Jamie, who now runs Agency Matters in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, started his career after spending a decade as a marketing manager.
However, it was his own disappointing experience as a property purchaser that planted the seed for his future career.
“When we were buying our first home, the agent wasn’t particularly engaged with the job she was doing, and the negotiation was terrible.
“She hung up on me twice, then called back each time to apologise and reduce the vendor’s position.”
The experience, combined with viewing many properties and meeting numerous agents during their search, made Jamie realise there was an opportunity for someone who could do things differently.
A life-changing moment
Although Jamie obtained his real estate license in 2013, he initially hesitated to make the career leap, prioritising financial security for his growing family.
However, a life-threatening experience during the birth of his second son became the catalyst for change.
“My wife almost died during childbirth with our second son, and he was three months early,” Jamie said.
“That was the real kick I needed to realise that we only get one life, so it’s not worth just sitting on the sidelines and waiting for time to pass.”
Once his wife, Holly, recovered and their son was out of danger, Jamie took the plunge into real estate.
Building from the ground up
The early years weren’t easy – starting from scratch in an area where he had no presence.
“Real estate wasn’t paying my bills for the first couple of years with a young family,” he said.
“I had to use a lot of our savings to pursue a career in real estate.”
Today, Jamie operates Agency Matters across the Adelaide Hills and metropolitan Adelaide, working with clients based on relationships rather than geographical boundaries.
“Relationships are the most important piece of the real estate puzzle,” he said.
A different approach
Jamie decided to start Agency Matters to create an environment where agents could deliver high-calibre results with empathy, transparency and skill.
The name itself reflects his philosophy about the business.
“I chose the name Agency Matters because our team and clients have agency over their decisions,” Jamie said.
“Our role is simply to guide the process and communicate flawlessly so that those we serve understand and are fully informed to make the best decisions for themselves or their family,” he said.
“We’re in a privileged position to help people with what is usually their biggest asset.”
Communication is key
Jamie identifies his greatest strength as being a great communicator.
“When giving advice, my team and I put ourselves in the shoes of the client,” he said.
“If this were my home, what would I do at this point in time, in this situation, in this market, given the information that we have, in order to maximise the result?”
He prides himself on delivering clear, ethically driven advice, even when clients might prefer not to hear it.
“We never shy away from having difficult conversations. We provide really consistent, straightforward advice delivered in an empathetic way so that the client is always fully informed to make the best possible decision.” Jamie said.
Measured growth
Looking to the future, Jamie plans to continue growing Agency Matters methodically, focusing on quality over rapid expansion.
“The Agency Matters team will continue to grow; however, we are primarily focused on providing highly skilled, empathetic and transparent real estate guidance for each of our clients, ensuring they obtain the best possible outcome,” he said.