Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs dominated the annual Ray White New South Wales awards, with Double Bay taking out several of the top honours, and TRG agent Gavin Rubinstein named No 1 sales agent for the seventh year in a row.
Some 900 real estate agents and guests celebrated their achievements in Sydney at the weekend, with Ray White Double Bay picking up both No 1 office in the New South Wales Blue category for the eighth year in a row (comprising of prestigious inner city markets), in addition to No 2 International office in the entire Ray White Group of more than 1000 offices for 2019, both in terms of settled commission.
Ray White Double Bay director Elliott Placks was awarded the prize for the No 1 Principal for both the Sydney Blue network and also internationally.
Mr Placks said he was thrilled to win these prestigious awards but said the best was yet to come.
“We continue to feel like we are the hunter, not the hunted, and my winning team will all go further together through our commitment to collaboration,” Mr Placks said.
“It feels amazing to win given this was the year that I took over the reins at Double Bay so I am delighted to see the continued in my team to win the top office for eight years in row.”
For the seventh year in a row, Gavin Rubinstein took home the award for the Top Salesperson in New South Wales Blue, as well as No 1 Salesperson internationally across the Ray White Group of more than 5000 agents.
Having recently opened his own office, Ray White TRG, Mr Rubinstein was proud to celebrate the achievement with his team
Mr Rubinstein said he was pumped to win the top sales award for the seventh year in a row.
“I am just grateful as it’s been a good year but I am very much focused on the current year now. This award speaks volumes to the value that I add to anyone looking to sell their property,” Mr Rubinstein said.
“I have been the top consistent performer in Australia and internationally now for many years and this is a competitive category to win.
“I love that I am repped by Australia’s largest real estate brand. It’s been a good year but I am just focused on this year now.”
The powerhouse Ray White Macarthur Group spanning numerous locations was named as the Top Metro category office (encompassing all suburban Sydney) by settled commission for 2019.
Ray White Macarthur Group’s Mark Jennings and Tim Doyle said they were both incredibly proud of all their salespeople, property managers and support staff.
“We love helping and supporting our team to be their best. We have more than 100 people now across our group and try and encourage each and every one of them to reach their goals,” said the multi-office owners who have been in business together since May 2006.
“The last 12 months have been immensely challenging, so we were just so proud to see so many of our salespeople on stage last night.”
They offered special congratulations to Brendan Lappan.
“He is a machine, he’s Mr Consistent. He’s been No1 or No 2 in NSW Metro Sales for the last 10 years and we could not be more proud of him.”
Wendy Samrani of Ray White Caringbah was named Top Metro Principal and Kieron Stedmon of Ray White Castle Hill picked up the prize for Top Metro Salesperson.
Across Regional New South Wales, Ray White Newcastle was named as the Top Office by settled commission, and Amanda Bonnici of Ray White Shellharbour City was again named as the Top Principal. Neil Campbell of Ray White Gerringong was named as the Top Salesperson.
Shaun Stoker took home both the Tony Fountain Auction award and the Top Auction Agent award recognising his devotion to the auction process, as well as his remarkable results. Ray White Canberra was named the Top Auction Office for New South Wales Blue, whilst Ray White Bankstown was the Top Auction Office for New South Wales Metro, and Ray White Tamworth in Regional NSW.
Following the Ray White Group’s first Auctioneering Championships, Auctioneer of the Year awards were collected by Alec Brown of Ray White Canberra for the Open category, and Mel Payne of the Ray White Newcastle Group in the Rising Star division.
Veteran agent Craig Pontey of Ray White Double Bay was named as the top individual referring agent to Loan Market in New South Wales Blue, along with Brendan Lappan of Ray White Macarthur Group in New South Wales Metro and Shaun Hudson-Smith in Regional NSW.
Ray White NSW CEO Andrew McCulloch said 2018-19 will be recorded as one of the toughest property markets ever seen in this country.
And yet the Ray White Group can now boast a record 11.55 per cent nationally and more than $40.7 billion worth of property sold in 2018-19 across its international network, with 5700 auctions conducted and 4500 people rating the service as a 10/10.
“We are only getting bigger too – we’ve had 300 people join us this year in various roles across the company. This year we welcomed new businesses in Kellyville, Carnes Hill, Redfern, Balmain, Waterloo,” Mr McCulloch said.
“It’s no coincidence that our businesses are 28 per cent more profitable than the industry average.”
Ray White Sydney CEO Jason Andrew said it was great to see some of its group’s existing businesses expand this year into Rozelle, Cammeray, St Ives, Ramsgate Beach, Macquarie Park and Queen St Woollahra.
“These results were testament to the whole group’s resilience in a market when it would have been easy to find excuses,” Mr Andrew said. “We know what it takes to make Australia’s number one group – it’s our members and it’s our family.”
The Director’s Cup Award, given to the person identified as having made a significant contribution to the Ray White brand, was awarded to Michele Lay of Ray White Kiama, with CEOs Jason Andrew and Andrew McCulloch praising her as one of the most respected business leaders in the group.
In property management awards, Michelle Patterson of Ray White Cammeray was named as the Property Manager of the Year for New South Wales Blue; Jennifer Cabrera of Ray White Wetherill Park, Cecil Hills in New South Wales Metro; Scarlett Mackay of Ray White Toronto, Wangi Wangi in Regional NSW.
Property Management growth was recognised with the Business Development of the Year award. Ray White Double Bay took home No 1 in New South Wales Blue, Ray White Cabramatta in New South Wales Metro and Ray White Shellharbour City in Regional NSW.
Property Management Business of the Year was awarded based on gross property management commission. Ray White Maroubra took home the top prize for New South Wales Blue, whilst Ray White Bankstown was No 1 in New South Wales Metro and Ray White Thompson Partners in Regional NSW.
Ray White Sutherland Shire won the Community Service award for ‘The Event’, a black-tie charity night that raised money for the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation, supporting children living in families affected by mental illness.
Excellence in administration was recognised on the night with Gayle Lambert of Ray White Surry Hills, Erskineville winning Administrator of the Year and Ray White Windsor, North Richmond taking home Administration Team of the Year.
