We Are Real Estate

Phil Harris: Strong results and service to community

A self-confessed slow-starter in real estate, Phil Harris is now one of the best-known and most highly-respected agents in the industry

On getting into real estate
Real Estate was not something that I grew up wanting to do. I always dreamt of being a professional sportsman, however that didn’t work out for me so I had to get a real job. A friend suggested real estate so I applied with a number of agencies and I was fortunate enough that Ray White decided to give me a shot.

The happiest moment in my career
Probably the moment that I knew I was good enough to actually have a career out of it. I was a very slow starter and only sold one property in my first six months, which was a very anxious time for me. When I finally built some momentum up and I knew I wasn’t going to lose my job, I felt that was a great moment as I’d found something I could really dedicate my life to.

The most memorable moment
Would have to be the first property I ever sold on Corunna Avenue, Colonel Light Gardens. It was my grandmother’s next door neighbour and if it wasn’t for that, I never would have got the listing and who knows – I might not be in real estate today.

Best advice he’s received
Whatever it is that you are trying to achieve, more than likely someone else has already done it so you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Find out who these people are and go and find out exactly what they have done to get there and what they would do differently if they had their time again.

Biggest challenge
I think there is still a lack of understanding from the industry in relation to the service levels that our customers and clients are now demanding. Agents who want to be a part of the industry for the long term need to really start making a conscious effort to provide a service that is incredibly consumer-friendly whilst also providing real value and expertise.

Change for good?
I think the industry has come a long way in terms of professionalism. However, compared with other industries, the truth is we still have a long way to go. More compulsory training and higher levels of initial education to entry would be a great thing for our industry.

‘Elite’ agent means
An elite agent to me is ultimately someone who provides an incredibly high level of service to the entire community whilst achieving consistent strong results along the way.

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