A veteran of Melbourne’s prestigious real estate market of the inner north, Anthony has sold in excess of 800 properties in his 15 years of practice. A true fixture of the Carlton community, Anthony is as much as part of the ambiance of Lygon and Rathdowne Streets as Cinema Nova and Brunetti. An auctioneer of note, his work is informed by the courtesy and quick-mindedness of another era.
What was your first job, and what was the most important thing it taught you?
As a teenager, my first job was restocking grocery shelves at the local supermarket in Cobram on the Murray River. The hours were typically after school, on weekends and late at night on occasion. It instilled in me the importance of structure, discipline and independence – and camaraderie too.
What do you like most about your work now?
I enjoy the flexibility of the job, and the capacity to be an individual within it. Real estate remains a relevant, essential profession, and it has the same appeal today as it did earlier in my career.
What do you still find the most challenging about the industry, and how do you deal with it?
I find the biggest challenge to relationship building and profitable expenditure of energy is at times an erosion of time due to overzealous meeting scheduling. Team property tours (sometimes called caravans) are of importance, but they can chew into a huge portion of positive prospecting time if not structured well.
Describe what a typical day looks like for you.
I get up at 5.30am and enjoy a simple, light breakfast of a banana, coffee and yoghurt before arriving at the office between 7 and 7:15am. I then have coffee at my favourite café at 7:30 am while I review my call and task list for the day. I initially structure these lists in the evening or late afternoon the day before to minimise downtime. I’ll then go back to the office and respond to all emails, and tackle administration tasks.
I then commence prospecting and telephone calls from 9am until 10.30am. Bite-size prospecting blocks are super beneficial to me and work beautifully. I’ll then have a mid-morning break to recharge and replenish, before embarking on more calls until lunch. When I return from lunch, there’s a quick-fire hour of calls between 1:00 and 2.00pm.
I typically conduct all appraisals and buyer appointments in the afternoon between 2:00pm and 5:00pm when possible. After 5pm I return to the office, check my inbox and mop up any other newly acquired tasks that may have hit my desk, such as advertising proofing and review. There’ll then be another bite-size slot of calls until 6pm, when I shut down and head for home. I believe in working with intensity and efficiency whilst in the office, avoiding late nights where possible to ensure personal replenishment time.
Define ‘success’ for you personally – what do you feel most satisfied to have achieved?
Contentment and satisfaction in my current place in life is the definition of success for me. I feel that the trust and respect of many different people from different walks of life is my greatest achievement.
What would you say is your secret superpower?
I would say it’s my negotiation ability, which defines my success. This skill encompasses a balanced temperament, clarity of purpose, good preparation and focused empathy.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
I was once described as ‘unaffected’.
If you could give one piece of advice to the younger you, what would it be?
I would take a few more investment risks. My advice would be to purchase as much property as your tolerance level for financial pressure will allow.
What are your goals for the next year?
My aim is to continue to build my personal business by adding a team member to my work ‘pod’.
