Elite Agent

  • Ray White Commercial celebrates its 2019 winners

    More than 150 guests descended on the Great Room in Brisbane’s W Hotel to celebrate the top offices and individual achievers as part of the annual Ray White Commercial awards on Friday, August 30. Ray White Commercial Head of Agency Operations Michael McCullagh said he was proud of every member and their achievements for the 2018-19 financial year.“Looking around the…

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  • How to differentiate in your listing presentations: Alex Ouwens

    Different dynamics are at play in the real estate market in cities across the country. The eastern seaboard has tanked with prices dropping, while Perth is going through a recovery phase. In South Australia and Tasmania, the market has been more resilient and even growing, while Brisbane has remained reasonably steady. It’s important to remember no two markets are identical.…

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  • What happened in Vegas: Dave Stewart

    Last month I made the long-haul flight (in cattle class) over to the States to attend the Inman conference. For those of you who don’t know, Inman has two major conferences a year. One in January in New York and one in August that was, up until this year, held in San Francisco. This year they ramped it up and…

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  • “The Cheat is not the Treat” (or what I learned during a 30-day challenge – and beyond)

    Living your best life means something different to every person and it doesn’t have to mean fame, fortune or a million dollars in GCI. Your definition may be drastically different from that of your spouse, partner or boss, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The important thing to remember is that it is never too…

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  • Martin Millard: From humble beginnings

    Martin Millard has been through the wringer and come out the other side. He’s still a little crinkled, definitely more enlightened, and has a dry, but earnest, sense of humour. Unorthodox is the only way to describe the Harcourts Solutions Managing Director’s journey in real estate. It’s a career that started 19 years ago with Martin wearing a borrowed suit…

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  • Agents join forces in Whitehorse

    The Whitehorse property landscape is set for a spring shake-up as two of the area’s agents join forces to create a formidable ‘power team’. The arrival of Jellis Craig Mitcham, which is the culmination of Noel Jones Mitcham joining Jellis Craig, will anchor a consolidated presence for Jellis Craig in Whitehorse. Further fortifying its footprint,…

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  • The domino effect

    Ask Maria Carlino about her goals for the years ahead and she’s crystal clear in her response. “Ten thousand-plus property managements is my goal for The Agency in the next three years, with a presence in every state,” she declares. That’s no small target for a brand that was founded less than two-and-a-half years ago. But chances are Maria will…

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  • The smart business approach to freedom of speech

    Have you had a conversation about Israel Folau in your office recently? Whether we are on planes, trains or automobiles, listening to the radio, a podcast or the news, there are opposing sides and debates on whether this is an issue of freedom of speech, a concern of contractual agreement or awareness of social expectation. As we sat around the…

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  • Weekly auction wrap: It’s official – clearance rate at highest level in two years

    It’s been another strong result for auctions across the country as the clearance rate hit a two-year high. Again it was Sydney and Melbourne leading the charge with Sydney coming in strong with a preliminary clearance rate of 84.7 per cent, three per cent higher than last week. Melbourne was also strong with their preliminary rate almost hitting 80 per…

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  • Elite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    Property Tree surpasses 3500 customers as cloud adoption increases in Australian real estate industry

    Almost twice as many agencies now use cloud technology over server-based software, according to research by Rockend, who note 62 per cent of property management agencies rely on the cloud in an increasingly fragmented market. MRI Software Company, Rockend, is seeing this within its own cloud-based suite, with Property Tree surpassing the 3500 active customer mark this month. According to…

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  • The myth of urgency: When time is your friend

    In our industry, and particularly in real estate sales, we guide our clients through periods of change. We are taught to act quickly as agents and, over time, our natural instinct kicks in to often tell us to act urgently. It's what we think we must do, which can cause us to adopt a mindset…

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  • Ask the coach – With more buyers feeling more confident, do you have any suggestions on how to manage them?

    Buyers have been extremely cautious, nervous and sitting on the fence as they may believe the market will continue to fall. In my experience in a bad market, great salespeople move the market by selling. The agents who are selling in this market can do three things with a buyer: 1. Create a connection. 2. Build rapport. 3. Develop trust.…

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  • Ray White Victoria and Tasmania celebrates 2019 winners

    More than 1,100 guests descended on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for the annual Ray White Victoria and Tasmania state awards on Thursday August 22 to celebrate the top offices and individual achievers throughout the leading network. Ray White Victorian and Tasmanian CEO Stephen Dullens welcomed everyone and reminded them all that the leading…

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  • A whole lotta love: Scott Harman on leadership in a challenging market

    Scott Harman isn’t afraid to knock on doors. His path to real estate began as a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman. He’s not fazed by picking up the phone either. Most of his 31-year career has been spent dealing with high-rise owners in the tough market that is the Gold Coast where many of his sales were…

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  • Three steps to reinvigorate your PM department

    When property management coach Cathie Crampton was tapped on the shoulder to assist Place real estate increase their rental division’s profitability and efficiency, it wasn’t a mission she took lightly. A growth specialist with 15 years’ experience in property management and coaching, she knew there would be personal investment involved. Her challenge involved steadying a drifting ship, improving divisional morale…

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  • Responding to changes in domestic violence laws

    The changes to family and domestic violence laws are a welcomed change for Australians who believe in a strong and resilient justice system. While the amendments are designed to better respond to those suffering abuse, they also affect landlords and property professionals who own and manage rental properties. Previously, rental laws have restricted tenants affected…

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  • Spring into action

    Can you hear the relief of the recharging real estate market? With opportunity everywhere, how can you invigorate your sales team to change gears and take advantage of new market sentiment? There are some foundation areas you need to have right to ensure your sales team starts the spring selling season well. Regardless of the technology that supports your real…

