How long have you been in Real Estate?
I have been in Real Estate since 2013 after ten years of working in marketing and advertising for a local independent radio station called GeorgeFM in Ponsonby. As I have worked alongside brands for product launches, branding advertising, events and also have dealt with many advertising companies over the years I found that with my network of people Real Estate was a natural progression for me as I was always connecting people. This being why my tag line is “connecting people with property”.
Why Ray White Ponsonby?
Overall, I find that the total market share that Ray White Ponsonby has is of huge benefit to my clients. Whether it is being able to offer buyers I work with more quality stock and also having more agents in the office actually helps my vendors as well when it comes to selling their property. I find the team environment and culture at the Ponsonby office to be inspiring and extremely helpful. Working under a franchise business (which currently owns Ray White offices in Ponsonby, Mt Albert, Birkenhead and Grey Lynn) allows me to work closely with the owner who also wants the best for me, my business and my clients.
How easy/hard is it to get listings?
Over the last few months with the housing market being what some are saying is the best in 35 years it has been a little tougher than normal. This is because most of the local homeowners have all been looking for their next property and with the uncertainty of limited stock on the market it has created a bit of a bottle neck of people wanting to move and sell but wanting to buy first. It is very much like a puzzle because as soon as one or two decide to put their properties on the market it starts to free up all the other people who are looking. About 70% of my clients who I work with are in the Grey Lynn/Westmere area and are all looking to move within a 2km radius. So, therefore I am always dealing with qualified buyers as well. I like to keep my business simple which is why I only manage a few listings at a time so that all of my clients are getting 100% of me. There are so many stories that I have heard where people hire an agent and never actually see them throughout the campaign which is upsetting to me as when you hire an agent you expect that to be the person you are dealing with.
Lockdown – how did this effect you?
This, as most people will identify with, was incredibly challenging having two children aged seven and three with both Rebecca and I still working full time. It was just a completely different level of time management alongside staying sane and keeping in contact with my clients while making sure that the eldest was still doing schoolwork. Although it was stressful during the time we can now look back at those weeks and months and are grateful that we were able to spend more one-on-one time with our children as this time with them is irreplaceable so there was certainly a silver lining so to speak.
Is home staging still prevalent in this rampant market?
Yes – 100%. Staging adds so much to a property and helps make it easier for buyers to visualise what can be done with the property and how it may look. Showing the property’s potential also helps to increase the perceived value of what a property is worth. As an agent you cannot beat having a good staging company in your Real Estate toolbox as well as builders, gardeners and painters which I have in my corner to help my clients get the very best when it comes to putting their properties on the market or just touching up around the house. Real Estate is not one dimensional anymore, a good Real Estate agent will have all the connections that help make the process as easy as possible.
Where do you live at the moment?
I have lived in Ponsonby/Grey Lynn for the last 30 years. We bought our first house in Grey Lynn 14 years ago and since then we have moved once staying in Grey Lynn as we love the area. Rebecca and I have two children – Elsa aged seven, Leo aged three.
Are buyers more particular?
In a nutshell, I always find when dealing with properties $3,500,000 and above, the buyers do get picky and particular. Just a little example would be if the property has a double garage but is tandem the buyer can tend to say they would prefer to have it side by side. It also can come down to tapware or even light switches – you would be surprised at what buyers find important when it comes to purchasing a house but it is their money so I am happy to listen and help.
Describe your most challenging experience so far in the industry?
Some of the most recent challenges I have faced would be the last two auctions where I have had ten registered bidders so it can be extremely busy which is great for the vendor (and really a first world problem). A quote from my recent buyer for one of my properties was “He got top dollar for the vendor, unfortunately we were the purchaser :P” .
How do you build a client relationship to ensure their needs are met?
For me it is always about listening to what the client needs, so having good, clear communication and following up on everything is something that I try to pride myself on. I can spend three years developing a relationship and seeing them around in my neighbourhood or at the Grey Lynn markets before somehow that leads to them wanting to sell their house for whatever reason and they call me in. I keep locals up to date with local sales and stats which gives them confidence that I understand the market and am a local specialist. I also involve myself in the community. I currently sponsor the Richmond Road school which allows me to give back to the community and I have done this for the last five years.
What do you enjoy most about real estate? What is the most challenging thing about being in this industry?
I enjoy working for myself as this also allows me to have the flexibility in my family life to spend time with the children. I also love the variety of people I connect with on a day-to-day basis, it keeps life interesting.
What does a day in the life of a real estate agent look like?
There is just not enough room to put down what there is to do on any given day – it starts on the phone by about 7.30am and I get off the phone around 5.30pm. In between this there are usually several buyer meetings, presenting offers, going over photos for new listings, meeting stagers/photographers at properties, catching up with vendors and buyers to keep the communication open, following up on appraisals – the list goes on! Most important for me is contacting my vendors every day to keep them in the loop and up to date. It is a 24 hour a day business.
What is the most interesting interaction or encounter you have had with a client?
While selling a family home (a lovely big five bedroom villa in Kingsland) that had been in the family for over 100 years. This was a very emotional sale for the owner as you can imagine and little did I know that he also was a bit of a poet coming from an English teaching background. When I asked him if he could please write me a few words for a reference he said “no, I am sorry I won’t do a reference”. Instead, what he did do was write me a very cool poem about how he found the experience of working with me which I found incredibly touching and definitely interesting!
What would your dream home look like?
Not fussed as long as it is by the beach!
How has working in this industry shaped or changed you?
After working in the media industry, where I was paid commission only, I have always had a very good work ethic and it has helped me develop this. I love the fact that you have to be motivated every day. I now understand more than ever the importance of the role I have in facilitating the connection between buyer and seller how it can change people’s lives and being a part of that process is extremely rewarding. The whole process has kept me more focussed on people and has taught me that sometimes what they do not say is just as important as what they do say as selling/buying a house in not about just one thing. So many other facets have an effect on outcomes.
