SACHA WEBB

021363387 | sacha@camreal.co.nz

What was your first job?

I was a radio reporter for Radio New Zealand. Out of broadcasting school I was offered an internship at RNZ in Wellington as a rural reporter. It was a great job. I covered really interesting topics that would not have been the norm in general news. After six months I went to Ashburton to work as the local reporter at 3ZE (RNZ radio station). I covered everything from the bowls report to the closing of the local freezing works. It was also Jenny Shipley’s electorate, she was the health minister at the time, so that kept me busy.

What inspired you to become an agent?

My husband and I came home to New Zealand with our two children after living in the UK for seventeen years. There I worked in corporate PR as well as starting and running my own brand/business. The combination of skills I had developed was a perfect fit for real estate. The decision came as a bit of a light bulb moment. I woke up in the middle of the night and thought, I’m going to sell real estate. The next morning, I told my husband my plan, he looked a little confused but went with it. The rest is history.

How long have you been in the real estate industry and what drives your success?

I have been working in real estate for a good six years. My driver is people. The saying ‘there’s a house for everyone’, is true. For me, the key is to understand what people need and what they want to achieve. From there it is all about developing a strategy to make that happen. When it all comes together and you put up the sold sticker, it really is the most rewarding feeling.

What motivates you to succeed?

The people. My job is all about relationships and I’ve met some incredible and diverse people along the way. So interesting.

What interests do you have outside of real estate?

Well, that’s a cute question! I do try and play tennis once a week, I love a bit of yoga and I often spend down time cooking. It’s a form of meditation for me. I can spend hours in the kitchen, making mess and creating meals. I love to sit at the table with my family and enjoy a home cooked meal. The busier lives gets with work and teenagers, the more of a treat it is.

What do you wish you knew in your first year of being an agent?

I think the key thing to know is it takes time to get traction. You’ve got to back yourself and put in the mahi. If you work hard and treat people well, success follows.

What’s the best piece of life advice you’ve ever received?

A friend of mine in the UK, Chris, used to constantly give me great advice. One day she asked me ‘ How do you make God laugh?’ The answer, ‘Tell him your plans’. I love this. It is funny as a joke but also an exceptionally good piece of advice. Life never quite goes to plan and being flexible and resilient is sometimes the only way forward.

If you could own a home/holiday home anywhere in New Zealand, where would it be and why?

I would love a home in central Otago. It is just so beautiful. We are skiers and I have this romantic notion that life would be all outdoors followed by home-cooked hot meals on a large wooden table and red wine by the fire.

What’s the most challenging part about your work?

Saying no. It’s really hard to say no but you do have to put some boundaries in place otherwise you would find yourself working 24/7.

Who do you look up to in terms of your career?

I have had an amazing mentor in real estate. Ali B (Alison Boone) who is now my business partner, took me under her wing early on. She is a real estate maestro and together we have a lot of fun and make a wonderful team.

Outside of your career, what achievement are you most proud of?

Corny but true, it would have to be my family.

What advice would you give to prospective vendors in the current market?

There is no denying, it is a tougher slower market, but things are selling. Priced and marketed right, things will sell. On average homes currently take 60 days to sell whereas a year ago it was 32 days. So, you need a lot of patience and a good agent to help you through the process.

To anyone looking into getting into the real estate industry, what advice would you give them?

Find an agent or team that you aspire to and learn from them. Depending on your age and stage, a safe and sensible way to start off is to be a PA in a good team, you gain a lot of experience from being around good agents, learning by osmosis is invaluable.