Why real estate and how did you start in the industry?
My entire career has been about property. Firstly, property law, then property development and consultancy, and now selling. My background was the perfect foundation to grow a real estate business. I also love the contact with people and helping them reach their goals and dreams. My father was also a rural agent.
How does your usual day look?
Wake early, meditation and exercise, followed by coffee and plan the day with my hubby. My week is very structured, so it depends on what day of the week it is. Monday and Tuesday are for call-backs, Wednesday and Thursday appointments, and Friday is a day off. Then Saturday and Sunday are open homes – and a million things in between.
What do you enjoy most about being with Ray White? What makes real estate different?
I love how advanced our technology is compared with the competition. It gives us such an edge and a jump on our competitors.
When you list with Ray White, you list with 2,100 agents New Zealand-wide who could potentially sell your property. We work together as one big team. With Ray White, it is possible to be whatever you want to be whether it is a top agent or business owner. The world is your oyster.
Tell me about a unique success story?
There are so many. But a recent one was a vendor choosing to sell for $3 million as a pre-auction offer, but the buyer ended up not being ready in time, so the auction went ahead selling for $3.5 million with a lot of bidding and competition. I was so pleased that the auction was not cancelled, went ahead, and had a life-changing outcome for my vendors.
What is the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you first started out?
The importance of consistency in a particular patch whilst marketing yourself digitally. There are two main avenues in my opinion. Your patch where you need to be consistent and then your overall market presence. It is a business cost and its something you need to commit to doing well, right from the get-go. Hindsight is not a winning strategy.
Where do you see yourself in the next 12 months? What are your goals?
This year will probably be the last year you will see me in the top of the country recognition stakes. I am shifting my focus to mainly mentoring and growing my team. I will still work for friends and past clients, but my motto is quality, not quantity. I Just want to focus on outstanding results for clients and growing my people as a business owner.
Are there any other Ray White women who inspire you and why?
Marie Roas has always been such a legend and an extremely incredible achiever for years, even through the loss of her husband, she carried on and is still a magic operator – especially for her age. She was outstanding when it was still quite a heavily male-dominated industry. I respect her enormously and she is a lot of fun.
What advice would you give to women starting out in the industry?
Make the most of the networks that are available to you uniquely as women and use it to your advantage. Especially when your children are little there are so many opportunities to meet other parents, network, support community events. It can be so rewarding to give back as your career grows if you are consistent with your community involvement and support.