GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

It’s great to be back after a long weekend! Coffee lovers, your next listing might just have a fresh perk. RMIT University has brewed up an eco-friendly innovation by mixing spent coffee grounds into concrete, and it's already being used in major infrastructure projects. Lavazza driveways anyone?

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 23 seconds.

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

BEHIND THE SCENES

The Block couples and their real estate strategies

What does it take to nab a listing on The Block?

This year’s contestants spill the tea on who they chose to sell their house and what was the deciding factor in their selection process. From established real estate names to up-and-coming local agents, the choices varied widely. Some contestants prioritised experience, while others focused on innovative marketing strategies.

The importance of a strong online presence was a must for all contestants and some participants valued agents who had strong connections within the community.

Grant and Courtney selected Yvette Tancheff from Ray White Phillip Island because they were impressed by the brand's strong track record on the island

”We were attracted to Ray White from the get-go,” said Grant. “I am a big believer in going off history and they’ve got the best results on the island as most properties sold. Plus, they have a massive database of buyers nationally and it could very well be someone who buys it from interstate.”

The house has been professionally photographed with video shot for socials and an intimate event has been organised for top-tier buyers. ”We’re happy with the interest we’ve had in the property so far and keen to host private viewings and give people the time and privacy to look at it in their own time.”

Kristian and Mimi went with Jaime Morris from Stockdale and Leggo after a gut feeling struck them during an Instagram scroll.

"We got goosebumps watching their video - there was an instant connection," said Mimi. The couple wanted agents who mirrored their fun, laid-back personality, and Stockdale and Leggo fit the bill. ”They just had a vibe that was really fun,” said Kristian. “Like, yes, it looked like they took work seriously, but at the same time, they look like very relatable people, people that we could connect with.

“The other names that we looked at didn’t have the same type of energy.”

Maddy and Charlotte came in late to the game but quickly found their match in Krystal Chandler from O'Brien Real Estate in Phillip Island.

The couple praised their agent Krystal for going above and beyond, even scrubbing paint off the floor before a photoshoot. "It’s important for us to work with people who share our values of kindness and integrity," Maddy said. ”They’re just lovely people who want to see us win.”

Maddy and Charlotte replaced Jesse and Paige who exited the show, leaving them scrambling to finish rooms and find an agent.

“We obviously came in late to the competition, so we were just asking around, ‘who could anyone recommend?’ We were keen to get someone that was local but also had offices in Melbourne.”

Ricky and Haydn (pictured above) chose Aaron Hill from Ray White Sunbury to represent them, and Milo Rasinac will conduct the auction.

With Aaron's previous Block experience and the support of a local Ray White Phillip Island team, the couple felt they had the perfect mix of expertise and local knowledge. "Aaron’s been through this before, and knowing the area well was a big plus," said Haydn. Haydn and Ricky have been involved in crafting their marketing campaign with Ray White and hosting private viewings to bolster the number of legitimate buyers coming through.

Kylie and Brad are working with Greg Price from Alex Scott Real Estate Phillip Island and Michael Townsend from McGrath Real Estate.

This will be Michael's 6th time selling a property on the show and it should be noted he has successfully won three Block auctions before.

ICYMI, on Friday we covered some tips on what you need to drive a seamless auction day

TOGETHER WITH AI POWERED AGENTS

We have about 13 weeks to go to Christmas, but you may be able to kick off the festivities early. Samantha Maclean from AI Powered Agents has penned a timely piece on the "Letters from Santa" strategy, which is a clever way for real estate agents to spread holiday cheer while building relationships with their community.

Originally created by Chris Gilmour of All Properties Group, this tactic involves collecting details from local kids who want a letter from Santa and delivering a personalised note to them.

Now, with tools like ChatGPT, agents can quickly draft custom letters for kids. AI can also help streamline the collection of children's details, analyse the letter to see what gift they want (easily done by snapping a pic and asking ChatGPT to review), and even generate a creative content response from Santa with fun images with a program called Midjourney.

Read more about the Letter from Santa strategy here

SMART SNIPPETS

Renters catch a break
Australia's rental market is showing signs of relief. The pace of rental growth has slowed to 7 per cent year-on-year, the lowest since 2021. Median weekly rents hit $610 nationally, with Sydney remaining the priciest at $730. Interestingly, Melbourne emerged as one of the more affordable capitals. While supply is still tight, experts predict more balanced conditions ahead.

Queensland rules out rent caps
Queensland has officially scrapped the idea of introducing rent caps, a decision that has been welcomed by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ). Both the Premier and Leader of the Opposition confirmed during the Great Debate that rent control measures are a no-go. REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella praised the move, noting that it restores investor confidence and allows a focus on boosting housing supply, which she believes is the best way to stabilise rents.

Housing market cooling but still growing
Australia's property market is showing signs of cooling, but don't expect prices to drop just yet. ANZ Research forecasts a 7.3 per cent rise in capital city housing prices for 2024, slowing to 5.5 per cent in 2025. Perth continues to outpace other cities with a projected 25.1 per cent increase this year. However, supply constraints and affordability issues persist, with building approvals at record lows and deposit savings time stretching to 10.6 years.

SOUND WAVES

No news isn’t always good news 

Don’t wait for the dreaded "we need to talk" moment from you boss, be proactive and ask how your work is fairing.

Today’s curated listen is about how to check in with your team leader, highlight your recent wins and ask for some honest feedback. It’s a simple way to stay ahead in the property game.

Dive straight into the listen below or the deeper dive here.

Read the article from Channels News Asia here

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

It’s one of those open homes where time moves slower than paint drying. This real estate agent sits, stands, paces, then peeks into the fridge … still nothing. Is it acceptable to take a nap on the perfectly fluffed couch then? ⏳🛋️

Seen an Agent On Social we should include? Let us know here (email link)

Wishing you a productive day

Elite Agent is crewed by Mark Edwards, Catherine Nikas-Boulos, Rowan Crosby, Giverny Pringle, Charmagne Arrubio and Samantha McLean. We aim to uplift the real estate industry by delivering forward-thinking, hype-free news and education that fosters knowledge and fuels ambition.

If you see a * beside a story, it means it’s a sponsored post. To enquire about advertising with us, visit eliteagent.com/advertise.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.