Henry Wong, who operates The Henry Wong Team with REMAX Revolution in Brisbane, has carved out a unique niche in the market by connecting buyers and sellers in ways that traditional local agents simply cannot.
“I introduce buyers that have never heard of the suburb, which local agents can’t do,” Henry said.
“The majority of local agents rely on realestate.com.au and Domain. But how search engines work is that you must have heard of the suburb to put it in to find it. If you’ve never heard of it, you can’t find it.”
From commercial to residential
Henry’s journey in real estate began in 2006 when he worked for his father’s commercial real estate business, Red Key Real Estate in Sunnybank.
“I’ve never had a salary since 2006. I’ve always been commission only,” he said.
When his father sold the business in 2012, Henry transitioned into residential real estate with REMAX, starting completely from scratch.
“I didn’t have a database. I used to work in a team. I literally started from zero when no one knew me,” he said.
“I maxed out two credit cards and over time built my database. I tried what works, what doesn’t work. And then things just kind of happened one day.”
A different calibre of client
Henry’s commercial real estate background has proven invaluable in residential sales, allowing him to work with clients who have intergenerational wealth.
“I deal with people that buy each grandchild a house in cash and an entire investment portfolio for each grandchild,” he said.
This unique buyer pool means approximately 70 per cent of Henry’s contracts have no finance clauses, a significant advantage for sellers.
“If you’re a seller and you sign a contract at $2.1 million, and the bank valuer says it’s worth $1.6 million, you’ve got a problem,” Henry explained.
“Whereas I bring buyers at $2.1 million, literally cash. The bank valuation doesn’t matter. It goes through. That’s the difference.”
Mastering the auction method
Henry was recently awarded REMAX Australia’s number one auction agent in the country, a title he’s particularly proud of alongside his REMAX Titan agent status, Hall of Fame recognition, and Lifetime Achievement Award.
His success with auctions comes from understanding human nature and creating the right environment for buyers.
“In an auction environment, you can’t say ‘Can I have subject to sale on my house?’ or ‘Can you subject to bank valuation?'” he said.
“There are zero conditions in that environment. If you change the environment, you change the behaviour of people.”
Henry emphasises that auction success depends entirely on the auction agent’s ability to bring qualified buyers, not just the auctioneer’s skills.
“You can have the best auctioneer in Australia, but if the auction agent can’t bring any bidders, what good is that?” he said.
Adding value beyond the sale
What truly sets Henry apart is his extensive network and willingness to help clients beyond property transactions.
With over 11,800 Facebook followers and more than 8,400 LinkedIn connections, he’s become a connector in the Brisbane business community.
“I’ve actually helped a buyers get a job as a CFO paying half a million dollars a year,” he said.
“I connect the dots with people outside of real estate. That’s how I build my business.”
This approach has won him listings that might otherwise have gone to competitors.
Transparency and communication
Henry’s commitment to transparency extends to his vendor portal, which allows sellers to see every phone call, email, and SMS with buyers in real time.
“No other agent has that,” he said.
“I’ve never had a seller ask ‘Did you call the buyer back?’ They can see it ‘live’.”
He also maintains regular contact with sellers, speaking with them every one to two days throughout the campaign.
“Every single time I talk to them, most things are positive,” he said.
“When it comes time where you need to have a necessary conversation, they are more receptive to it. I’m no longer ‘bad news Henry.'”
This integrity-first approach means Henry sometimes walks away from business that doesn’t meet his ethical standards.
“I’ve actually rejected business where sellers won’t disclose stigmatised properties or illegal building work,” he said.
“A lot of agents want to take things just for the sake of making commission, but that’s just not me. I just say no.”
Looking ahead
Over the next three years, Henry is aiming to break into REMAX’s top five nationally, focusing on more expensive homes and larger blocks.
“I’ve got a lot of buyers for that, and that’s what I’m going towards,” he said.
With over three-quarters of his sellers being seniors who are retiring or about to retire, Henry has found his niche serving this demographic with the professionalism and care they deserve.
His background in software engineering and competitive chess gives him a unique analytical edge in the industry.
“I’m one of those very rare people that is academically strong, but I can also talk and do admin,” he said.
“I’m always looking at how do I get a seller’s or buyer’s attention, and how do I shorten the time it takes for them to make a decision?”
“I support those that support me. I open up my doors and my network to help people personally and professionally. That’s how I am.”