Building a successful buyer's agency is one thing. Building one that thrives for 30 years is something else entirely.
In this episode of Buyers Agent Mastery, Veronica and Bryce sit down with Jarrod McCabe, Director of Wakelin Property Advisory, one of Australia's most respected and longest-running buyer's agencies.
Jarrod shares his journey from property valuer to business owner, the lessons he learned working under industry pioneers Richard and Monique Wakelin, and the mindset shifts required to move from technical property expertise into trusted advisory work.
The conversation explores scaling through systems, building referral networks, adapting to changing investor markets, winning trust with owner-occupier clients, vendor advocacy as a growth channel, and why experience remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
Whether you're starting your buyer's agency or looking to scale beyond your own production, this episode offers a blueprint for building a business that stands the test of time.
Episode Highlights
00:21 – Meet Jarrod McCabe & The Wakelin Story
03:30 – From Property Valuer To Buyer's Agent
05:57 – The Method Behind Winning More Auctions
08:57 – How To Price Melbourne's Best Properties
12:10 – Why Asset Selection Beats Negotiation
14:49 – Scaling Fees Without Losing Trust
16:53 – The Shift From Investors To Home Buyers
22:14 – Negative Gearing, New Builds & Investor Risk
26:02 – How Established Firms Navigate Policy Changes
28:21 – Building A Sales Process That Scales
33:06 – The Auction Mistake That Nearly Cost A Deal
35:36 – Understanding Agent Behaviour At Auction
40:14 – Why Mentorship Accelerates Success
46:14 – Finding And Attracting Ideal Clients
48:10 – Credibility: The Ultimate Growth Strategy
51:11 – Why Sharing Knowledge Builds Authority
54:42 – Understanding The Owner Occupier Mindset
58:15 – The Power Of Mentorship And Experience
About the Guest
Jarrod McCabe is a Director of Wakelin Property Advisory, one of Melbourne's longest-running and most respected buyer's agencies.
Originally trained as a property valuer, Jarrod spent years working across residential, commercial, rural and compulsory acquisition valuations before joining Wakelin Property Advisory in 2010. Under the mentorship of Richard and Monique Wakelin, he developed deep expertise in buyer advocacy, asset selection and strategic property advice.
Today, Jarrod helps lead a business that has been operating since 1995 and has successfully evolved through multiple property cycles. His work spans buyer advocacy, vendor advocacy, investment strategy and owner-occupier acquisitions, with a strong focus on long-term asset selection and client outcomes.
Known for his practical approach, Jarrod believes the greatest value a buyer's agent provides is not negotiating a lower price, but helping clients avoid buying the wrong property in the first place.
Connect with Jarrod
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