10. realestate.com.au launches re-marketing service for agents and agencies
In June, realestate.com.au announced the release of end-to-end digital marketing tool Reach which allows agents and agencies to build their online presence and personal profile.
The product is a multi-use tool which realestate.com.au’s General Manager for Leads, Rachel Morley, explains “is the final piece in the puzzle around the marketing funnel in our suite of tools for individual agents”.
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9. McGrath recruits new team in Sydney’s Lower North Shore property market
Early in the year, McGrath Estate Agents announced the opening of the Lower North Shore division which consisted of a hand-picked team with a sales and property management focus.
McGrath had occupied a strong presence in the Lower North Shore market for 23 years, but the additional office would strengthen their community ties and enhance their ability to serve the area.
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8. Real estate’s finest ready for the Ride to Provide
In March, Steve Carroll led 30 of the industry’s finest to cycle through 500km of rural country in Thailand to raise money for charity Hands Across the Water.
Agents who took part in the charity ride included James Curtain (Director, Place Woolloongabba), Lauren Hampson (Marketing Sales and Administration, Ray White Noosa), Brad Robson (Director, Place Graceville) Adrian Sacco (Director, One Agency Sunbury), Valerie Timms (Principal, Timms Real Estate) and more. Digital Live will continue the challenge in 2020.
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7. McGrath rolls out a mobile maintenance service with i4Tradies
In February, McGrath Property Management announced it would be launching a new cloud-based maintenance management platform called i4Tradies.
The digital app is described as tool to connect trade service owners, on-the-road tradies, tenants and property managers with an integrated job management software.
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6. CEO warns real estate industry has reached its ‘technology intersection’
In July, Starr Partners CEO Douglas Driscoll claimed the real estate sector had reached its ‘technology intersection’.
As the rise in artificial intelligence and other technologies that transform how businesses interact with customers continues to grow, Mr Driscoll explained that “in today’s competitive business environment, we need to come to terms with the fact that we are in a permanent state of transition when it comes to technology – and in any transition, different people adapt at different rates”.
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5. Real estate ‘click bait’ is great for news but bad for the economy
Early in the year, Barry Plant Group Director Barry Plant shared his fear that the current property market is being portrayed inaccurately by news sources, which is shadowing negativity on consumer confidence.
Mr Plant said: “Headlines such as ‘Property market falls off a cliff’ are just irresponsible. Yes, if you do read the whole article there may be some qualifying data buried in it, but the danger is that people are not delving deeper for their information.”
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4. Rockend acquired by global software provider
In August it was announced that MRI Software (“MRI”) had acquired residential software provider Rockend. The acquisition would mean MRI would be established as a global player with the scalability to meet demand and provide clients with more resources and solutions.
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3. Gavin Rubinstein to open Ray White office in Woollahra
In May, sales heavyweight Gavin Rubinstein announced he would be opening a Ray White Woollahra office. Gavin had been a leading agent at the Double Bay office for the past nine years, announcing his departure two weeks before this announcement.
Mr Rubinstein said: “I started my real estate career at Ray White when I was 20 years old as an assistant, and have worked hard to grow my business from strength to strength. We are so excited to have a new headquarters for our team, The Rubinstein Group.”
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2. Ray White Double Bay parts ways with Gavin Rubinstein
Which brings us to the second most trended article of 2019, where Ray White’s Managing Director Elliott Placks announced long-standing agent Gavin Rubinstein had departed after 10 years in the business.
Mr Placks said: “We have enjoyed watching Gavin and his team grow and develop over the years. Our business is like family, and sometimes you have to let them go to grow.”
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1. Purplebricks confirms Australian Exit
In May, Purplebricks announced it intended to exit the Australian market but would continue operations in the UK and Canada. CEO and Founder Michael Bruce made the decision to step down, with his replacement Vic Darvey promoted to the position immediately.
Mr Darvey explained: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but with market conditions becoming increasingly challenging, we do not believe that the prospective returns in Australia are enough to justify continued investment.”
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