Property Investment

7 min read2 Sep 2026

What happens when I work with Opes Partners?

We help investors grow their wealth through New Build investment properties. We do this through our Wealth Plan framework - our 5-step process.

Author: Stevie Waring

Financial Adviser with 7 years of experience. Property investor in Wellington and Christchurch

Reviewed by: Nefe Marson

Financial adviser at Opes. Formerly a senior adviser at one of NZ largest investment firms. Owned 3 properties by 30.

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Here at Opes Partners we help investors grow their wealth through New Build investment properties.

We do this through the Opes Wealth Pathway. This is our 5-step process for how to buy and then manage your properties over the long term.

Through these 5 steps you’ll assemble your Property Panel. This is your team of advisers who can help you make the right decisions along the way.

If you’ve ever listened to the Property Academy Podcast and wondered: “What do these guys actually do?” This is the article for you because we’re here to break it down.

We’re going to pull back the covers and tell you exactly what happens when you work with us.

Here are the 5 steps of Opes Wealth Pathway. Click here to check it out in more detail.

#1 – Create a Wealth Plan

The first step is to forget about property – just for a moment.

Instead, you’ll sit down for a 1-hour session with a financial adviser to focus on your big-picture goals. Together, you’ll answer questions like:

If I imagine my perfect retirement day, what does it look like?
What are our long-term financial goals?
How much money do we need to achieve them?
Will we get there if we keep doing what we’re doing?

This might be one of the most valuable hours you ever spend. But it’s not just fluffy goal-setting or daydreaming.

Instead, you then run the numbers to make those goals happen using My Wealth Plan. This is the software we built specifically to create financial plans for property investors.

By the end of the session you’ll walk away knowing:

How many investment properties you may need to achieve your financial goals
When you might buy them, and
Whether you can realistically afford them, and
Risks that are top of mind

For many investors this meeting is incredibly reassuring – they finally see a clear pathway to a comfortable, passive income.

For others, it’s a bit of a wake-up call.

Step #2 – Find Rent Ready properties

Once your Wealth Plan is in place it’s time to start looking at properties.

So, the second step is a one-hour session called the Property Selection Meeting.

Your financial adviser will present you with 3 to 4 Rent Ready properties that match your strategy.

These properties are:

New Builds from a pool of trusted developers (we work with over 100 nationwide)
Pre-negotiated, so you know what the price is upfront
Vetted through our 23-step checklist to ensure they meet our standards

Before your meeting your financial adviser will load these properties into Opes+. This is the tool we built to help you analyse investment properties.

In that property selection meeting you’ll analyse the potential returns of each property to find the one that suits your plan.

You’ll also get an information pack for each property. This includes the relevant data and location information on the property.

After the meeting you’ll usually have a few days to decide which property (or properties) are right for you. You can then click the button and put the property on hold in Opes+. That’s if the property is still available.

From there you’ll sign a conditional contract – which gives you time to move into the next phase (the Detail Dive) while getting control over the property.

Don’t worry: this contract is conditional, so you can still change your mind.

Step #3 – The Detail Dive

After you sign a contract for a property you like, it’s time to dig into the details.

Some people call this due diligence, but we call it The Detail Dive.

That’s because you’ll follow a few additional steps we think you should take (that others often miss).

The Detail Dive is a 10-day period where you investigate the property. This is to make sure it stacks up as a worthy investment (and you can get the money to buy it).

That includes talking to a lawyer, a mortgage broker and the developer.

We get it, there are lots of steps involved and people to talk to.

To help you out in Opes+ you’ll get access to “My Tasks”. This has all the tasks you need to do to see if the property stacks up. You can add dates, upload documents and make notes along the way.

Over the years we’ve helped investors buy over 1,000 New Builds. From that experience we’ve come up with these processes to help investors avoid common mistakes.

But this can also be overwhelming. This is why you’ll work with a Client Relationship Manager (CRM). They’ll guide you through the process.

When you get to the end of the Detail Dive you can decide to Confirm the Commitment. That means deciding to officially invest in the property.

Or, you might decide to let the property go and look at other options.

Step #4 – The Smooth Set Up

When you decide to Confirm the Commitment (and go unconditional) that’s when things kick into gear.

But, remember, your New Build property might not be built yet.

So you get to see your build updates in Opes+. Every month we ask (and chase) the developer so you can see the progress on your property.

As your build progresses you’ll move into the Smooth Set Up. This is where you:

Get ready to pay for the property (what lawyers call Settlement)
Find tenants for your investment
Make sure you’re getting what you paid for

There’s a bit to do ... that’s why many investors struggle when they do it on their own.

