Each month we interview ONE of our members to discover their story and have them share their experience with us.
Under the spotlight this month is Annette Pinkerton from One Agency Pinkerton Properties in Newcastle, NSW.
Annette has worked in real estate for the last 4 years and joined One Agency in August 2013. We asked Annette to share her experience with us.
What do you love about your work in real estate? What drives you?
I’m happiest when I’m helping people whatever it is. But I’d have to say I’ve always had an interest in houses and property from a very early age when I would build a floor plan in the back yard out of fallen pine needles and pretend it was my cubby house. A few years later and a little bit older and I would draw house plans from scratch in front of the telly of a night – I remember always starting with the kitchen.
What drives me today is to continue to be a role model to my children, now young adults, that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to and follow through with action.
What attracted you to the One Agency business model?
The business model made sense to me. It allows me and my business to keep evolving with changing times. I’m not dictated to as how and what I can and cant do and yet I have the support of Paul Davies and the head office team as well as other principals and One Agency business owners who truly want me to succeed in my business. The One Agency marketing is as modern, clean, fresh and alive as the model.
How is the brand working for you?
The brand is working exceptionally well for me. It stands out from most brands and everyone remarks on One Agency marketing. Comments are that it is striking and suits my personality and style! It’s reflective of me, congruent with my image and in line with my values. All remarks about the brand has been more positive than I could imagine.
Would you recommend One Agency to others?
I have no hesitation in recommending One Agency to others. One Agency has provided me with flexibility, options and a balanced lifestyle.
What do you think keeps your prospective vendors awake at night when they are considering listing their property?
Hopefully my prospective vendors are sleeping knowing that they’re on the right track in selecting me as their choice of agent. Having said that though, I think most prospective vendors have the fear of underselling their property or the fear of not being able to find the right agent.
As a principal of One Agency I’m able to offer my clients a higher standard of commitment and service than I had previously been able to offer as an employee of a large franchise.
Do you think they worry that they can’t trust real estate agents in general?
There is a general consensus is that agents can’t be trusted however both vendors and buyers are not stupid. I believe they can identify the difference by simply asking the right questions to wash out the ones they feel can’t be trusted. Vendors might have to research a little bit more and ask a few more questions to find the right agent for them.
What do you do to build their trust?
Identify their needs and worries by asking relevant questions then show them how they have their needs met and dissolving their worries at the same time. For me it’s all about communication and being transparent.
What makes you the ‘go to’ agent in your local area? What sets you apart?
As a principal of One Agency I’m able to offer my clients a higher standard of commitment and service than I had previously been able to offer as an employee of a large franchise. No more marketing meetings, no more sales meetings, no more valuable time wasted driving around to look at other listings and no more weekly performance review meetings. These meetings alone took one whole day out of my working week.
What attributes do you think are most important in an agent?
As far as the vendor is concerned I believe it is the ability to follow up and negotiate well. Being able to accurately deliver feedback and keeping them well informed at all stages also helps keep the vendor at ease and able to make educated decisions for themselves about their property.
How’s the current state of the market?
Today’s market is seeing a surplus of buyers and multiple offers on properties for sale which is surpassing the expectations of vendors. Those thinking of selling either now or sometime in the future should act now while there is less competition (less properties on the market) and the conditions are favourable for sellers.
What’s great about living in your local area and community?
Newcastle and the Lake Macquarie really has the best of everything especially for those who love the great outdoors. My local area offers many wonderful beaches from Bar Beach all the way through to Dudley and Redhead beaches though there are many more in the region both north and south click here to find out more. One of my favourite places for Sunday breakfast is the Merewether Surfhouse click here for more info. The Fernleigh Track is extremely popular with cyclists, runners, walkers and families alike. It stretches approximately 15.5km from Adamstown to Belmont read more here. Then there’s bush walking, theatre, dining, yachting & skiing on the lake, cruising the harbour and even the magic of the wineries and the Hunter Valley Gardens is only a short drive away.
What do you do outside work?
I love to dance. I begun years ago at Ceroc which is also known at Modern Jive and 2 years ago when I moved back to Newcastle I began a style called West Coast Swing. I have participated in many demonstrations over the years and even signed up for 4-5 day classes within my holidays or time away from work. At present I dance 2-3 times a week.
Contact Annette Pinkerton
T 0418 447 856
E [email protected]
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