Harcourts Ballarat launch podcast

A NEW real estate podcast focused on the city has been launched by Harcourts Ballarat.

The show is helmed by agency Director and Licensed Real Estate Agent Tim Menz and Business Development Manager Mark Vorstenbosch from the Property Management Department and will feature special guests.

“I do a bit of running, so I listen to fair few podcasts and there just wasn’t anything in Ballarat,” Mr Menz said. “Years ago that sort of content would have been on the radio, but not anymore, so I thought there was an opportunity there.”

When it comes to content, Mr Menz said the podcast isn’t about featuring the agency’s listings, rather it’s about giving people regular information updates in a format that they can use.

Like with a lot of podcasts, the show is still finding its rhythm and the ultimate offering will be shaped by audience feedback.

“We’ve done one episode and the idea is to do it fortnightly and for it to run for about 30 minutes, but it will depend on if people think that’s too long, if they want more, if they want less,” Mr Menz said.

Along with regular sections, the show will also include special guests, and they will be chosen based on questions from listeners.

“We answer questions we get asked all the time,” he said. “The podcast is focused on real estate but within that you’ve got property management and we hope to get some conveyancers on down the track, probably some accountants and lawyers as well.

“What we want to do is educate vendors and purchasers a bit more. It’s really an education system. So when they go to purchase that property they know what to look for, the process they need to take, the research they need to do.

“And when they sell it’s the same thing. We’ll be chatting about what marketing they should – or shouldn’t – do, where to promote their property, tips to choosing the best agent.”

Harcourts Ballarat’s podcast is not the first time the agency has made efforts to develop new media offerings.

The agency also produces Harcourts Hotseat, which is kind of like Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, as well as Tim’s Tips, a short web video series.

“These things are emerging organically,” Mr Menz said. “The idea of the podcast is to provide value back to people and to give them insight into what it’s like to be a real estate agent.

“The market’s changing and we want to capitalise and keep up with video and audio as that seems to be how people consume content now.”

You can find the Harcourts Ballarat podcast on Podbean, Apple Podcasts or via the Harcourts Ballarat Facebook page.