raise the blood pressure levels and threaten the satisfaction of a full night’s, rested sleep. However fear not, as the reality is really not as bad as what your mind can ... read more >>
Stealing from trust accounts is not just a plain bad idea – it’s illegal It would seem logic would prevail that stealing from your trust account would be a bad idea, yes? Unfortunately for some, this is not a clear-cut decision. Earlier this month, as reported by www.news.com.au, a Victorian Real Estate Agent, 43 years old from Huntingdale, was sentenced ... read more >>
There are some things we can turn a blind eye to. Sneaking in a 3pm sweet tooth chocolate break. Taking an extra biscuit from the staff room stash. Knocking off 5 minutes early to catch some of the last rays of sunshine on a Friday afternoon. But there are some things that you simply cannot ignore. Like your responsibilities as a ... read more >>
As Licensee, Property Manager or Trust Accountant in a Real Estate office in NSW you cannot afford to ignore this explanation. The importance in having a delegation of authority. Failure to have the appropriate delegation in writing carries penalties of up to $4,400 for a corporation and $2,200 in any other case. A ‘delegate' is someone who has the authority ... read more >>
One bad apple ruins the bunch... It is unfortunate that there are a small breed of rogue Real Estate agents that continue to ruin the reputation of the industry with the misuse of trust money. Theft is particularly rife in Property Management. Bond theft is number one on the list of most common misappropriation of funds within the industry. It ... read more >>
