How about when a ‘property investment group’ offers the chance to score a 17 per cent rental yield by buying an inner-Sydney property and backs it up with ‘testimonial quotes’ from happy customers who only give a first name? Didn’t think so.

We have an in-built rubbish detector that emits a silent alarm whenever someone makes an outlandish get rich quick promise; because if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

So how do you react when you hear about a bloke who has written a book called the 4-Hour Workweek, where he makes the seemingly preposterous claim that cutting a great chunk out of your working hours can actually make you vastly more successful and wealthy?

Property will be under the microscope at AREC on the Gold Coast. Source: Supplied

You would be pretty sceptical if you saw it on one of those handmade signs, but the author Tim Ferriss doesn’t hide behind dodgy testimonials and made-for-internet business names. His book has topped the New York Times bestseller list and he is also a popular guest lecturer on entrepreneurship at none other than Princeton University.

Now, he is headed down under, to present at the Australian Real Estate Conference (AREC), the brainchild of John McGrath, CEO of McGrath Estate Agents.

Tim Ferriss is the type of innovative, forward thinker that the annual Gold Coast event has become well known for. His time management and efficiency philosophies go along with Mr McGrath’s belief that it does not need to take years to grow a successful real estate business.

“It can now be done in months from whenever you decide to get moving,” Mr McGrath said. “I’m now seeing agents entering the real estate industry for the first time and building seven-figure businesses within 18 months. The systems and skills required to do this will be the focus of AREC15.”

Author Tim Ferriss will speak at this year’s Australian Real Estate Conference. Source: Supplied

Thousands of real estate agents will attend the event on May 31 and June 1, where other guest speakers will include Million Dollar Listing Miami star Samantha DeBianchi, motivational speaker Wayne Dyer and a host of successful local and overseas agents.

The five major themes around growth at AREC this year are: brand you; scaling up; listing mastery; negotiation; and technology.

Keynote speaker, US real estate coach Tom Ferry, will examine the importance of communication between agents and homeowners.

“The consumer needs to know that if they are going to sell, how to stay ahead of the curve and avoid the costly mistakes of thousands of agents and millions of American homeowners,” Mr Ferry said.

AREC is in its 18th year and has included past headliners such as stockbroker turned motivational speaker Chris Gardner, who was played by Will Smith in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness, as well as last year’s controversial appearance of Jordan ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Belfort.

The event will come at a time of need for many real estate agents, especially those from Sydney, where a shortage of listings and intense competition between agents has seen an exodus from the industry, as smaller, boutique firms are swallowed up by bigger, more successful companies, along with those unwilling to adapt to modern ways of thinking.

When attending AREC in the past, I found there to be plenty of interesting insights available for those who wanted to listen and weren’t afraid of some hard work. And while you should never switch off your rubbish detector, an open mind will get you a long way in a competitive new world.

AREC is organised by Total Real Estate Training. It will be at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on May 31 and June 1.

For further information or registrations, visit tret.com.au, call 1800 335 336 or email tret@tret.com.au