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Elite Agent
Looking back, moving forward: John McGrath
We asked some of our industry leaders how they found 2020 and what they're looking forward to in 2021.
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Elite Agent
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Elite Agent
How to get the best auction results: Damien Cooley
With the Victorian real estate industry now able to host in-person auctions, we thought it was the perfect time for a refresher course, courtesy of superstar auctioneer Damien Cooley, who shared his knowledge last July on the Elevate podcast. Damien Cooley is amazed at how many auctioneers actually don’t use a hammer. He notes it’s one of his most important…
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Elite Agent
Claire Weggery: From apprentice to expert
Initially turned down for her first job in property management, Claire Weggery from Wellington, NZ has only gone from strength to strength since. The Get Smart Property PM explains her path to success and why one of the quirkiest inspections she's ever done involved a pig. How many years have…
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Elite Agent
Carole Saville – Service is key
Years in the industry? Just over six years.What’s a special place in your local area? My focus area is Kingsley – a lovely family friendly suburb which boasts so much beautiful parkland. There’s some excellent walks in the area, my favourite being around Lake Goollelal. We are privileged to still have a drive-in movie, the Galaxy Drive In Movie, which…
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Elite Agent
Will Torres: Value your worth as an agent
Years in the industry? 16 years What’s a special place in your local area? My office. It’s my second home. Other than that, I love to visit property at the high peaks of Coorparoo that show off the epic Brisbane city view. Did you choose real estate or did real estate choose you? We chose each other. I thought I would jump (blindly)…
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Elite Agent
Passion and pride
Five years ago Laura and Samuel Shooter started SJ Shooter Real Estate in the study of their Dubbo home. Now, Laura has taken out a grand prize of $5,000 and the winner’s trophy for Transform 2020. Here, Laura explains how she never planned on joining the real estate fold and why she’s spending her prize money on boosting Dubbo’s digital…
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FEATURE INTERVIEWS
Andrew Harding: Enjoy the journey
Years in the industry?I started in October 2017. I was extremely fortunate that in my first full year in 2018 I was working under the CEO. He came back selling after a short break and he taught me everything. I did a year on my own in 2019 and towards the end of that year, I started the team. I…
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Elite Agent
Contestants Sarah and George discuss this unusual season of The Block
From one of the most challenging years in our history, to one of the most unusual ‘The Block’ series in its history. Each contestant group is renovating a completely different style and era of home…
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FEATURE INTERVIEWS
Strong hands steady the ship
Joel Davoren took up the role of Managing Director at RE/MAX Australia at the start of July. He says transitioning into the role has meant adapting quickly and a shift in thinking, but with change an ever-present factor in everyone’s lives at the moment, he has taken it in his stride. “The feeling of change right now is incredibly palpable; you can…
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FEATURE INTERVIEWS
Stefan Siciliano: Play the long game
Years in the industry?Four years, eight months. What’s a special place in your local area?Greenacres shopping centre. I see so many present and past clients here. I try to pop into Coles to support the local. I also see a lot of people on my database here, and I love being able to stop, say hello, and have a chat…
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Elite Agent
Diving into Claudio Encina’s Winter Challenge
As we navigate through 2020, real estate coach and mentor Claudio Encina has rounded up real estate agents and leaders within Sydney and the ACT to dive in and take part in the 2020 Winter Challenge. With a flair for the socials and a bravery of the winter chill, Claudio is on a mission for himself and those in the…
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Elite Agent
Andrew Kyriacou: Deliver what you promise
Years in the industry?I have been in the industry for 15 years. What’s a special place in your local area?The special place in my area is the local café, this is the place where I proposed to my wife on the balcony and she was caught by surprise, of course. Did you choose real estate or did real estate choose…
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Elite Agent
Luke Stevenson: Local knowledge
Years in the industry?The end of August will be two years in real estate in Tamworth for me. Before that I was working in flight operations for Jetstar in Melbourne. I loved the city life, but being born and raised in the country, I was always going to come home. What’s a special place in your local area?Well I…
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Real Estate News
The science of social selling
Social media is a fantastic tool to market and sell property, but it won’t replace the experience and expertise of real estate agents, Novak Properties Director Lisa Novak says. Speaking as part of Transform 2020, Lisa says just because you can Google your symptoms when you’re unwell doesn’t mean you will make a good doctor. “These days we can get…
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Real Estate News
Australia won’t recover unless Victoria does too
Brendan Coates, Program Director, Household Finances, Grattan Institute and Matthew Cowgill, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute The announcement of stage 4 restrictions in Victoria marks a new, and depressing, stage in Australia’s response to COVID-19. The new measures will close non-essential retailers and most child-care centres across Melbourne, and impose stringent controls on industries such as meatworks and construction. The Victorian government estimates the measures will stop…
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Elite Agent
Alex Pearson: Work hard, stay humble
What was your first job?Fresh out of ‘school’ I worked as a bricklayer’s labourer in the summer and spent my winters playing cricket in the UK. Working on the shovel all day certainly wasn’t enjoyable…
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Elite Agent
Shane Beaumont: Make passion your pay check
What’s a special place in your local area?My aunty’s old deli, that she owned for more than 30 years. It was my first job stacking shelves and started at the age of about five. It certainly taught me hard work! Did you choose real estate or did real estate choose you?I came back from the UK, after spending some years…
