GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

On this day in 1990, Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau proposed a new way for scientists to share information, the World Wide Web. They couldn’t have imagined that, three decades later, it would power everything from property portals to virtual inspections.

For agents, the web didn’t just change marketing, it changed everything. Listings went online, CRMs replaced filing cabinets, and clients started researching agents before they ever picked up the phone.

It’s proof that those who evolve with technology don’t just survive industry change, they lead it.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 39 seconds

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LISTINGS

Own the suburb with geo-farming

“Call me first”

With listings once again in high demand, agents are asking the perennial question: how do I get sellers to call me first?

For Craig Duran, the answer is geo-farming, with consistency, data, and content that actually educates. Craig has refined a model that’s not just about blanketing an area with postcards, it’s about building trust at the hyper-local level, one touchpoint at a time. It’s seen him close over $500M in sales, and 1000+ homes sold.

From five sales to a listings engine

Craig’s early real estate years were bumpy, especially during the 2008–09 GFC. His change came when he realised real estate is a “people-finding business,” and farming became Craig’s way to reliably find the right people.

Picking the right patch

Craig’s farm selection is as much about numbers as it is about lifestyle fit. He now evaluates areas based on:

• Current dominance and turnover

• Commission potential over multiple time horizons

• Whether the suburb suits his brand, team, and desired daily work

As he puts it: “Do you like the product and conversations that come with it?” If not, it’s not your farm.

The messaging that moves sellers

Craig’s outreach hones in on three core messages:

1. Proof of performance: “Just sold” still works, but only if it’s hyper-local and relevant.

2. Market context: He simplifies metrics like months of inventory to tell a clear, seller-centric story. “It’s all out there already; our job is to curate and translate.”

3. Show the work: From styling to campaign execution, he makes sure the farm sees every listing’s full marketing treatment.

And yes, he still uses direct mail, but it's just the start. QR codes and short links pull homeowners into his digital ecosystem with:

• Tailored listing pages

• Hyper-local market alerts

• A low-pressure newsletter with updates and insights

Why long videos work in a short-attention world

Forget the “under three minutes” rule. Craig regularly records 5–10 minute market updates specific to buildings or streets. Because they’re useful and targeted, people watch and share.

Craig tracks all activity and return on investment in spreadsheets each year. Some areas take years to yield results; others get retired if the ROI fades.

“Consistency beats clever,” he says. Like the petrol station on the corner, people will drive past for months. But when they need to fill up, you’d better be open.

Read the full article here.

ICYMI, yesterday, we found out why reliability is still the ultimate competitive edge

TOGETHER WITH REALESTATE.COM.AU

realestate.com.au smashes audience records

realestate.com.au has kicked off FY26 with unprecedented momentum, attracting 12.6 million Australians monthly in Q1. The platform recorded a quarterly high of 147.9 million average monthly visits, with users spending 38 minutes per month browsing, 25 minutes longer than those visiting its nearest competitor. Over half of the audience uses realestate.com.au exclusively, demonstrating strong consumer loyalty during property's peak season.

Read about the record numbers here.

MARKET MISMATCH

Housing searches don't match market reality

Australia's property market is revealing a growing disconnect between buyer expectations and reality. Domain's latest Matching Demand Report shows houses have the widest gap, with Sydney listings exceeding search budgets even in outer suburbs. Townhouses have emerged as the middle ground, with prices within 5-10% of search medians in most capitals, while units show the closest alignment between buyer searches and actual listings.

VIC CLAMP DOWN

Crackdown on real estate underquoting

Victoria is tightening the screws on misleading property price estimates with updated guidelines for real estate agents. The new rules require agents to be more diligent when selecting comparable properties for price estimates, with Consumer Affairs Victoria able to request evidence of their selections. Since 2022, a dedicated task force has monitored over 2,800 sales campaigns and issued more than $2.3 million in fines to agents breaking the rules.

US COMPASS DEAL

Anywhere agents threaten mass exodus over Compass deal

More than half of Anywhere Real Estate agents are considering jumping ship if the proposed Compass acquisition goes through. A Zillow survey reveals 18% definitely plan to leave, while another 35% might follow suit. The primary concern? Compass's use of private listing networks, which 70% of agents believe don't serve sellers' best interests. Nearly all agents (98%) expressed worries about these closed systems reducing market transparency and potentially reinforcing housing inequities.

CELEBRITY HOMES

NHL legend slashes mansion price

Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios has reduced the asking price of his oceanfront Malibu estate to US$59.995M, down significantly from its original US$75M listing last year. The former NHL star and his wife purchased the Paradise Cove property for just $6M in 2003. The 3,895-square-foot home features panoramic ocean views and includes a separate beach cabana that functions as a self-contained guest house.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

REMAX expands to Perth Hills.

Jorg Nottle has opened REMAX Encore in Gidgegannup, bringing 30+ years of property management experience from Germany to lead the new office. More here.

Georgia Turner named Head of Recruitment at Ray White Queensland.

The former Ray White NSW team member returns to the network after a stint with a boutique agency in Victoria to drive the group's ambitious growth plans. 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

Every Friday, agents tell themselves they won’t touch their open home schedule after 5pm… and every Friday at 5:07, someone calls to say they want to move the Saturday inspection. It’s the real estate version of ‘I’ll start my diet on Monday. 📱🏡

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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