Samantha McLean

Samantha McLean is the Co-founder and Managing Editor of Elite Agent, Australia's trusted platform for real estate news, insights, and community connection. With over 20 years in sales and marketing across respected global companies, Samantha brings practical expertise and thoughtful leadership to the industry. Since founding Elite Agent, Samantha has grown the brand from a magazine into a dynamic media hub that includes the Elevate podcast, daily newsletters, and engaging industry events. Her approachable style and genuine curiosity have earned Elite Agent recognition, including multiple Mumbrella awards for excellence. Samantha is passionate about exploring how technology, especially artificial intelligence, can improve productivity and client relationships without losing the essential human touch. She regularly discusses these topics with industry experts on the Elevate podcast. She holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney. Connect with Samantha at Elite Agent or aipoweredagents.com or visit her personal website samanthamclean.com.
  • EPM

    Paul Signorelli Raine & Horne Marrickville, NSW

    After completing his HSC and studying Accountancy for a short time, Paul Signorelli received an opportunity to complete some Property Management work experience at a local real estate office. When a junior position became available at Raine & Horne Marrickville, where his sister was working, he jumped at the opportunity and has never looked back. He is now in his…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    David Highland: Gearing For Growth

    DAVID HIGHLAND HAS personally sold more than $140 million worth of property in the last 12 months, with an average of 32 days on market. He is a third-generation real estate agent, and part of the founding duo of Highland Property Agents in Cronulla NSW with his father Peter, a successful property developer. Their business has expanded incredibly from its…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Tips, Scripts and Moments from AREC 14

    I sat in most of the sessions taking copious notes like many of the attendees, and here are 12 of the top things I took away from this year’s amazing show. 1. Listen, Diagnose, Prescribe From the moment he walked on stage and told everyone to “pretend they knew nothing, and start afresh”, there was not a moment when Tom…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Elite Agent TV: More AREC Takeaways!

    Top tips from AREC14 from LJ Hooker Agent Nyree Ewings.

    Read More »
  • BEST PRACTICE

    Work out with Tom Panos at AREC14

    Tom Panos is one of Australia’s most respected industry identities and a firm believer in the 5am club – an association that believes waking up early leads to a more productive and fulfilling day. At AREC 2014, Tom will be bringing a few new things into his role as MC, as well as bringing to life the famous 5am club, in…

    Read More »
  • BEST PRACTICE

    Harnessing the Unconscious with Dr Fred Grosse

    “My basic premise is to teach business people how to achieve everything that’s important to them before they die.” Dr Fred Grosse. Dr Fred Grosse is many things to many people. He is an ordained Rabbi, a psychotherapist, a reputed business coach and a practitioner of Gestalt therapy. He is a popular speaker and a veteran of many ARECs past…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Work it: Making the most of the content you create

    One of the best ways to get noticed as an agent is to create content relevant to your market. Social media is a powerful platform where you can engage your prospects and customers across several channels, distributing your content far and wide. While there are plenty of social platforms to consider, the good news is you don’t need to create…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Our Exclusive chat with Chris Heller

    Chris Heller achieved his real estate license in 1983 when he was 20 years old, and started selling properties in 1989. That’s more than 3,100 houses in the last 27 years. Chris arrives in Australian in less than two weeks a keynote presenter for two sessions at the Ideas Exchange in both Sydney and Melbourne. Still known as ‘Heller the…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Instant trust, is it possible?

    It has often been said that gaining someone’s trust can be your biggest time saver in Real Estate. Often this can take a long time in itself while you build a strong relationship. But what if you could speed up that process and make it happen much more quickly? There is scientific evidence now to suggest you can, and it…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agentelite agent news room

    Fed Court Judge rules in favour of realestate.com.au

    The battle of trademarks (realestate.com.au vs realestate1.com.au) ended yesterday, 7 June 2013, with The Hon. Justice J Broomberg ruling in favour of the realestate.com.au on the subject of Trademark Infringement. In the judgement paper Justice Broomberg says,”I have found that by using the marks realestate1.com.au and realcommercial1.com.au, Real Estate 1 infringed REA’s trade marks in all but one of the different uses…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    How different is your marketing?

    Cash rates are down again this week to their lowest ever point in this country, and I received no less than a dozen PR’s about it – that basically all said the same thing. “Great for home buyers, blah blah blah”. The word ‘surprised’ and ‘effect’ was used a lot both to the positive and the negative. That is some…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    The One Number You Need to Know

    Harvard Business Review calls Net Promoter Score (NPS) “the one number you need to know to grow your business”. Having had such a positive impact on Rental Express, Samantha McLean spoke to Managing Director Chris Rolls to find out how it works. Global companies like Apple, GE, Phillips and American Express started measuring it a couple of years ago, Qantas…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Karen Mudge – Peter Lees Real Estate, Launceston

    Karen Mudge decided she wanted to be a property manager after receiving a bunch of flowers from her property manager when her son was born. And, being completely ‘wowed’ by the service given by the Agency, Peter Lees Real Estate, she has only ever had one employer on the radar. When did you start in real estate? I started in…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Kim Wilson, Property Manager, Barry Plant Boronia VIC

    Kim Wilson is a highly accomplished businesswoman. While she is still yet to turn 30, she is already the principal of her own stand-alone property management franchise with the Barry Plant Group in the Melbourne suburb of Boronia, and was a nominee in this year’s Telstra Businesswoman of the Year Awards. When did you start in Real Estate? I had…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Stephanie Campbell, Doyle Spillane