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  • 5 ways to bring CEO thinking to your business

    You may have noticed that every large business has a chief executive officer at the helm. As businesses grow, they recognise the need to hire an individual who is responsible for the overall success of the business and has the ultimate authority to make final decisions. The CEO sets the culture and business standards and they determine the mission and…

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  • Don’t be a fire risk: Preparing rentals for bushfire season

    With bushfire season starting earlier, and lasting longer, landlords and property professionals need to make sure investments and incomes are better protected should disaster strike, says insurance leader Sharon Fox-Slater.  This comment comes on the back of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service being forced to bring forward the start of its bushfire danger period by two months. And,…

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  • Timeliness, insight, perspective: A look into REA’s new reporting tools

    Ben Auchettl understands the key to a successful marketing campaign is being armed with the right knowledge. The realestate.com.au National Sales Director knows agencies and agents need to watch the market to get a handle on what branding and advertising strategies are working right now. Ben, who is also responsible for products such as Premiere,…

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  • Ask the coach – How can a team feel more connected and work?

    We all face the challenge of motivating our team, developing an awesome culture, like that at Google or Virgin, and seeing the big picture as we want to view it. As a leader, we need to ask ourselves seven questions: 1. Do your people know your plans? The best way to motivate people is to let them know your plans…

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  • Show me now: Sophie Lyon’s winning inspection idea

    An innovative idea for an app that gives tenants the chance to view more rentals – and property managers more time in their day – has taken out a top new real estate award.

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  • Morton & Morton: Culture Kings

    This isn’t an article about stress balls, workplace yoga and office zen zones that miraculously transform your business into a place where every employee is eternally happy and shares a united positive energy.

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  • Ask the coach – How to encourage the sales team to send more PM leads

    Sales referrals into our PM team have really slowed over the past few months. How do I encourage the sales team to send me more leads? The great news is that after winter, the spring selling season provides increased opportunity in property management and sales. Firstly, you need to get back on the sales team radar. Make sure you are…

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  • strategic plan

    The importance of your real estate company’s strategic plan

    The real estate industry is changing at an ever-increasing pace, with agencies and agents facing the prospect of being here today and gone tomorrow. Ouwens Casserly director Alex Ouwens explains how a strategic plan could be your saviour.

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  • What matters most

    Why is there the need for more innovation in property management in Australia? It’s because renting a property is such a difficult experience in this country,filled with administrative tasks – from communicating with stakeholders, filing paperwork, meeting legal requirements or dealing with maintenance issues. This rings true for everyone involved in the process. Also, today’s customer expectations mean they have…

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  • Tom Larkin: Director of two offices at 29 with further growth plans ahead

    Tom Larkin started in real estate on his 18th birthday. By 23 years old he had his own real estate office in an area he knew nothing about – Barry Plant in Frankston. By 26 he had become that area’s most successful agent and now, at 29, he is director of two offices, has a…

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  • Elite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    Real estate leaders face their fears for a cause

    Real estate's most daring business leaders are answering the call to be brave, taming their terror and facing their fears in the name of a good cause. On Friday, September 6, six of the industry’s bravest will join more than 90 CEOs and business leaders taking part in the fundraising initiative that is CEO Dare to…

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  • Using data to guarantee rent: LongView Real Estate

    In Australia the traditional real estate model is changing with agencies employing in-house photographers, videographers, database experts, marketing and creative specialists. In November last year, LongView burst onto the scene in Melbourne, providing a data-driven agency focused on property investors. Co-founder Evan Thornley is a former co-founder, chair and CEO of LookSmart, a pioneer of internet search advertising, and Australia’s…

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  • Destination: Sold

    In an expansion market buyers have to act. Every three months they wait for properties to rapidly increase in price, whereas in a contractionary market, every three months a seller remains, their sale price declines. In a slow-growth market, neither the buyer or the seller are compelled to act financially. To win, you have to be an agent for all…

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  • Ray White Rural young guns shine in Ekka sun

    Liam Kirkwood, the young gun business owner of Ray White Rural Townsville and Charters Towers, has won the ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneers competition at The Ekka. The 23-year-old from Townsville said he was stunned by his victory in a strong field of 10 competitors at the RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane. Ray White Rural Roma licensee AJ Riley, also 23, was…

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  • Elite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    A ‘challenging’ year for REA Group but outlook is positive for property

    Despite challenging market conditions, REA Group has posted an eight per cent increase in both earnings and revenue for the financial year ending June 30. Australia’s major real estate listing service announced their results to the market on Friday, which also showed an eight per cent decline in listings over the past year, with the Sydney and Melbourne markets being…

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  • Where are the next tenants coming from for ‘high street’ shopping strips

    The typical ‘high street’ shopping strip is really now becoming a neighbourhood village where the traditional retailers of fashion-related businesses (clothes, accessories, handbags, jewellery, etc) are really no longer viable to due online retailing and the choice offered at shopping centres. This is most evident in legendary fashion destinations, where fashion shopping streets such as Chapel Street have reigned supreme…

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  • The changing roles of real estate

    ONCE UPON A TIME, a real estate agency comprised a principal, sales agents and a handful of support staff. Now, with big data and technology coming to the fore, the traditional real estate roles are changing with the times. Ahead of the Business of Real Estate Conference, Kylie Dulhunty looks at US game changer Compass and the roles they see…

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  • Elite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    HTW Market Wrap: Sydney and Melbourne bottom out

    The national property market continues to be a tale of very different states and cities, with some strength in areas like Canberra and Hobart, and clear weakness in Sydney and Melbourne. The positive news for property owners is that the latest commentary from national valuers Herron Todd White is that both Sydney and Melbourne are approaching the bottom with their…

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