GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

The Australian federal election is on tomorrow. As an agent, chances are your Saturday is packed with back-to-back open homes, buyer follow-ups, and vendor calls. But don’t forget, voting is compulsory, and polling places will be open from 8am to 6pm. If you time it right, you might even snag a democracy sausage on your way to the next inspection.

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 6 seconds

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BEST PRACTICE

“Your marketing’s Sh*t”: Kathy Sweeney’s brutally honest blueprint for better agents

Kathy Sweeney isn’t one to sugarcoat.

The Broker/Owner of REMAX Living in Burpengary and Woodford took over a long-established office and found agents stuck in their ways, avoiding vendor-paid advertising (VPA), ignoring personal branding, and wondering why their days on market stretched up to a year.

Her blunt verdict? “Your days on market are a year because your marketing’s sh*t.” Kathy’s core belief: if you can’t sell marketing, how can you sell a home?

Branding is a non-negotiable

Kathy’s turnaround formula has two pillars: personal investment and VPA. She pushes agents to embrace their personal brand, even when it feels awkward or expensive.

“You’ve gotta actually do a lot more personal branding… and at times, you’ve actually got to pay,” she says, acknowledging the financial barrier for newer agents. But the ROI is clear. Her agents, who once scoffed at social media, now run billboard campaigns and maintain active LinkedIn profiles.

Systems that scale relationships

Kathy’s own biggest shift wasn’t marketing, it was redefining “client experience.” After a business retreat forced her to reevaluate, she realised her version of CX was a generous 2 out of 10.

Today, she’s implemented a sophisticated system using monday.com to manage dozens of touchpoints, from appraisal to post-settlement follow-up. Think birthday texts, emoji-powered mass messages, and handwritten Christmas cards. The result? A business that’s now 90% referral-driven, up from 80% cold prospecting.

Leadership, loyalty, and a family-first culture

Kathy leads with presence and empathy. She wants her team to feel supported, not micromanaged, and she fiercely defends work-life balance. “If you try and come in between work and family, you’ll lose,” she warns.

She’s proactive about preventing burnout and identifying when agents need support before they hit the wall. Her final word for agents chasing “the next big thing”? Stop. Instead, “spend time looking after the clients you’ve got.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed why being good sales doesn’t translate to being good at business.

TOGETHER WITH MATTERPORT

Matterport's smartphone tools make virtual tours simple

Matterport's latest features aim to make virtual property tours more accessible for real estate agents. The updated mobile app allows agents to create professional-grade 3D scans using just a smartphone, though advanced tools like the Pro3 camera remain available for high-end listings. The new Property Intelligence tool automates room labels, measurements, and detailed insights, significantly reducing manual input. Enhancements like the Compass and Minimap improve navigation within tours, particularly for properties with disconnected or complex layouts. These updates lower the barrier to entry, enabling more agents to use virtual tour technology efficiently.

Read more about Matterport’s recent updates here.

DEPT OZ HOME VALUE

Home prices hit new record high

Australian property values have hit new highs, with the national median price reaching a record $805,000 in April. Regional areas are doing the heavy lifting, growing twice as fast as the capitals, up 0.30% for the month compared to 0.16%. Adelaide’s stealing the spotlight with a standout 10.77% annual rise, making it the surprise front-runner of the major cities. With interest rate moves and election sweeteners for first-home buyers on the horizon, 2025 could see the market get an extra nudge.

DEPT OF NZ PROPERTY

Autumn calm? NZ property market plays it cool

New data from realestate.co.nz shows the New Zealand property market is playing it cool in April 2025, with prices steady and no frantic rush in sight. The national average asking price dipped just 1.7% to $852,364, remaining well within the tight band it has hovered in for the past two years. Meanwhile, stock levels are up 6.2% year-on-year, giving buyers plenty to pick from. It’s not a frenzy, but it’s far from flat, just a well-stocked, steady-paced market where both sides can take a breath.

DEPT OF AI

AI just hit human-level smarts. Now What?

AI isn’t just writing listings or booking inspections anymore, it’s thinking like us. OpenAI’s latest model has reached human-level intelligence, and that’s a big deal. From real estate workflows to ethical landmines, check out what this leap means for your team, your clients, and the way we work in 2025 (and beyond).

CELEBRITY HOMES

Mel Gibson’s old Adelaide digs are up for grabs

A grand old Queen Anne villa in Unley, Adelaide, once owned by Hollywood heavyweight Mel Gibson, is now on the market. The four-bedroom home, built around 1900 for a ship’s captain, caught Gibson’s eye back in 1990 while he was in town shooting Mad Max. These days, it’s had a bit of a modern update, but it still holds onto its charm, with standout features like a classic turret and ornate pressed tin ceilings.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Father-son duo launch Ray White Tingalpa

Shaun and Mitch Witherow bring over 40 years of combined experience to Brisbane's Eastern suburbs, with plans to expand into property management. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Tax time for real estate agents means rummaging through handbags, consoles and crumpled pockets trying to justify that fifth pair of ‘essential’ designer heels as a work expense because, technically, you did wear them to one open home. 👠👜

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, 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.

Stories marked with * are sponsored, including 'Together With' and the weekday 'Movers & Shakers' sections. Interested in promoting your brand to Elite Agent’s audience? Learn more at eliteagent.com/advertise.

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