The difficult conditions experienced in real estate marketing this year have, says Bill Rawson, Chairman of Rawson Properties, exposed those estate agents who have not been giving real service – “and there has been a fair number of them”.  It has also, he said, resulted in large numbers giving up property as a career.
Agents who have worked hard and have given value for money, said Rawson, have almost always survived.
 
“Those who were not prepared to work very hard and to accept that this can never be a nine-to-five job are the ones who have left.”
 
Currently, says Rawson, many of his group’s franchises are in fact now short staffed and many of the successful franchisees are now looking for new agents and/or partners.  This opens up exciting opportunities for those prepared to accept a challenge.
 
Asked if the mentoring/educational process which is now obligatory is not a big deterrent to new agents and to potential franchise buyers without real estate qualifications, Rawson said that the severity of the education process appears to be greatly exaggerated in people’s minds. 
 
“It is, in fact, enjoyable and it will very definitely make agents and principals much more competent.  It can be taken slowly and is not as intellectually challenging as press reports have indicated.”
 
He hoped, he added, that these comments will encourage “the right type of people” to consider residential property marketing as a career. 
 
“Now would be a good time to get into real estate because as our MD, Tony Clarke, and others have said, an upswing within 12 months is now more than likely.”
 
The agent/potential principal who joins the property sector now, he said, has numerous ancillary revenue producing avenues open to him:  he can – and should – open a rental property portfolio, he can organise maintenance, gardening, upgrade and interior decoration services and he can do short-term holiday house leases and exchanges.  He can also become a qualified valuer or auctioneer and branch out into these fields.
 
“The simple truth,” said Rawson, “is that for those with a service attitude property has always been a satisfying career.  It is gratifying to help a family put down roots, establish themselves and build up an asset.”