Again, the process for what you need to do (and when) is all documented in Opes+. In this phase you’ll use the Preparing For Settlement checklist.

And your CRM will guide you through the process. That means they will:

Arrange a building inspector to carry out a thorough defect check ·
Organise a chattel valuation to help pay the right amount of tax
Find a property manager
Remind you to touch base with your Mortgage Adviser and Accountant

On the big day your lawyer will pay the money to the developer and the property is yours.

Next, your property manager will find a tenant for your new investment property.

Step #5 – The Background Wealth Builder

The final step is the Background Wealth Builder. You’ll continually manage your property while it quietly goes up in value in the background.

Your property starts earning rent, and your property manager looks after it.

Your mortgage adviser will stick around. They’ll help you choose your interest rates and manage your mortgage.

Your accountant is with you, too: they’ll be managing your taxes.

You’ll also talk to your financial adviser every year to review your portfolio and plan the next steps. And you’ll regularly review your Wealth Plan to make sure you’re still on track.

How much does this all cost?

Now, buying a property costs money. But most of our service is free to investors. It doesn’t cost you anything.

Some investors ask, “How do you keep the lights on if I’m not paying you?”

We make money in two ways.

#1 – Helping you find Rent Ready properties as investments

Opes Property gets paid by the developer when we can find you the right investment property.

We’re a bit like a mortgage broker in that way. Mortgage brokers don’t charge you to work with them. Instead, they get paid a commission from the bank when they organise the lending you want.

We work in the same way, but with properties.

The Opes Property team consistently talks to developers. And they’re on the lookout for good investment properties.

So, when we recommend a property to you, the property developer pays Opes Property a fee. But that’s only if we can find the right investment for you.

#2 – Through our other property services

We try to help property investors in many ways. That’s why we also have a team of mortgage advisers, property managers and accountants.

If you choose to go down the Opes Wealth Pathway with us (and we do a good job) you might consider using them.

So we can earn money through:

Mortgage broking – Opes Mortgages
Property Management – Opes Property Management
Accounting – Opes Accounting

Although, of course, it’s up to you whether you choose to use these services.

How do I get started?

If you want to get started, your next step is to choose your financial adviser and book a time for the 1-hour meeting.

This is the Portfolio Planning Session. You’ll walk away with your written financial plan.

Once you have this you can decide whether to move on to Step #2 and look at Rent Ready properties.

Click here to book your free session and choose your financial adviser.

Think Opes is the right fit for you?

Your next step is to book a portfolio planning session. This is where a financial adviser will create you a financial plan. They will then find properties that fit your plan.

Book your free session

Stevie Waring

Financial Adviser with 7 years of experience. Property investor in Wellington and Christchurch

Stevie Waring is a Financial Adviser with over 7 years of experience in property investment and a successful investor herself. Stevie has successfully guided over 200 Kiwis in their property investments, helping them move closer to achieving their financial goals.

Ok, now for the legal bit:

This article is for your general information. It’s not financial advice. See here for details about our Financial Advice Provider Disclosure. So Opes isn’t telling you what to do with your own money.

We’ve made every effort to make sure the information is accurate. But we occasionally get the odd fact wrong. Make sure you do your own research or talk to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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What happens when I work with Opes Partners?

#1 – Create a Wealth Plan

More from Opes:

Step #2 – Find Rent Ready properties

Step #3 – The Detail Dive

Step #4 – The Smooth Set Up

Step #5 – The Background Wealth Builder

How much does this all cost?

#1 – Helping you find Rent Ready properties as investments

#2 – Through our other property services

How do I get started?

Think Opes is the right fit for you?

How many investment properties do you actually need to retire?

What do I get if I invest with Opes Partners?

Can I afford an investment property?

Should I renovate houses to grow my wealth? [2026]

All the questions you have about Opes Partners (but were too scared to ask)

Buying a property with a Residents' Association? Read this first

Best property investment coaching companies in NZ [2026]

Beginner’s guide to property investment in NZ [2026]

#1 – Create a Wealth Plan

More from Opes:

Step #2 – Find Rent Ready properties

Step #3 – The Detail Dive

Step #4 – The Smooth Set Up

Step #5 – The Background Wealth Builder

How much does this all cost?

#1 – Helping you find Rent Ready properties as investments

#2 – Through our other property services

How do I get started?

Think Opes is the right fit for you?

How many investment properties do you actually need to retire?

What do I get if I invest with Opes Partners?

Can I afford an investment property?

Should I renovate houses to grow my wealth? [2026]

All the questions you have about Opes Partners (but were too scared to ask)

Buying a property with a Residents' Association? Read this first

Best property investment coaching companies in NZ [2026]

Beginner’s guide to property investment in NZ [2026]