Why a career in property has never been so hot
Linda Lees could retire this year — but the Tauranga real estate agent isn’t ready to give up her job of 20 years just yet. The 65-year-old loves real estate and has vowed to carry on for as long as she can.
“There’s not a day I don’t want to go to work,” she says. “It’s because I love people.”
Since the Covid-19 lockdown, 42 people in the Bay of Plenty aged 50 or older have joined Lees in the profession. That includes 22 women and 20 men. In total, 154 Bay people applied for the real estate licence post-lockdown.
Real Estate Authority chief executive Belinda Moffat said more people have been entering the real estate profession since the lockdown, with 45 per cent more new licences issued compared to 2019.
At the end of February, there were 15,711 active licence holders, which Moffat said was the highest number since 2018.
The average age of someone applying for a real estate licence nationwide was 38 years old, which suggested applicants were bringing skills and experience to the real estate sector having had careers in other fields, she said.
“This might be due to their work circumstances changing because of Covid-19 or interest in the profession fuelled by the hot real estate market.”
Linda Lees joined the Bayleys Tauranga office in 2000. Her husband, Ray Lees, started there in
nationwide 1994 and now their daughter Laura Lees is part of the team, too.
Linda was working in gardening and landscaping when her husband invited her to join him in real estate. She never looked back.
For Linda and Ray, the job about the people not money.
“We never count the commission,” Linda said. “We are about making people happy.”
Her advice to younger real estate agents joining the profession was to “be personable, be transparent and go that extra mile. It’s about honesty and integrity.” That’s what she has built her reputation on.
When Linda started, she would spend days with clients viewing homes. “I loved that part of it.”
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Now, with new technology and the internet, people can view the property at the click of a button.
“I think we’ve got to embrace that.”
Debbie Smith has worked in real estate for more than two decades. The 61-year-old says she fell into the profession “by default”.
Smith began her career studying for a Bachelor of Social Work degree and moved into Human Resource Management Training.
“I love people, property and interior design. Real estate married the three loves of mine.”
In her first six months, Smith was involved in selling 40 sections in a Wellington subdivision.
“That boosted my career.”
Fourteen years into her real estate role, Smith decided to take a break and moved into fashion. But after 18 months, she started to miss real estate.
“I missed being able to meet different people. I just love helping people achieve their goals.”
The Tremains Rotorua sales consultant’s 23-year career has since included listing and selling residential, rural and commercial properties in Wellington, the Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga and Rotorua.
Smith said industry regulations had changed considerably and house prices had skyrocketed.
“I’ve just sold three properties over $1 million. That’s probably a first for a number of people.”