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Elite Agent
Angela Limanis: Data drives success
Years in the industry?I started in 1998 as a receptionist who couldn’t turn on a computer. The role evolved into marketing coordinator and property manager very quickly. I spent a few years in commercial real estate but I was quickly drawn back to residential. In total I’ve been in sales for 12 years, but with a few years off in…
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Elite Agent
Stacie Sheldrick: No such thing as Sunday-itis
Years in the industry?I started in 1998 as a receptionist who couldn’t turn on a computer. The role evolved into marketing coordinator and property manager very quickly. I spent a few years in commercial real…
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Elite Agent
Kimberly Nugent: The bare minimum won’t cut it
Years in the industry?Three-and-a-half years. I had previously worked in the building industry, so it felt like a really good fit when I started working in property management. Prior to coming on board with Independent, I worked as a Project Manager for the Australasian Railway Association and prior to this I was editing television commercials at Southern Cross Austereo, so…
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Real Estate News
Why COVID-19 might not change our cities as much as we expect
The coronavirus pandemic has thrust us into a moment of rapid change. Like all change, it is difficult to predict. But lessons from history provide us with two important insights. First, temporary change sometimes has remarkably little lasting effect. Second, what looks like a lasting effect is often the acceleration of existing trends, rather than new, crisis-caused trends. COVID-19 impacts…
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FEATURE INTERVIEWS
Brian Devereux: Educational opportunities are everywhere
Years in the industry? 32, and I’m the Director of Gateway Residential Did you choose real estate or did real estate choose you?I chose real estate by accident really. I had arrived from the UK where I was a tradesman by profession in the woodworking industry. At that time I just wanted to enjoy the weather and wanted a job with…
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Elite Agent
Oliver Bowler: Referral and repeat clients drive my business
Years in the industry? Seven, I started at Ouwens Casserly in April 2013. What’s a special place in your local area? Norwood Oval. I was born on Woods Street and love the buzz of the parade on a Friday night when the footy is on. The atmosphere at the oval and the surrounding pubs and restaurants can’t be beaten. Did you choose…
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Elite Agent
Talisha Buttsworth: Clean workspace, clear mind
Years in the industry? Going on eight years. I started on reception straight out of high school at 17, and I am now a Property Manager at Island Sands Asset Management. What’s a special place in your local area? We have so many. Our local beach in Tannum Sands, walking onto Wild Cattle Island at low tide, Facing Island, and…
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Elite Agent
Tony Issa: Being true to others and ourselves
Years in the industry? Since 2010 in different capacities, but always related to property. What’s a special place in your local area?I really love Finesse Eatery and Espresso Bar in Sylvania, and Cup and Cook in Kyle Bay – they are relaxing environments where I can chat to the operators and locals while enjoying great food and coffee. Did you choose…
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Elite Agent
Donna Gordin: Following my instincts
Years in the industry? Seems like forever, but in 1993 I started in a family business working for a very successful office in Scarborough. That make’s it just over 27 years. What's a special place in your local area?Our north facing bay in Rockingham, you’ll discover crystal blue waters and crisp white sand in Cockburn Sound.…
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Elite Agent
Kristine Krienke: Going above and beyond to get the job done
Years in the industry?I have been in the industry for four years and I’m a Sales Associate at Place Estate Agents. What’s a special place in your local area?My local area is full of green spaces and parks that families are drawn to. With so many great outdoor areas to enjoy, it’s easy to forget you’re just 10kms from the…
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Elite Agent
Diane Witney: Matching a buyer to a perfect home
What was your first job? I am a forward-thinker, so my first job was the result of a work experience opportunity through a program run at my local high school. I had no real intention of becoming a pharmacist but wanted a permanent part-time job working Thursday nights and Saturday mornings at Miranda Fair. So I did the work experience…
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TECH + SOCIAL
Real Estate in 2020: It’s all about the follow up
From long buying cycles to complex negotiations, a lot has to happen before you can seal a real estate deal. Maybe that's why most real estate agents have trouble keeping up. In fact, according to MarketingSherpa, 79% of marketing leads don’t convert into sales due to a lack of lead nurturing. This sobering statistic points…
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FEATURE INTERVIEWS
Bread and Butter
Bread and Butter LJ Hooker Narrabeen’s Grant Matterson started out as a baker, but when the time came to change roles, fate ensured he got his start in real estate.
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Elite Agent
Holly Komorowski – growth and gratitude
What’s your most memorable moment/career highlight for 2019?It is difficult to identify just one moment or highlight. The year has been full of affirmations and amazing experiences. I am most proud of the culture that is home.byholly. I believe culture stems from the top and I foster culture leading by example. I embrace my team members as my equals and…
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Video of the Week
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Elite Agent
Cathy Baker – Building relationships over counting transactions
What’s your most memorable moment/career highlight for 2019?My most memorable highlight from 2019 was being offered the Belle Property Franchise and Belle Property Escapes Franchise for the entire Central Coast Region. This, coupled with getting to spend a week on Necker Island with Richard Branson at a leadership conference, changed my life. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt this year?The…
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Elite Agent
Sally Cameron- Changing with the market conditions
What’s your most memorable moment/highlight for 2019?I have had some very memorable sales this year, but the most noteable is when I was showing a Singapore-based family through a beautiful home in College Park at 7.30 am on a Sunday. The family left, and as they drove off the next-door neighbours backed out of their drive to go to their…
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