Michael Dowling didn’t plan on being a real estate agent.
Growing up the McGrath Ryde sales agent planned on a professional soccer career, but when things didn’t turn out as planned, real estate chose him.
Here, Michael shares his most memorable sale and the one thing he’d like to see changed in the industry.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a part-time storeman at The Good Guys. This job taught me to juggle people’s needs and to manage my time well.
It also instilled in me that nothing is beneath you, no matter what your role is.
Did you choose real estate or did real estate choose you?
Real estate chose me.
I became a professional soccer player at a young age and didn’t focus on getting into university or life after sport, and when things didn’t work out I needed another career path earlier than I had expected.
What type of business do you focus on?
Residential houses, particularly what I call bread and butter homes in Ryde and helping families achieve that sale or move they’ve been dreaming of.
What’s your most memorable sale and why?
There’s been so many sales that have been so rewarding, whether it be because of the challenges we’ve overcome or the overall joy we’ve helped the owners achieve, but one of my all time favourites would be 25 Anthony Rd, West Ryde in 2019.
Helping these owners achieve a record result at the time, just over $2.6 million, was amazing.
It helped them downsize after the husband Stan had suffered a stroke a few years before, so it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had as an agent.
What’s the most important part of your day?
The morning. I find if you win the morning you win the day!
A simple rule I’ve always tried to stick to is doing my to-do list for the following day the evening before, then getting up early starts me off well.
It’s easy in my household to be up with the sparrows as my three young daughters wake up at the crack of dawn.
I get them ready for the day, enjoy some play time together and get breakfast sorted before I get all my emails done.
This routine starts my day off on the front foot.
On the occasional mornings that the girls aren’t up, I’ll head out for a quick ride or some exercise before having breakfast with them.
Where would you like to be this time next year?
In a perfect world I’d be in Fiji enjoying a well earned overseas holiday with my wife and three girls!
From a business point of view, ideally we would be hoping to crack the 200 sales a year mark at the end of June next year and celebrating another year of team growth.
If you could change one thing about the industry what would it be?
I’d like to increase the transparency in price guides and also revealing all sale results.
This would make it a lot easier for buyers and sellers to interact with agents with tangible information.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given and who gave it to you?
This is another hard one as I’ve received lots of great advice over the years.
Probably the best came from my parents early on and that was that there’s no replacement for hard work and to be 100 per cent committed in your effort in everything you do.
