GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

Real estate isn’t just about listings and leads, it’s about levelling up. Whether you’re chasing a GCI goal, building your brand, or just trying to survive another Wednesday open home, a great coach can be your secret weapon.

As we celebrate International Coaching Week, let’s give a nod to the mentors, trainers, and accountability buddies who keep you sharp, sane, and slightly more organised than you were yesterday. Because in real estate, having someone in your corner isn't a luxury, it's leverage.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 13 seconds

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PROFILE

Generations of influence

What Harry M. Miller’s legacy can teach you about high-performance real estate

At just 26, Dougal Miller-Sneddon has already become a high-end force at LJ Hooker Terrigal, notching record sales and elite listings across the Central Coast. But behind the rapid rise is more than hustle, it’s legacy.

Dougal is the grandson of the late Harry M. Miller, the legendary Australian impresario who shaped public life and media for decades. And, it’s clear Harry’s influence runs deep. “He created his own path and I’m trying to pave my own… it’s something I carry with me every day,” Dougal says.

Natural charisma meets learned hustle

What makes Dougal tick? A mix of inherited showbiz charm and boots-on-the-ground work ethic. LJ Hooker Terrigal principal, Tim Andrews, who hired him without knowing his famous lineage, recalls being struck by his “presence and cheekiness.” But charm alone doesn’t close multi-million dollar deals, discipline, energy, and emotional intelligence do. “He’s great with high-end clients… enthusiastic, a tonne of energy,” Tim says.

Start where you can add value, not ego

Dougal began in a support role, doing the "grunt work" for Tim. That humility paid off, not just in learning fast, but in earning real trust inside the team and with clients. "Too many agents skip foundational steps chasing quick wins, but building your reputation from the ground up gives you leverage that shortcuts never will, he says.

Confidence is learned - and practised

His approach to negotiation? Look people in the eye. Shake hands firmly. Tell the truth. Simple? Yes. But in a market where trust is currency, this kind of grounded professionalism wins deals. It also means backing yourself when opportunity knocks. Dougal says part of his edge came from observing high-stakes deal-making from a young age.

“You have to respect someone who came from nothing and, and built all that he did and accomplished all that he did,” he says of his grandfather. “I think he'd be super proud of me. I'm following my passion, I'm doing something that I love and I work extremely hard.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we reported on how to win over the downsizer market.

Together with VIEW

VMG signs nine top real estate brands to view.resi platform

View Media Group (VMG) has secured a series of new agency partnerships for its view.resi residential marketing solution, with leading firms such as Highland, Marshall White, BresicWhitney and Abercromby’s now on board. The platform, launched in late 2024, aims to reduce marketing costs, improve lead quality, and give agents greater control over their customer data.

Antony Catalano, executive chairman of VMG, said the calibre of brands joining the platform “demonstrates the industry's appetite for change that delivers more leads that are of better quality and cheaper to secure while also helping the industry develop its own unique data sets.”

With performance tools like Acquire and integrated AI through Propic, VMG is positioning itself as a strategic alternative to traditional listing portals—offering agencies a path to stronger vendor engagement and long-term independence. Read more about View’s new signings here.

DEPT OF TIKTOK TAX

No you can’t claim the fun stuff - CPA slams social media tax myths

Think you can write off that Louis Vuitton as a laptop bag? Think again. CPA Australia is warning taxpayers, especially agents and business owners, not to fall for TikTok tax hacks suggesting designer handbags or pet office dogs can be claimed as work expenses. “This is not serious advice. It should be ignored,” says CPA Tax Lead Jenny Wong. The ATO’s watching, and social media myths won’t fly. Bottom line: If it looks like fashion, smells like fluff, and came from TikTok, don’t claim it.

DEPT OF RESELLERS

Still winning: most Kiwi property sellers bank a profit in 2025

Despite a soft NZ market, it’s not all doom and downturn - nine out of ten Kiwis who sold their homes in early 2025 still made a tidy profit. According to Cotality’s latest Pain and Gain report, the average seller pocketed NZD $290K, proving time in the market still beats timing the market. Short-term flippers? Not so lucky, especially those offloading apartments in Auckland, where nearly 1 in 3 resales saw a loss.

DEPT OF AI

New! "Leads to Listings with AI" online workshop is here.

Ready to secure more listings? Join Samantha McLean for our free virtual event on May 22nd at noon AEST and learn exactly how to leverage AI to convert your leads into signed listing agreements. You'll walk away with practical, human-focused techniques to build stronger client relationships, persuasively showcase your unique value, and ultimately win more listings using the latest AI tools.

Spots are filling up fast, so don't miss this chance to learn how to immediately boost your business and gain a competitive edge, all from the comfort of your own space.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Baz Luhrmann slashes price on his ‘Moulin Rouge’-style NYC townhouse by 9 million

Baz Luhrmann’s Manhattan townhouse is back on the market, and this time, it’s had a dramatic plot twist. Originally listed at AUD $30M, the five-story stunner is now going for AUD $21M. Think grand staircases, 16-foot ceilings, a private cinema, and just enough theatrical flair to say, “Yes, the director of The Great Gatsby lives here.” After years of globe-trotting and redesigns, Luhrmann and wife Catherine Martin are ready to pass the spotlight to the next buyer.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Dexter Prack returns to Ray White

The Judd White Group Managing Director has brought his successful Melbourne agency back to where he started his career in 1994. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
Get the latest on top agent and agency moves every Sunday with our weekly roundup in Movers & Shakers. Subscribe now.

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Yes, price matters... but whatever happened to "Hello, how are you?" These days it's straight to "What’s your fee?" and "Can you do it for less?" Mate, I haven’t even had my coffee yet. Can we at least pretend to be friends first? 👋🏼

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

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players. Thought Leaders is the weekly show where top operators reveal how they’re reinventing real estate. AI-Powered Agents is your playbook for deploying AI that sells homes and scales teams.

Elite Agent is crewed by Mark Edwards, Catherine Nikas-Boulos, Rowan Crosby, 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.

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