Leaving school at 16, Casey Healey was impatient to start her career in real estate. Today, she’s a Director of two successful Century 21 agencies, and is focused on always moving forward and embracing every opportunity that comes her way.
By KATHY SALTER
“Real estate found me, I didn’t go looking for it,” Casey Healey, Director of Century 21 Novocastrian and Century 21 Carkeet Johns Smith, said. “I can honestly say that I fell into this business.”
When Casey left school at 16, she had no interest in higher education and was impatient to start work.
“If I’m completely honest, I just wanted a career and I could see that there was so much growth and opportunity within a real estate business,” she said. “I started out as a receptionist and I’ve since worked my way through almost every agency role to be where I am now.
“From day one, I could see those stepping-stones in real estate and that I’d be able to have a career without formal tertiary education – and that’s what has driven me.”
Casey is passionate about the pace of real estate.
“I love the speed of this industry,” she said. “I love the flexibility and I love the technology that allows us to do so much more. I love how there are so many facets to what we do.
“It’s not just about selling or leasing property. You need to understand tech and you need to know marketing. You need to have a hand in everything to run a successful real estate business.
“Today, what motivates me is the challenge of staying at the forefront of the industry. Being just that little bit different, a little bit better or caring a little bit more.”
Challenging the status quo
For inspiration, Casey turns to training, attending seminars and listening to podcasts.
“I have some excellent coaches in my corner whom I greatly respect, and I learn a lot from my colleagues in the industry,” she said. “When you attend training events, that’s when you make friends with these people and you can start collaborating.”
Always learning, Casey loves to challenge the status quo.
I love the speed of this industry. I love the flexibility and I love the technology that allows us to do so much more. I love how there are so many facets to what we do.
“I don’t like standing still,” she said with a smile. “I’m always looking for ways to improve. I love that quote about being one per cent better every day. Rather than do something because that’s how it has always been done, I’ll ask why we do it that way. Is there a better way? A faster way? Can we add more value to our customers? I’ll always challenge the way things are done because that’s how to make them better.”
Embracing the latest technology is one of the most important ways that Casey challenges the status quo.
“I’m really excited about what’s happening in the AI space and what ChatGPT can do for us,” she said. “Writing isn’t my forte and I love what I can do with AI.
“I like using technology to enhance the customer experience and not take away from the personal touch. As I’m growing the business, I’m looking for people who are as excited about speed and change and technology as I am.
The latest tech also allows us to bring younger people into the business. If they have the right attitude, we can teach them along the way.”
Hard work pays off
For agents who are starting their real estate careers, Casey’s advice is that success never comes before hard work and it can take time to build the momentum you need.
“You also need to remember that you can’t do everything yourself,” she advised. “If you want to go far, do it alone. If you want to go further, do it together. My business partners will tell you that I don’t always follow that, but I’m getting better.”
Casey is a firm believer in having a strong morning routine.
“I like to get up early and make time for myself,” she said. “I always go to the gym, and I find that writing a list and setting your intentions for the day will make it run so much better.”
Casey also recognises the importance of taking breaks from work, although that hasn’t always been easy to do during the busiest times of her career.
“I’ve been working on an acquisition, so I’m pretty busy at the moment,” she said. “But, when I can, I take time out for the simple things like being with my family on the beach. The beach is my happy place and I love anything around the water. I like camping and caravanning and being outside, always by the water.”
What motivates me is the challenge of staying at the forefront of the industry. Being just that little bit different, a little bit better or caring a little bit more.
Looking to the future
As passionate as she is about real estate, being with family is what makes Casey Healey happiest in life.
“But I do work a lot and I love what I do, so that makes me happy too,” she said. “I am very grateful for the financial opportunities that real estate has given me. It’s allowed me to build an investment portfolio and given me great balance in my life.
“I also love the people in our business. I’m excited to be working with my new business partners and what that means for us moving forward. We have some big plans over the next few years. We are merging two offices and have more than 1500 properties under management.
“I now have three business partners, so that’s really exciting. I love change and I hate sitting still.
“Over the next 12 months, my goals are for the two teams from those offices to be working as one, to grow our sales capability and also grow our rent roll along the way as well.
“On a personal level, my goal is to make more time for myself and my family and achieve more of that balance I’m always talking about. So I’ve booked two holidays, one in July and one in September, and that will be a great way to round out the year before the summer market kicks in again.”
One phrase that Casey likes to live by is: Your greatest learnings will come from your greatest adversities.
“I’ve found this to be true more than ever just recently,” she said. “There have been some big changes and they can be tough at the time, but they have worked out for the best.”