FEATURE INTERVIEWS
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Transformation through innovation a winner for Noosa agency
Twenty minutes from the hustle and bustle of Noosa’s Hastings Street, Cooroy is a quintessential Queensland country town with one foot firmly planted in the future. Here, the focus is a vibrant community navigating the transition from farming and timber industries to a thriving residential and rural area that is in demand for families, treechangers…
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Byron Kerr: A new brand of leader
Byron Kerr isn’t afraid of declining stock levels. In the 2018-2019 financial year, when the Melbourne market was on a downward slide, the O’Brien Real Estate Mentone director and his team sold more properties than the year before. “It was a market with decreased stock levels of about 25 per cent,” he said. “Yet we increased market share by 12…
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Take back the market: Michael Coulson
When prospective clients ask how the market is going, how do you respond? Brutal honesty. I’ll tell them it is a tougher market than we’ve seen in a good 10 years or so, so that they’re not under any illusions or false expectations. We want to let them know that it’s not a great time to sell unless you’ve got…
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Thriving in the face of challenge: Ruma Mundi
A couple of months ago Ruma Mundi finally drew a line under what by anyone’s measure had been a stressful year. Personal circumstances and a series of business events had required the talented salesperson to draw on every ounce of resilience and tenacity she had. At her darkest moments Ruma admits she even pondered the prospect of giving up on…
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Advocating for the industry: 30 minutes with Andrew Rechtman
A new frontier is fast approaching, and conquering its unique challenges is something to be done with a united, not a divided, approach. That’s the message from REA Group Executive General Manager of Residential Andrew Rechtman following the Industry Leadership Forum in New Zealand in April. With realestate.com.au hosting the forum, it was the ideal opportunity for the group to…
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You win or you learn
Real estate is a tough gig mentally, emotionally and sometimes physically too. Taking time out to focus on yourself outside of work hours can make a world of difference to how well you perform when you’re on the clock and the pressure is on. For many successful agents, the best ‘R&R’ is exercise, and they find the practice of religiously…
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You had me at video
Candice Arlott could be be considered a bit of a go-getter when it comes to video marketing. This year Candice was invited to present at a Video Summit during the RE/MAX R4 convention in Las Vegas. Not only was she the only Australian, Candice was also the youngest member of the Video Summit panel, presenting to a packed MGM Casino Grand…
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How to set boundaries and manage conflict
The competitive nature of the real estate industry automatically puts agents at higher risk of experiencing conflict at work, according to a subject expert. Known as The Conflict Whisperer, Scott Dutton says industries built on competition could often struggle with negative rivalry and employee battles. Such disruption could lead to missed listings, and poor sales results if issues aren’t resolved.…
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Cindy Kennedy – A flair for real estate
For many, finding a body in a bathtub in your first week in real estate might just be enough to put you off a career in the industry for good. But for McGrath partner and Sydney Inner West sales agent Cindy Kennedy it taught her there’s always more to the story when it comes to selling a home. A natural…
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Finding her confidence: Kylie Charlton
In Sandringham, Victoria, Hodges Real Estate director and sales agent Kylie Charlton has carved out a successful 28-year career based on the simple philosophy of placing herself in her client’s shoes. Now, she’ll share an insight into the lessons learned along the way at AREC 2019. Kylie Charlton freely admits she knew “absolutely nothing” about real estate other than the…
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Mindset, marketing and knowledge the key to Steve Koerber’s success
In 2018, Ray White Remuera’s Steve Koerber reached a career milestone, clocking up a GCI of more than $2 million and ranking 7th internationally in the Ray White Group. It is a success that Steve attributes to a shift in thinking, pure hard work, and an unfailing passion for what he does. Now he’ll share his story at AREC, offering…
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Neil Webster: Breaking the mould
What was your first job and what did it teach you? My first job was working behind the bar at the local tennis club. It taught me many things that have proven to be invaluable in my working life, namely risk assessment, customer service, multi-tasking and communication skills. The last factor has been the major one. If you can deal…
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Behind the suits
You’ve made a name for yourselves with ‘Behind the Suits’. Why a podcast? Adam: Bobby’s mission was to change the negative connotation of real estate agents one person at a time. My challenge to Bobby was to think of a universal way to target more people at once. Most people think you need to be granted permission to do a…
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Maintaining peak performance
What goes up must come down – unless your name is Tom Hector. The golden boy in South Australian real estate and one of the nation’s premier agents, Tom Hector’s rise to the top 11 years ago was nothing short of meteoric. Perhaps even more startling is that over the past decade the Harris Real Estate salesman and auctioneer has…
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Real estate’s finest ready for the Ride to Provide
The challenge will see these real estate professionals cycle 500km across the rural countryside of Thailand, raising funds for Hands Across the Water. We caught up with just a few of the many agents taking part… What do you do in real estate when you hit the target you’ve been aiming for? You make the next one bigger. That’s exactly…
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‘Together we will succeed’: Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson stepped into the top job at realestate.com.au in January – amidst arguably the worst downturn in the property market in the past 10 years. With an uncertain year ahead and global players such as Facebook making their own plans in real estate, Wilson’s overall philosophy is that it’s time for REA Group and agents to work together for…
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Hungry and humble: Samuel Thompson
What was your first job? I started my first job at the age of 14 working in a supermarket; packing shelves, cleaning the floors and assisting customers. It taught me time management and the importance of a high level of product knowledge. Fitting in school, representative rugby and working each afternoon was a balance, which taught me to prioritise. What’s…
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Champion of change : Kylie Walsh
