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 Award for 2018. To be recognised on a professional level, and to go up against some very established agents in the industry, was a huge milestone for me.

What was the best thing to happen in real estate in 2018?

It’s been fantastic to see millennials starting to enter the property market. In our office, we’re seeing the influence of Gen Z in the marketplace and are receiving more and more enquiries from them.

What are you hoping to see happen in the industry in 2019?

I’d love to see a steady stream of new construction that has a lot more attention to architectural design and focuses on building aesthetics. A steady infusion of supply that meets demand will assist in keeping sale and rent prices in check for both residential and commercial properties, while also creating buildings that people still want to occupy in years to come.

Never reply when you are angry, never make a decision when you are sad and never make a promise when you are happy.

If you could change one thing in the industry, what would it be?

People’s perception of real estate agents. There are a lot of hard-working agents out there who are brought down by those few who don’t act with integrity. We should hold all agents to higher standards.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Never reply when you are angry, never make a decision when you are sad and never make a promise when you are happy.

What’s a new skill you’re hoping to learn in 2019?

Mastering the art of delegation. Now that I’ve created an effective business unit, I need to learn to put a bit of trust into this support team.

If you had to start from scratch in real estate tomorrow, what’s the first thing you would do?

I’d set up my social media page straight away. In real estate it all comes down to who knows you, so if I could start over I’d set that up from the start and get my name out there from day one.

What do you like the most about your job?

I love working in real estate. Meeting with clients and business owners on a daily basis is often really inspiring – to be able to work with serious game-changers, particularly in the ever-evolving retail side of real estate. I love that I can earn as much as I push for, rather than a regular salary job knowing it’s fixed every year.

What’s the most important part of your day?

It’s when 5 pm hits, the office clears out and becomes dead quiet. I can power through all the administrative stuff and the to-do list I made for that day. There’s no point having multiple meetings in a day if you don’t follow up and make sure to make them dollar-productive encounters.