    Inspired while completing work experience at McGrath when she was 16, now winning numerous awards at 22, a career in real estate has been the only thing on Stephanie Campbell’s mind. Now, she manages 320 properties for leading Sydney Agency Doyle Spillane, and we have no doubt a very bright future lies ahead of her. How long have you been…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    From Strength to Strength

    Coronis Realty in Queensland is one of Australia’s largest Real Estate businesses, and they continue to grow at a rapid rate. Their secret to rent roll growth? A team that both loves and owns the company. Samantha McLean talks to Andrew Coronis and Jodi Ford. It’s a while since I have caught up with the Coronis team and I’m excited…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Samantha Taylor, Metro Property Management

    In the past five years, Samantha Taylor of Metro Property Management has worked her way from Reception to New Business Manager. She shares some of the insights that have been gained throughout her career, some ambitions for the future, and why it’s so important to listen to your clients. When did you start in real estate? I started in the…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Bob Wolff – Billion Dollar Agent

    At the end of 2011, Bob Wolff had achieved the milestone of selling more than 1 billion dollars in property over a career spanning nearly 37 years. His advice to all agents who would like to achieve the same thing? Look after the people, and the money will follow. Story by Samantha McLean. The Harcourts Conference is about to start…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    The Next Five Years: Sherry Chris, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

    The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate® franchise is widely recognised for its ability to innovate. They have, under the leadership of Sherry Chris, taken this one step further to look at what the next generation of real estate brokerages might look, sound, feel, and operate like in the future. It’s called the “Beta Brokerage” project. Story by Samantha McLean.…

    Read More »
  • CASE STUDIESelite agent news room

    Young Guns 2009 – Where are they now?

    We caught up with 2009 ‘Young Guns’ Christie Smith and Andrew Lutze, who have gone from strength to strength in their careers. Where are you working now? Andrew Lutze: I will have been with Cunninghams (Balgowlah, NSW) for 10 years in August, I am now a senior sales consultant and chief auctioneer. Christie Smith: At the beginning of 2011, I…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Angela Laliotitis, LJ Hooker Newtown

    With 17 years experience in Property Management, and 5 years as part of the LJ Hooker family, Angela Laliotitis has extensive knowledge of all aspects of residential property management. She strongly believes the relationship between agent, tenant, and landlord is crucial, and is passionate about creating successful results for her owners. When did you start working in Real Estate? I…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    ‘Like This Brand’ Altitude Real Estate

    Personally, I have admired Altitude Real Estate’s fan business page on Facebook. Over the past year, I have been informed, I have been entertained, and I have been kept up to speed with happenings in and around the office in Subiaco. Having followed the brand for a while, I was delighted when Paul Tonich agreed to an interview, given he…

    Read More »
  • BEST PRACTICE

    30 Fresh Ideas

    If you haven’t already set goals for the new year, its time to pull out a pen and a piece of paper. To get you started, we collected inspiration from some of our favourite coaches, trainers, mentors, high achievers, and industry specialists to inspire you to deliver your best results. 01 Enough Corporate Guff In Your Social Media! Make the…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Jimmy Mackin: Converting Facebook Fans into Genuine Leads

    If you would like to find out more about how to generate real revenue on Facebook, read on. Jimmy Mackin is no ordinary 26 year old. Based in Boston, he has thousands of followers in the Real Estate Industry in the United States and worldwide as a result of his passion to share his deep knowledge of the digital marketing…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Brett Wheatland, LJ Hooker Glenelg SA

    Brett Wheatland has been in Property Management for more than 11 years, and during that time has won many awards including LJ Hookers top property investment manager for SA and NT in 2010 and 2011, and has been accredited to the elite “Captains Club” as a top 5% performer within the network. Some of the key ingredients in his success…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Defence Housing Australia

    One of the biggest property management companies in Australia is not a traditional real estate business. Defence Housing Australia (DHA) manages around 18,000 residences throughout Australia that some very special tenants call home. We talked to DHA Chief Operating Officer, Peter Howman, about how this verydifferent property management business operates. Firstly, tell us a little about DHA? The primary purpose…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Who is Tech Savvy Agent? Part 2

    Continuing on from the popular article last issue, “Who is Tech Savvy Agent?”, in Part Two, Chris Smith highlights the difference between the technology “essentials” for Real Estate Agents and the “shiny objects”. There are a lot of types of technologies and tools available to Realtors these days, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs, CRM technologies and more. Plus there are lots…

    Read More »
  • EPM

    Robyn Conroy – Ray White Adelaide

     Robyn Conroy started her career in a small real estate agency in the Illawarra region as receptionist when she was 15; and has been in the industry now for 24 years. Although her first love is Property Management, she also holds a Sales Agents Licence in South Australia. Robyn, what made you choose a career in Property Management? I always…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    Who is Tech Savvy Agent?

    Chris Smith has a passion for technology, social media and all things Apple; and a mission to help Real Estate Agents become more “at home” with some of the tools available to them. The result so far has been a significant Social Media following on Twitter and Facebook, a widely read blog, and he is now a highly sought after…

    Read More »
  • Elite Agent

    The Very Best Laid Plans: Inside the minds of successful project marketers

    Buying property “off the plan” was traditionally once the domain of serious property investors. Nowadays, it has become a popular option for first homebuyers, largely due to the range of stamp-duty, building and other incentives available. If the thought of dealing with only one vendor to sell hundreds of properties sounds appealing, then you too may wish to consider a…

    Read More »