Realmark the aging pop star?

This month at Realmark we are celebrating a very significant milestone – we turn 20.

20 years ago my wife and business partner Anita and I flung open the doors to our tiny little agency, just the two of us and some second-hand office furniture.

We now employ a team of more than 120 people across seven residential offices and a commercial division. I’ve been asked many a time what is the key to our longevity, how did we survive this long in the notoriously fickle world of real estate? Well I’ve got to say, we took a leaf out of Madonna’s book and learnt to reinvent ourselves over and over again.

No matter what you think about Madonna, there is no denying that the woman has managed to sustain a very successful career over many years through adapting and making herself relevant to the next generation of music fans. We may operate in the far less glamorous world of real estate but let me tell you, Realmark have had many different looks over the past twenty years and I honestly think that is what it takes to succeed in this industry.

Real estate is a funny business, it is so heavily influenced by the economy, by consumer sentiment – it is unpredictable. So if you want to work in that space, you have to be ready to take the ride and be willing to adapt and evolve with industry as necessary. While this definitely rings true for real estate, it really applies to any business – you need to stay relevant. Change can be a scary thing for many, but it is not something we fear around here because we cannot afford to. A major part of our everyday business strategy is keeping one step ahead. We are continuously researching technology, communication, marketing – anything that may improve the way we service our customers and help us stand out from the crowd.

No, Realmark is not the same business it was in 1989, and we won’t be the same business we are now five years down the track, I will make sure of it.

For me the past 20 years have been a challenging but very fulfilling ride. If I may get a little sentimental for a minute (well it is my blog after all), many people often measure success in dollars, but I can honestly say that for Anita and myself the highlight of the last 20 years is seeing the business and the people in it grow and prosper. What is a business without its people? We are lucky to have the best of the best working with us, so thanks to all of you.

Happy birthday Realmark.

The upside of uncertain times

These uncertain financial times have seen a real change of pace in this state and while the news definitely isn’t all good, it isn’t all bad either. Opportunities are certainly opening up for us at Realmark.

As an employer, things have really changed for us in the past four to six weeks. Previously and during boom time it was so hard to find good help. Many job seekers had this feeling that there was always more money or more benefits on offer and many followed cash, rather than the best career prospects. Don’t get me wrong, this does not apply to everyone, but it was very noticeable trend for most employers.

Today things are different. When we recruit we find we have much more choice when it comes to candidates, which gives us a far higher chance of finding the quality we seek. I see this as a massive time of opportunity for us. Realmark is going to continue to work hard to find the right people and build a premium team, not just the best agents, but the also best support and administration staff. We have even brought a full time HR manager on board to help us achieve this.

We are very lucky to already possess some of the best people this business has to offer, but there are gaps that need to be filled and now is the time. Our people are our biggest asset, and the right team means better results for our clients, which is the key to our success. We have always worked hard at being an employer of choice and we will continue to do so.

I think this is an important part of any business, making the most of all situations. Don’t get wrapped up in the hype around the financial crisis and miss opportunities because it’s true, there is an upside to everything. You just need to find it.

Check out our site dedicated to careers in real estate www.careersinproperty.com.au