Is your agency ready for the fast-growth world of instant payments?

Within the next decade, most property managers are unlikely to handle payments through a traditional trust account. The rise of payments automation is reshaping the sector — and the question every principal should be asking is this: do I wait for the herd, or move early and gain the advantage?

Recent research shows that a growing number of new agencies are starting without the weight of a trust account. The benefits are obvious: no manual reconciliation, transparent instant payments for landlords, and far lower exposure to fraud, theft or error.

The result? Faster growth, greater profitability, and happier landlords from day one.

A different equation for established rent rolls

For established agencies, the decision is more complex. While new entrants move quickly towards next-generation platforms, shifting away from legacy trust accounting can feel like a major undertaking. Migration pain is real — but so are the rewards.

Over the past seven years, an increasing number of Australia’s most successful real estate businesses have made the switch to Managed, embracing a future built around automation, transparency and instant payments.

Putting your growth ambition into gear

Every agency aspires to deliver better service for landlords while reducing admin for the team. But few translate that ambition into their technology stack — and that’s where the gap opens up.

Growth-focused agencies think differently. They ask a simple question: What can we offer our owners that our competitors can’t?

Those agencies punching above their weight tend to have one thing in common — they’ve built their proposition around speed, transparency and smarter technology.

• Automated payments and no manual reconciliations: Taking the heavy lifting out of trust accounting frees the team to focus on growth — onboarding new owners, improving marketing and enhancing tenant experience.
• Transparent owner portals and real-time data: Landlords now expect full visibility. Platforms that deliver that visibility become a selling point in themselves.
• Technology that supports scale: Legacy systems were designed to manage what an agency already has. Growth-minded businesses invest in what they want to become. Platforms such as Managed offer integrations and automation that help agencies scale efficiently.

Where is your agency really at?

Before jumping into demos or product comparisons, a period of honest self-assessment can make all the difference. Consider the following:

1. Maintain or gain?
Is your rent roll at capacity and focused purely on management, or are you looking to expand, capture more market share and strengthen your value to owners?

2. What’s holding you back?
Are manual reconciliations, late payments or software limitations slowing your team down? Or is the real issue a reluctance to change a system that feels safe but stagnant?

3. What’s your owner value proposition?
Can you offer faster, clearer payments? Do your owners have full visibility and confidence in the process? Are you positioning yourself as a growth partner to investors — or simply as a property manager?

4. What will your competition do?
If agencies around you adopt automated payments and you don’t, will you be left offering the “old way” of doing things? Those that delay may find it harder to win and retain managements over time.

Grow — or tread water

If growth is your goal, new payments technology isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s foundational. Agencies that act early will define the next era of property management. Those that wait risk becoming followers.

If your focus is stability and minimal disruption, maintaining a legacy system may make sense — but only if that’s a deliberate strategic decision, not the path of least resistance.

The bottom line

Many agencies are still weighed down by outdated trust-account systems and manual workflows. Transitioning to a platform like Managed removes those barriers and offers two major advantages:

• A stronger owner proposition: Faster payments, complete transparency and greater peace of mind make you more attractive to investors.
• Operational leverage: Less time spent on admin means more time for growth, marketing and client service.

If growth is truly your focus, it’s time to talk to Managed — the platform powering 40 per cent of Australia’s fastest-growing agencies.

Book a discovery meeting today to see how instant payments can drive your next phase of growth.