You're sure to hear a lot of "Throw another shrimp on the barbie!" this Thursday, as Australia Day swings around again in backyards, and on beaches, around the country.

Yes, it's that time of year when barbecues, backyard cricket, the beach, and of course, a stubbie-clad beer - along with traditional Aussie music favourites such as Land Down Under - come to the fore of our lives once more.

With January 26 highlighting that there's never been a better time to be Aussie - and proud of it - Listing Loop couldn't resist the idea of cooking up a story on how to choose a barbie.

Cheers!

How do I know which barbie is best for me?

Whether you're serving up prawns and snags or meat pies, lamingtons, and pavlovas are more your thing, barbies definitely come into their own on Australia Day.

But which one will best suit you and your home best?

Let's take a look.

Barbie buying guide

Head into your local Bunnings Warehouse and similar stores and you'll be overwhelmed by the number of barbies on offer and what they feature.

So, before you even get into your car, consider the following points.

What is your budget?

The price range of barbies is as massive as the number of them available.

You can grab an itty-bitty portable charcoal grill barbie from $29 from Kmart while at the other end of the scale is Barbecue Galore's Ziegler & Brown Grand Turbo six-burner barbie which you can pick up for a mere $8,395-$8,995.

What's the size of your barbie space?

With houses across the country becoming larger and blocks becoming smaller, it can be difficult to find space for a few pot plants, let alone a six-burner barbie.

But as we've said, there are plenty of barbie options for different sizes and budgets out there.

Firstly, what size is available to you?

• Medium-large backyard/outdoor area
• Small backyard/outdoor area
• Upper-level balcony

How many people are you cooking for?

Barbie buyers should think further about whether they're cooking for 2.3 kids or whether it will just be yourself and your partner, or just yourself.

How often will you use your barbie?

This point is an easy-to-forget one when you're surrounded by a wealth of store barbies, all itching to go home with you.

People living in places like Melbourne should particularly note this point as it's highly doubtful that you'll use your outdoor space all year round.

But everyone should remember that in amongst the day-to-day runnings of a household, firing up a barbie - including cooking outdoors - may not work for you.

On the other hand, holidays like Australia Day and hot summer days in general, especially weekends, are perfect for barbie meals.

What style of cooking do you enjoy?

Unless you're a Michelin chef, you'll probably simply enjoy cooking snags, hamburgers or seafood.

But if you're the 5-star cook in your family, barbies today can be fantastic for everything from stir-fries, to a roast to pizzas, as they often include grills, rotisseries and much more.

What fuel type would you prefer?

According to Barbecues Galore,  electric, LPG or natural gas barbies are best if you want efficient cooking times.

If you love chargrilled food, however, you could try charcoal or heat beads, says Barbecues Galore, while those who want to get a bit more fancy again could look at a specialty set-and-forget pellet smoker.

And then, of course, there's good old-fashioned wood, which like charcoal, will give your food a great smoky flavour, Bunnings says.

What basic features should I look for?

These days, barbies are available in two basic designs, says Bunnings - a flat top grill, which cooks food via direct heat, or a round kettle, which utilises both direct and indirect heat.

A third option are hooded barbies, which Bunnings believes are a great choice as they offer a blend of the above.

Either way, your new barbie should be easy to use and maintain and also have a solid construction with either stainless steel or porcelain enamel surfaces.

• Grills that direct grease away from the burners to reduce flare-ups
• Bench space for preparation
• Built-in thermometer
• Side burner or a rotisserie

We’re here to help

Whichever barbie you decide to buy this Australia Day, we hope you have a great day.

And remember, we're always happy to help with all the dramas and stressors of house buying and selling.

If you're particularly tired of house-hunting, we've even partnered with buyer advocates who can check out homes for you and organise sales assessments and negotiations.

Our off-market and pre-market marketplace gives you VIP access to properties so you can get in first.

Just sign up at Listing Loop or download our app.