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We Are Real Estate
Stuart Legg: ‘Ruff’ day at the office
On getting into real estateReal estate was my only option at the time. I am glad it was, looking back! The happiest moment in my careerAwards and recognition are great, but when a lovely family purchases a home from another great family, we get to witness the best side of human nature and that is so refreshing in today’s world.…
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Profile
No matter what business you’re in, you’re always in the business of people
What was your first job and what did it teach you?My first job (part-time) was at Coles as a checkout chick. It taught me the importance of money as we had to balance the till after every shift. How long have you been in real estate?I’ve been selling real estate for seven years. This time for about five years and…
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We Are Real Estate
Grant Matterson: Timely sale
On getting into real estateI owned a retail shop and people suggested I would be good in real estate because I was personable. The happiest moment in my careerI am always so happy when I am a part of someone buying a property or selling one, and it is especially satisfying when I am able to do both for the…
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We Are Real Estate
Neil Webster: Fulfilling dreams
On getting into real estateI have a background in project management, so communication and relationship-building were already key components of my skill set. A few friends within real estate thought it would suit me and when the time came for a career change, they got me drunk and convinced me to do it. I’m glad they did. The happiest moment…
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We Are Real Estate
Dave Stewart: Valuable Lessons
On getting into real estateI lived on the Gold Coast in my very early 20s and I had the time of my life but I was earning $30k a year and spending $60k! So when I made it back to Melbourne I needed a job that allowed me to earn good money with next to…
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We Are Real Estate
Kylie Depledge: Working together
On getting into real estateMy father-in-law spoke about me to an agent and before I knew it I was running his office daily as he mainly worked away at that time. The happiest moment in my careerThe happiest moments are helping people on an everyday basis. Especially people who have been through a terrible time and they come to me…
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We Are Real Estate
Gizzelle Powell: More than selling
On getting into real estateOur Principal Phil Haley chose me. I was working at Australia Post and he was so impressed with my service that he asked me to give him a call if I ever decided to change career. It took him two years to convince me to accept the job but he said it was worth the wait.…
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We Are Real Estate
Kate Fowler: Dress for success
On getting into real estateI had enjoyed a fantastic career in the hotel industry working for some of the world’s best brands, specialising in sales and marketing. Along my career path I was fortunate enough to have been promoted to a role within Australia, so I packed up in London having never been to Australia before, and could hardly believe…
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We Are Real Estate
Jon Snead: Making people happy
On getting into real estateI had left my role as regional marketing manager with one of the big banks and decided to do something completely different. I spoke with five agents I knew through different people and after getting a very clear picture of what a career in real estate was going to be like, I went for it. I…
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We Are Real Estate
Fiona Short: Customer service is key
On getting into real estateLiving in Busselton, which was a small seaside community at the time, there were many real estate agencies as it was the destination that everyone wanted a holiday home in at that time. It was something I thought I needed to be involved in. The happiest moment in my careerA nomination several years in a row…
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We Are Real Estate
Reece O’Brien: Importance of mentors
On getting into real estateI always had an interest in real estate going back as far as the age of eight or nine, drawing floor plans with my late cousin. I wanted to try real estate as it appealed to me and after leaving school a few friends had been having some successes within the industry. I was offered a…
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We Are Real Estate
Emily-Jane Megraw: Client relations expert
On getting into real estateI purchased my first home at the age of 22 and it was an awful experience. I swore to myself on settlement day that I would get into the industry and make my mark. It was a lot of hard work. I worked for free at a rival agency for three months before I was given…
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We Are Real Estate
Paulette Contessi: Higher education
On getting into real estateVery early on when at uni studying commerce (marketing/PR), I took a role at LJ Hooker as a junior rep. I loved it but felt I was too young and needed some world experience, so I moved to Sydney and worked in hospitality. When I returned, I started an event management company and then moved into…
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We Are Real Estate
Sally O’Connell: A different approach
On getting into real estateI chose real estate as a major career change from private client banking at the age of 40. I selected the company I started my career with by asking people who had recently bought or sold what their experiences were like with the market leaders in the area. I had one interview with my chosen company…
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We Are Real Estate
Andrew Gibbons: The long haul
On getting into real estate On my way home from living in New York, the previous passenger had left a real estate magazine in the pocket of the seat in front of me. Whilst I was reading the articles inside, it dawned on me that this career was for me as I loved working with…
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We Are Real Estate
Kathy Tsai: Don’t get caught in the Matrix
On getting into real estateReal estate chose me when I was a little girl. My parents have always been buying and selling properties. I have been really fortunate to meet and deal with many real estate agents in the past before becoming one myself. The happiest moment in my careerThe happiest moment in my career is when I did my…
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We Are Real Estate
James Gwynne: Value adding
On getting into real estateI was looking for a career that you could work hard in and really reap the rewards if you did well at it. The happiest moment in my careerI think my proudest moment was when I made the top 10 in Queensland for the franchise I was in and it was only my second year in…
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We Are Real Estate
Kelly Jones: A fine balance
On getting into real estateI bought a house with a granny flat and I thought I had better do a property management course and work out what I needed to do to rent it out. The happiest moment in my careerThe happiest moment is when I can sell a property off-market. Match a property with a buyer and a buyer…
