Emma Craig has taken the reins of one of North Queensland’s longest-standing real estate agencies, Professionals Edge Hill, in a recent acquisition.
Founded by Billy Gartner in 1988, the agency is located in the inner north-west suburb of Cairns and has been a fixture in the local real estate landscape for over three decades.
Ms Craig, who began her real estate career at the age of 16, said she had always dreamed of starting her own business in her hometown of Cairns.
“I always knew I wanted to run my own business one day, but I’d imagined building it from the ground up – that’s all I’d ever known having worked for independent agencies,” Ms Craig said.
“It wasn’t my intention to buy into a brand. But when the opportunity came up to purchase a business aligned with the Professionals, I couldn’t pass it up. The group’s recent business transformation and rebrand made it clear it was the right move at the right time.”
Ms Craig has built her real estate career working across every facet of the industry, gaining experience in reception, property management, business development, and sales.
“I understand how a successful office needs to run from the back of house to the front,” she said.
The agency currently has a team of nine, including three property managers overseeing 370 properties, a business development manager, and a small sales team.
“My focus now is on growing the business – bringing new management clients, achieving strong sales results, expanding our team, and taking our marketing to the next level to make sure we continue to thrive,” Ms Craig said.
“I’ve set an ambitious goal of personally adding 100 new management clients in the first twelve months to build a strong foundation for sustainable growth.”
Ms Craig noted that the Cairns market is currently experiencing strong demand, particularly for apartments, as houses become increasingly unaffordable for many buyers.
Professionals CEO Sean Hanneberry expressed his enthusiasm about Ms Craig joining the network.
“Emma’s motivation, innovative thinking and challenger mindset make her a perfect fit for Professionals,” Mr Hanneberry said.
“It’s an honour to have her as part of Professionals where her fresh and collaborative approach will contribute to the growth and success of the entire network.”
