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Simon Parker
Real estate professionals from Queensland and the ACT dominated the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) awards in Darwin last night, with each securing four winners.
Pamela Bennett, REIA president, described the awards as one of the best, adding that having the awards in Darwin helped highlight the amazing Northern Territory culture.
“We had the most amazing opening with the recognition of indigenous people and the great display by the NT of their heritage and culture.
“I think it’s been the absolute pinnacle of professionalism, this is what the awards are about.”
Whilst sales performance is important, it is not the sole criteria of choosing winners, says Ms Bennett.
“Yes, we recognise achievement in dollar terms, but more importantly, we want people who see it as a profession and a long term commitment.”
Richard Keely, of ACT-based Luton Properties told Real Estate Business he was shocked and humbled by his Residential Salesperson of the Year award.
“I was very surprised, and very appreciative and humbled,” he said.
Mr Keely attributes the win to his team’s complete focus on their clients.
“We try and tick all the boxes, there’s an emphasis on customer service, not only looking after the seller but looking after the buyer as well. It is more a buyer’s market, so for vendors days on markets are a lot longer so you’ve got to work harder.”
Ben Ciocca, Principal of Provincial Real Estate in WA, won the small agency award, and told Real Estate Business that he was amazed by his victory.
“I was shocked for a company that had only been running for just over two and half years. It is a massive accolade. For the first two years I told my wife ‘you’re not going to see me much at all’. It has paid off, but now it is time to start developing the business even further, working on the business rather than in the business.”
John Runko, CEO of Independent Property Group, won the Innovation Award and his company was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Mr Runko noticed the high success rate of agencies from the ACT.
“It is a great honour and recognition for our people” he said of his award wins.
His company, which had around 250 staff, offers a large array of services which extend well beyond just residential sales and property management, to include project marketing, strata management, commercial, mortgage broking, software development and more.
His company is expanding, having recently opened an office in Queanbeyan, and a strata management business in Sydney.
Winner of the President’s award, Mark Sanderson, managing director of Smallacombe Sanderson from South Australia, doesn’t think the government adequately recognises how much the real estate industry contributes to the Australian economy.
The full list of winners is outlined below:
President’s Award – Mr Mark Sanderson, the Real Estate Institute of South Australia
Large Residential Agency of the Year – Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Manuka, ACT
Medium Residential Agency of the Year – 4one4 Real Estate, TAS
Small Residential Agency of the Year – Provincial Real Estate, WA
Commercial Agency of the Year – Raine & Horne Commercial Canberra, ACT
Residential Salesperson of the Year – Richard Keeley, Luton Properties, ACT
Commercial Salesperson of the Year – Mark Coster, CBRE, VIC
Residential Property Manager of the Year – Katie Knight, RE/MAX Success, QLD
Commercial Property Manager of the Year – Deborah Bishop, CBRE, QLD
Business Broker of the Year – Paul Brooks, Real Estate Dynamics, QLD
Buyer’s Agent of the Year – Simon Pressley, 6-Point Property, QLD
Communications Award – Realmark, WA
Innovation Award – Independent Property Group, ACT
Achievement Award – Jason O'Halloran, Magain Real Estate, SA
Community Service Award – Dee Marlow, Marlow’s Real Estate, WA
Corporate Support Person of the Year - Lee Gimbrere, Harris Property Management, SA
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