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We Are Real Estate
Michael Rava: Born to sell
On getting into real estateI am a second generation real estate agent; my dad is a stock and station agent. So I guess you could say that I grew up very close to my dad doing deals on the phone. The happiest moment in my careerWhen I decided not to open my own franchise, which I was days away from…
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We Are Real Estate
Chari Emirzade: Pick up the phone
On getting into real estateI tried a few different roles. I tried being a plasterer and was terrible at that. Then I tried being a handyman and that was too hard. Then I tried sales at Godfreys (selling vacuum cleaners) – and I quickly worked out I was good at selling, so it was a natural progression to real estate. …
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We Are Real Estate
Lee Fitzgerald: Life-long friends
On getting into real estateInitially, I applied for a job advertised in the paper for a receptionist at Elders Real Estate, Morely Peter Kuhne & Associates. Thankfully I got the job, and within about six months, I became their assistant property manager. Now, after 21 years still working in the industry, I still love it. During this time I have…
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We Are Real Estate
Henry Wong: Aiming high
On getting into real estateReal estate was the only profession that I could see myself earning over $100k per year, profit that is, given my skillset and habits I had at that time. I gave myself three years to achieve this $100k-plus per year. There’s no other profession I’d be able to achieve that, as I’m not an engineer or…
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We Are Real Estate
Clint Ferguson: Real estate is easy
On getting into real estateI had no job after a career-ending back injury (previously a carpenter for 13 years) and after 16 months of mental and physical rehabilitation, my insurance company stopped paying me a wage. I was beyond broke. I had applied for dozens of jobs without success – even Bunnings wouldn’t give me a start – so I…
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We Are Real Estate
Bridget Gabites: From science to sales
On getting into real estateI was in the scientific industry before real estate. I have a science degree and helped researchers with high-end imaging equipment for scientific research. I was tired of all the travel and wanted to settle down a little. I researched all the career options I had and really spur of the moment decided to pivot into…
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We Are Real Estate
Rob Fearnley: Beyond the comfort zone
On getting into real estateReal estate chose me. The happiest moment in my careerIn 2014, I was working interstate for 18 months in my first management role. I learnt so much about people management but also loved being in a new city. It was a win-win and something I highly recommend to young professionals who are looking to get into…
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We Are Real Estate
Tini Mincher: Hammering it home
On getting into real estateI have always been that kid who asked if I could look around your house – it would drive Mum mad! My parents are not surprised that I ended up in real estate. The happiest moment in my careerI have absolutely loved the auctions I have worked on. Working on the marketing, pulling it all together…
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We Are Real Estate
Wayde Hildrew: Trust is key
On getting into real estateMy first job was in a mechanic shop as an apprentice, however I quickly realised I was not someone who liked to get their hands dirty, so to speak. So I then looked for a job that I could start quickly. The only one I could find was for a local real estate agency. I started…
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We Are Real Estate
Eunice Dimbi: Meaningful relationships
On getting into real estateI chose real estate. The happiest moment in my careerSecuring my first-ever listing four days into my first job in real estate. The most memorable momentIt was a gorgeous three-bedroom unit that I sold twice in the space of three months and still managed to get a higher price second time around. Best advice she’s receivedJust…
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We Are Real Estate
Emily Whitehead: Be yourself
On getting into real estateMy first taste of real estate was when I started working part-time as a receptionist. The more I worked in the business, the more I wanted to learn about the industry. In the 10 years I have been working in the industry I have gone from receptionist to assistant property manager to sales assistant to sales…
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We Are Real Estate
Brooke Colledge: On a role
On getting into real estateI started my real estate career at the age of 17. Always having a passion for property from a young age, my goal was to purchase a home, so real estate just worked – there was nothing else I could see myself doing. Over my career, I have covered most roles within the office and enjoy…
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We Are Real Estate
Stefon Bertram: Never stop learning
On getting into real estateAfter leaving school at 17 years old, I secured my first job in real estate and then started my own real estate business at the age of 21 which I grew and sold to McGrath five years later. My career commenced in 2007, during which time I’ve focused upon Ryde, North Ryde and East Ryde. The…
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We Are Real Estate
Paul Reed: Forming connections
On getting into real estateAfter a successful sales career in retail for some of Australia’s biggest companies, it was time for a change and after a conversation one night with my partner and her father who worked in real estate, it was suggested I give real estate a go. The rest is history, so to speak The happiest moment in…
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Beth Carpenter: More rights for landlords
On getting into real estateI had left school not having any idea what I wanted to do with my life. I was working in a casual position at a supermarket when I saw an advertisement on social media of a job going as an assistant property manager with training provided. I scrolled past the ad a few times and eventually…
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We Are Real Estate
Daniel Burrett: Making a difference
On getting into real estateI always had an interest in property and real estate and considered studying it at university, but instead went straight into real estate sales and have loved it ever since. The happiest moment in my careerRealising that I’d made a difference to a family’s future when a little six-year-old girl drew a picture of her new…
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We Are Real Estate
Jessica Bertocchi: Efficient and effective
On getting into real estateI chose to be in real estate, but at the same time it chose me. I started off working on reception, and the day our one property manager left, I got an instant promotion. It was one of the most intense times in my career, but it was a job I was hoping to be considered…
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