24 October 2019

In their own words: up and coming agents

The REINSW Journal spoke to three up-and-coming agents to find out why they entered the real estate industry, the joys and challenges that come with their roles, and how they plan to make their mark in the future.

JYE EMDUR

Property Partner at The Agency

“I’m coming up on two years now in the industry, but when you’re doing 10 or 12 hours a day and six days a week it seems like a lot longer – but I’ve loved every moment of it!

I’m definitely a people person. I was a DJ for 10 years, starting out when I was 14 years old, and have also held roles in both the fitness and travel industries. In fact, I worked as a tour leader in Croatia for a while.

When I returned to Australia, I was looking for something that would allow me to work closely with people and also build a long-term career. I’ve always loved architecture and design and, combined with my passion for working with people, real estate is a great fit.

I work as a Sales Associate to Brad Gillespie at The Agency. From my first sit down with Brad, I knew he was someone I wanted to work with.

I love that I’m learning from the best. From cold calling, listing and preparing a property for sale through to negotiation, closing the sale and all the legal and compliance requirements, I’m learning and developing more than I ever thought possible.

I enjoy building relationships. Whether it’s over four weeks, 12 months or longer, I love putting in the effort to achieve the best outcome for sellers and buyers alike. It’s a privilege to work with them at such an important time of their lives.

As a newcomer to the industry, I feel I bring a lot of energy to my role, as well as resilience. Real estate can be tough. There can be a lot of rejection. You can receive 101 ‘no’s’ every day, but you just have to push through. I always try to focus on the bigger picture.

Every day brings something new. There are new things to learn, new situations to deal with and new challenges. Having the energy and resilience to keep going is essential.

My role means I’m not chained to a desk. Technology allows me to be out and about and still have access to all the information and data I need. I don’t see technology as a threat and don’t believe it will ever replace agents. Good agents will always thrive because they add value to the transaction. I’m going to be one of those agents.

Over the next 12 months, my aim is to keep my foot on the accelerator, gain momentum and build upon what I’ve already achieved.”

ANNABEL NOONAN

Leasing Specialist at DiJONES

“I started in the real estate industry three years ago and have been at DiJONES for 18 months.

I’ve always been interested in the property market and I’ve always liked working with people, so real estate is a great fit for me.

I started out as a property management assistant and I’m now a leasing specialist – I’m enjoying the work I do and find it really engaging. In property management, every day is different. It’s the nature of the game – but that’s what keeps it interesting.

Matching tenants with homes is incredibly rewarding. I often see the same people weekend after weekend at different opens, and when they find a home they like and their application is accepted it’s really satisfying. It gives me a real buzz.

As someone who’s younger and still in the early stages of my career, I think I bring a fresh perspective to my role. Being a renter myself, I have the benefit of experiencing both sides of the relationship – as a property manager and as a tenant – which has provided valuable insight and experience to the rental process.

The property management industry is evolving rapidly, particularly when it comes to technology. Growing up using technology, I’m happy to embrace the opportunities that technology provides us. There are aspects of what we do that are very routine and process driven. It enables many of the routine tasks to be more efficient, which frees up time for me to do things that add more value to my relationships with clients.

The property management team at DiJONES are incredibly supportive. When I started they really took me under their wing and I continue to learn a lot from them every single day.

The leadership team at DiJONES is also outstanding. I truly look up to them and they’re always available to provide advice and support, which for me is essential. As a newcomer to the industry, I believe it’s important for agency leaders to take the time to talk about goals and set plans in place. Checking in to make sure things are on track is also vital.

I’m looking forward to the next 12 months. I’m aiming to finish my Real Estate Licence course and I’m hoping to take the first steps towards transitioning to a business development role.”

HAYDEN ARAPA

Sales and Leasing Negotiator at Bawdens Industrial

“I kicked off my career in the real estate industry in 2014 and, in the blink of an eye, it’s now been five years.

I completed a Diploma in Marketing and a Real Estate Licence simultaneously. I’ve always been interested in sales and marketing, so I knew I wanted to study something in that area – and when the opportunity arose to add a Real Estate Licence to the mix, I jumped at it.

While I was studying, I ran my own landscaping maintenance business. When completing jobs in an area, I would door knock nearby homes to negotiate and secure new clients. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this – meeting new people and landing deals. It excited me. That’s when I knew I was heading in the right direction pursuing a career in real estate.

I landed my first industry job at a small commercial agency. I was working as a junior office assistant in sales and leasing and it didn’t take me long to realise that this was the profession for me.

I started at Bawdens Industrial 18 months ago and I specialise in the sale of land for industrial development. I enjoy hunting for unoccupied vacant land that’s ready to go to market and my goal is to educate owners about the potential for a significant increase in the value of their asset. I also work with businesses of all shapes and sizes, and I’m grateful to work in an industry where I get to connect with hundreds of different people and their businesses in my community.

Every day is a new opportunity to learn and build relationships, which in my view is one of the keys to success. It’s fulfilling to be able to offer a service that assists businesses to secure future growth. This gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

I believe it’s important for agency leaders to work with up-and-coming agents to build a business plan. It needs to be a joint approach, so your personal goals are aligned with those of the company. Regular review meetings are a must to ensure things stay on track. Mentorship is also important and I’m fortunate that the leaders at Bawdens Industrial have a wealth of knowledge and experience to bestow.

I may still be a little green, but I’m dedicated and hungry; I’ve already achieved area sales records. I’ve set myself some difficult targets for the next 12 months. Some may say these targets are unachievable, but I like to think big. I’d also like to climb the corporate ladder and have set my sights on a directorship.”

This article first appeared in the Sept/Oct REINSW Journal.

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