GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Happy Easter from all of us at Elite Agent! 🐰🥚

We’re hopping off for a little chocolate-fuelled break and will be back April 7 with all the latest news, insights, and agent-level secrets you actually want to read. In the meantime, enjoy the long weekend, eat some chocolate (or hide it from the kids!), and recharge those deal-making batteries. We’ll be back soon with the tips, listings, and juicy industry gossip that keep you ahead of the game.

True or False?

Leaving personal items, stacks of magazines, and miscellaneous belongings in a home helps buyers envision how their own furniture and routines would fit in the space.

(Scroll to the bottom for the answer!)

In today’s edition of The Brief

• How does centralised AML compliance work?

• NZ market stalls but buyers keep browsing

• Private treaty or auction? Which is right for your buyer

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 43 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

AML

As reforms loom, one network doubles down on centralised compliance

While agencies across Australia work to meet AML compliance, trading checklists, stress-testing workflows, and debating whether to outsource or automate, one network has taken a fundamentally different approach. Woodards isn’t just preparing for the regulatory shift; they’ve re-engineered compliance across their entire 23-office network.

While many agencies focus on the “what” of AML compliance, Woodards asked a better question, “Where should this actually live?”

Their answer was a Group Reporting Model that centralises obligations at head office, lifting the burden from individual offices while ensuring compliance isn’t just about paperwork.

Agents still initiate customer due diligence through a digital platform, but complex tasks, such as suspicious activity reporting, audits, and regulatory oversight, are handled centrally, giving teams immediate confidence.

CEO Nigel O’Neil frames the approach as more than compliance: “We aren’t just waiting for legislation to change; we are setting the standard for how a modern, responsible real estate group prepares for the future.” The model protects brand, agent, and customer simultaneously, creating a structured, risk‑aware workflow.

By centralising now, Woodards not only smooths the regulatory transition but also builds a blueprint that turns compliance into operational strength.

What you'll learn in the full article: 

• The Group Reporting Model explained: How head office becomes the lead entity and what that means for individual offices

• The compliance split: Which tasks agents handle vs. what gets centralised – and why that distinction matters

• The "unified shield" approach: How to mitigate risk at brand, agent, and customer level at once

• Future-proofing vs. preparing: Why waiting for legislation to change puts you behind.

This isn't about checking boxes – it's about building a system that protects everyone while letting agents focus on clients. Understanding these levers can change how you lead your team – and how consistently they perform.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI yesterday, we reported on the three leadership levers: accountability, recognition and communication.

NZ MARKET

NZ property pause amid economic uncertainty

March 2026 saw New Zealand’s property market slow, with new listings barely rising 0.2% year-on-year and average asking prices holding steady at $859,683. While national activity eased, buyer interest surged nearly 20%, showing Kiwis are still actively searching. Regional disparities were stark: Gisborne and Central Otago saw double-digit price growth, while Wairarapa dipped 5.6%. With stock levels at a March high not seen since 2015, motivated buyers have more choice and less competition, despite ongoing economic and geopolitical headwinds.

BACK TO BASICS

When to use a private treaty sale vs auction

New agents often default to the method they know, but top performers switch confidently between auction and private treaty. This guide breaks down when each method works best, and how to choose the right one for every property.

AI

From AI subscriber to builder in two years

Two years ago, Samantha McLean's AI toolkit was a neat grid of subscriptions. Now she's cancelled ChatGPT Pro and built nine apps herself with Claude Code, saving a neat $800 a month on one SaaS app alone. Her 2026 stack might be a preview of where the rest of us are heading.

HOW IT SOLD

17 days to $74k above the median

Lisa Borstel's multi-channel campaign – portals, social media, and a database blast targeting first-home buyers and investors – generated six written offers on a three-bedroom weatherboard in Belmont North. The property sold for $907,000, well clear of the suburb's $833,000 median, with the deal going unconditional by day 17.

A listing lasts weeks. The case study lasts forever. getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Ryan Seacrest cuts Napa Valley estate by US$2M

After nearly two years on market, Ryan Seacrest has trimmed US$2 million off his 40-acre Napa Valley estate. The St Helena compound, now at the ‘budget’ price of US$19.8 million, comes with a main residence, guest cottage, pool house, and recently renovated minimalist interiors. The 220-tree olive grove doesn't hurt either.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Hannah Gill launches Podium Property Management

The new national platform lets property managers build equity in their rent rolls without upfront capital as they hit growth milestones. More here.

Chris Tynan steps down from Blackstone after a decade

He grew Australian real estate assets from $5 billion to $50 billion and oversaw major deals, including the record $24 billion AirTrunk acquisition. Taro Squires takes over from July 1. More here.

First National announces 2025 Vic/Tas award winners

FN Charles L. King & Co in Echuca claimed Sales Office of the Year while FN Hall & Partners in Dandenong took Property Management Office of the Year. Simon Burns from FN Latrobe in Traralgon was named Salesperson of the Year, and Jackie Lyons won Property Manager of the Year. 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

You can’t hurt an agent’s feelings; they’ve witnessed more chaos and drama than a reality TV show. 🎭🏡

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

TRUE OR FALSE:

Leaving personal items, stacks of magazines, and miscellaneous belongings in a home helps buyers envision how their own furniture and routines would fit in the space.

And the answer is…

FALSE. Excess clutter distracts buyers, prevents them from imagining themselves living in the home, and can reduce their emotional connection to the property. When buyers are overwhelmed by visual noise, they focus on the mess instead of the home’s features or potential lifestyle. Decluttering and creating a clean, organised environment helps buyers project their own furniture, routines, and vision onto the space, increasing the likelihood of a positive emotional response and, ultimately, an offer.

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players.
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, Iris Rebello 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.

Content in the ‘Together With’ section is sponsored. Interested in promoting your brand to Elite Agent’s audience? Learn more at advertise.eliteagent.com.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.