The WIRE’s ultimate book recommendation list for real estate professionals

But which book should you read? We’re here to help out with a round-up of book recommendations from our beloved guests from The Wire this 2022 to match any taste. 

So whether you’re looking to stock up on some new information/inspiration before 2023 or on the hunt for books to fill up a colleague or a friend/family’s stockings, check out our guests’ book recommendations below for a little holiday reading inspiration (and maybe catch up on some podcast episodes too!) 

  1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

If you’re an avid listener of The Wire, you’re probably not surprised to see this book topping our list. 

Named as the top pick by three of our guests this year — namely Jodie Stainton, the recently appointed property management director at Harcourts Solutions; Leteicha Wilson, the business development executive for commercial property at Ray White Commercial; and Chantelle Collin, the head of property management at BresicWhitney — the book is a worldwide bestseller with its claim to fame of helping readers build systems that enable effective habits to emerge.

For further insight into how this book helped these women find their stride in their respective corners of the real estate space, listen to their episodes below. 

• The WIRE: Embracing and driving change in the PM industry
• The WIRE: The changing face of the commercial property management space
• The WIRE: Connectivity through technology and good old-fashioned service

2. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins

Great leaders are always on the lookout for ways to improve how their business operates, and Hayley Van de Ven, the principal and owner of RE/MAX Bayside Properties, shared why she thinks this book deserves not just one, but several re-reads from business leaders. 

“I get a lot of good takeaways in it. Listening to the podcast is not the same as a read for me, and every time I read it again, I get something else in my highlighter pen out,” she said.

Notably, the book was also recommended by Carmen Vicelich, founder and chief executive of Valocity — another groundbreaking business leader in the sector who helped spearhead the joint venture that powered the launch of the industry portal REIP Nexus this year. 

To hear more from Ms Van de Ven and Ms Vichelich, listen to their episodes below: 

• The WIRE: Legacy to Legendary – Rising to the challenge of change
• The WIRE: Doing data right

3. The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World’s Greatest Manufacturer by Jeffrey Liker 

If you’re set on hunkering down with a long but good read this Christmas, Casey Healey, the Metropolitan Principal of the Year at the REB Women in Real Estate Awards 2021, explained why this book is the perfect choice. 

“It’s a really long book, but it’s all about those little 1 per cents. So how can you change things, just that little 1 per cent, to make it better? 

“So those little procedural changes, whether it’s to increase profit to make things easier, taking that lease renewal process which has 37 steps, how can we break it down to 10? How can we get more out of the time that we have?” she stated. 

To hear more from Ms Healey and her unique approach to her business, make sure to listen here. 

4. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss

Described as a “very compelling read” by Lisa Pennell, the former chief operating officer at Harcourts Australia and now the COO at Barry Plant, shared why she thinks the book should be on any real estate professional’s to-read list. 

“[Chris Voss] is an ex hostage negotiator, and I love his thinking around how to get to yes, for everybody,” she stated. 

To hear more about Ms Pennell’s interesting take on how businesses can survive and even transform through unprecedented events such as a global crisis, listen here. 

5. The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues by Patrick Lencioni 

While the management book is generally viewed as a must-read for business leaders, head of people and culture at Laing+Simmons Jacqui Barnes explained why it “helps employees really understand the traits that people are looking for in employment”.

“It focuses on three key areas of consideration when you’re looking at hiring somebody, which are: Are they hungry? Are they humble? Are they smart? 

“And that doesn’t necessarily mean hungry in the traditional sense.[In] real estate, when people think of ‘hungry’, they’ll think of a really motivated salesperson. But it can be the receptionist, who is just as committed to her career and wanting to do a good job for her team and she can be hungry,” she stated. 

To hear more about Ms Barnes’ leadership style and how she got started in the real estate recruitment space, listen here. 

6. New Sales. Simplified.: The Essential Handbook for Prospecting and New Business Development by Mike Weinberg

For those who are looking to build their team in 2023, Melina MacNellie-Verrall, the director and principal of RE/MAX Property Professionals, shared why this book should be on your bedside table (or your beach towel) this summer. 

“[When] you are building a team from scratch, it’s all good and well that you might know how to do sales and stuff, but if you are coaching it and training it and developing people, that’s a whole different thing. And knowing when to have that right coaching conversation. 

“You can also use things that are shared in that book in your property management department as well,” she said of the book. 

Don’t forget to listen to Ms MacNellie-Verrall’s episode here and learn about the makings of her crazy high-gear career. 

7. The Female Investor: Creating Wealth, Security, and Freedom through Property by Nicola McDougall and Kate Hill

Want to take charge of your financial future? Ms McDougall, the director of Bricks & Mortar Media and chair of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA), shared why she believes the book (which she co-authored) continues to be her top reading pick for any woman at any stage of their lives.

“Each chapter of the book could be its own book. And it was really important to both of us to help women create financial freedom, to help them create financial independence. 

“And the book, we really tried very hard to provide information in there for women of any age. So that certainly the young generation, my stepdaughters, my nieces, anyone in their late teens, early 20s. They potentially have the opportunity to become the first financially independent generation of women using property as the vehicle,” she stated.