Teen one of country’s youngest agents
Fletcher Hautapu isn’t licensed to drive a car, but he’s already wheeling and dealing as one of the youngest licensed real estate agents in New Zealand.
The Palmerston North teenager turned 18 in November, and by the end of December he was working for Harcourts. Hemade the company’s first sale of 2021.
Hautapu admitted it was an unusual career for someone so young, when most of his colleagues were on their second or third careers, but he’s always wanted to do it.
‘‘When I was 16, I put together a list of what I called my ‘Dream 50’ which were properties, mostly around Palmerston North, that I hoped to [help sell] one day.’’
Hautapu said he had always been passionate about design and architectural aesthetics, and loved talking to and meeting new people.
Being a real estate combined his two favourite things.
‘‘But I’mstill young, so I’m treating it like an apprenticeship... and if I decide I want to do something else later, I’ll have a lot of business and sales skills and some money [to get started].’’
Hautapu got his first big opportunity just weeks into the job when a couple asked him to show them a property 15 minutes outside of Palmerston North.
‘‘But I had no way to get there,’’ he said. ‘‘I ended up having to call up my dad to take me out.’’
He aimed to get his restricted drivers’ licence before starting at Harcourts – but testing stations were so booked out he won’t get his shot until the end of the month.
Hautapu said the biggest challenge on the job was his lack of life experience.
Older agents could relate to a wide range of people through their personal experiences, but Hautapu had only just left high school.
‘‘I’d never bought or sold a house before myself... [and] I’m trying to get people’s trust to deal with the biggest asset in their lives.’’
He tried to listen more carefully and ask questions, to understand how to put buyers and sellers at ease and make the process easier for them.
Testimonials from his clients, provided by Harcourts, described him as an energetic and hardworking ‘‘breath of fresh air.’’
Professionals Unique Realty’s Whetu na Nagara, 22, said over his two years in the industry, he’d seen more young people becoming agents.
However, it was still fairly uncommon because it was easier to get started after a couple of different long-termjobs, building a wider social circle to dip into for your first clients. ‘‘At our age, most of your contacts and friends aren’t really thinking about getting into the market. They’re just not in that stage of their lives.’’
Nagara said that was a big disadvantage, even when houses were virtually selling themselves.