Kylie Walsh puts a different spin on the old saying, ‘You can’t have it all’. A dedicated voice for women in the real estate industry, the DiJONES general manager was recognised as the Most Influential Woman in Property at the AREA Excellence Awards late last year. Like many female role models before her, including Oprah Winfrey, Ita Buttrose and Madeleine…
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In the moment: Shaye Wallis
As an award-winning property manager at Wiseberry Heritage on the NSW Central Coast, Shaye Wallis has learnt how important it is to celebrate the wins and live in the moment. What was your first job? My first job was at McDonald’s, which taught me that everyone begins at the same starting line. What has been the best thing to happen…
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On her own terms: Michelle Kerr
From her newly opened agency in Nedlands, WA, Michelle Kerr says she never expected to become a real estate agent. Rather, it was a career she fell into that ultimately saw her thrive. “I had a long history of property development and renovations,” Michelle explains. “I enjoyed 15 years of buying and selling, and saw the best and the worst…
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Welcome to California: Glen Coutinho
Glen Coutinho recently sat down and penned a quick letter. It was a short note to his first ever client in real estate, thanking him for his support. “I hope you’re enjoying your home,” he wrote. “Just letting you know I’ve been in real estate for 30 years now, but I wanted to remind you that you were my first…
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Michelle Errichiello’s journey from real estate to the Paralympics and back
It isn’t often that someone’s story leaves you speechless, but Michelle Errichiello, co-director of Raine&Horne Essendon, has one of those stories. She spoke with Hannah Blackiston about the accident that changed her life forever, her career as a Paralympian and how her office swept the Raine & Horne Victorian State Awards. Michelle Errichiello has lived in the Essendon area her…
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Why it pays to stand out from the crowd: Chris Antos
What was your first job? I started working in my uncle’s takeaway in Watson when I was about 12. It was a really beneficial experience for me; hospitality is a great way to bring someone out of their shell. What’s been the best thing to happen to you in your career? I received the REIACT Commercial Salesperson of the Year…
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Quiet achiever: Why sellers love Tyson Clarke
Joining the real estate industry three years ago from a development and engineering background, Tyson Clarke has already achieved formidable success in Brisbane’s high-end market. He spoke with Hannah Blackiston about work ethic, building a profile and delivering on promises. Tyson Clarke has a different attitude to real estate. Despite only being in the industry for three years, his expansive…
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The Competitive Edge: Malek Younan
After I finished high school I got into an engineering course, which I didn’t start because I just didn’t have a passion for it. So I deferred it and thought I’d try and get into real estate.” After completing his licence and with a vision to one day having an office of his own, Malek walked into his local real…
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How Josh Tesolin is building his profile
“I got my start in leasing, and I was pretty good; I was leasing properties within five days, but I was terrible at the admin side. I got my first opportunity in sales at 19 – my boss took a weekend off with an injury, so I had three properties of his and I sold all three on the day.…
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Toowoomba to Cairns: Starting over with Tiffany Krause
“You obviously meet a lot of people through the RE/MAX network and I’d consistently caught up with the guys up here. Then I came for a holiday a couple of years ago and just loved it, absolutely loved it.” After falling in love with the Cairns region, Tiffany reached out to principal Tony Williamson and asked if there was a…
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Why agents are knocking at NOKK’s door
Like many start-ups, the idea was born from personal experience. NOKK co-founder Ben Voltz, a digital entrepreneur who also counts transaction platform ROKT as one of his successes, was struggling to find a home in his desired suburb of Albert Park in Melbourne. “There were only about 15 properties on the market, which is a very small amount out of…
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The story behind realestate.com.au’s most-clicked listing of 2018
After languishing on the market for three years, a property in Victoria’s Narre Warren North sold this year with Kristen Turner of Peake Real Estate who took over the listing in April. Not only did Ms Turner secure a record price for the home, it also become the most-clicked on realestate.com.au for 2018 – finding its way in front of…
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Focus on 2019: What the top agents are doing
Grant Smith Director, Century 21 Grant Smith Property What’s the market like in your area? The Sunshine Coast property market is a strong performing region with extensive growth and development. The region is experiencing growth in the health sector with the new hospital, as well as expansions to all major shopping centres. Being on the coast, just an hour north…
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Born to Compete: Hayley Van de Ven
Entering the real estate industry straight out of high school, Hayley Van de Ven was a successful sales agent by the age of 18 – something she can barely believe now. “When I think about it now, I wonder who would have taken me seriously at 18,” laughs Hayley. She initially entered into a youth training program run by Ray…
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Feeling at home: Jason Boon
Richardson & Wrench’s office presence in Potts Point is a great reflection of their team. Although they’ve moved into a thoroughly modern office space on bustling Macleay Street, just a couple of blocks away they still have one of their old offices. It’s here that Jason Boon works. The office, which also acts as an auction space, matches his personality…
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The initiative helping agents end homelessness
“I’d noticed the homeless situation getting worse and worse – I think in the inner city over the last six years I’ve really been noticing it – but I’ve always thought it’s someone else’s responsibility. Someone else will deal with that. Then I realised I could actually do something about it, which is how the project started. “I thought, here…
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Playing to win: the female agent team who tackled The Block 2018
Channel Nine’s renovation juggernaut The Block wrapped on its 14th season this year, seeing Hayden and Sara from New South Wales take the (slightly controversial) win, represented by McGrath St Kilda principal Michael Townsend. But representing Kerrie and Spence from South Australia was The Block’s first all-female (and the only female agents this season) team, Emily Adams and Stephanie Evans…
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Brad Henderson: One Life, One Chance
Tell us about yourself and your role at OusProperty. Born and bred in the country town of Naracoorte, SA, I moved to Adelaide for sport as a teenager. I then lived in a variety of locations across the state and Australia before being enticed back to Adelaide because the city is so ‘livable’. Today, I’m a sales agent and auctioneer…
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