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Celebrating the milestone of having called 5,000 live-event sales, a Brisbane auctioneer has reflected on how the process has changed.
Paul Moore, network performance manager at LJ Hooker, remembers each of the events he’s presided over well, thanks in large part to the journal entries he’s been keeping since his very first auction.
“I was understudy to another LJ Hooker auctioneer back in the day and I had to do 12 auctions under supervision as part of my licence, so I started putting it in a journal and I just kept going,” Mr Moore explained.
Even with a short break in the middle of his auctioneering career, the real estate veteran has kept the tradition going strong, spending some time every Sunday reflecting on the week’s events, which now fill up seven volumes.
He’s sure he’s got a few thousand more in him yet.
Mr Moore gained his auctioneer licence in 1993 and called the bulk of the auctions conducted out of his franchise office, LJ Hooker Sunnybank Hills, which he ran for 10 years.
The Brisbane market expert then stepped away from auctioneering to focus on his corporate career with LJ Hooker, before being lured back by the thrill of the sale in 2002. He now calls auctions on a part-time basis.
Though Brisbane doesn’t have as strong an auction market as bigger siblings Sydney or Melbourne, Mr Moore has seen the practice gaining in popularity over the years, particularly in the city’s outer southern suburbs.
He’s also embraced a recent change in the live-sale landscape, with online streaming now an integral part of the process. Mr Moore ensures that all his sales are broadcast so onlookers and participants can follow along remotely.
He believes it’s vital that people feel comfortable with the auction process as a transparent method to buy and sell property, whether as buyers or as vendors. He likes to remind those whose homes don’t sell after going under the hammer that hosting the event can often lead to a sale through negotiation, and it empowers sellers with an understanding of their property’s worth.
It wouldn’t be surprising, however, if part of the auction appeal for residents of Sunnybank — where he primarily still operates — is the attitude Mr Moore brings to the sale.
“Auctions are a very exciting way to sell — there is always the potential for a result every time. I genuinely love calling them,” he said.
Stephen Mutton, head of network performance Australia for LJ Hooker, attested to Mr Moore’s unwavering energy for auctioneering.
“Paul’s dedication to the process and his commitment to calling auctions is second-to-none and our network has benefited greatly from all his experience and his caring approach to sellers, buyers and agents,” Mr Mutton said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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