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  • 📈 The Interest Rate You Can Actually Control

📈 The Interest Rate You Can Actually Control

Your Real 'Rate of Return' Starts With Better Relationships

The Brief together with reapit
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GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

On July 16, 2017, Roger Federer made history, winning his 8th Wimbledon men’s singles title without dropping a single set in a masterclass in grace, consistency, and peak performance.

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Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 24 seconds

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THE OTHER INTEREST RATE

Why the most important rate in real estate isn’t set by the RBA

Adrian Knowles, CEO of Harcourts Australia. Photo: Supplied

What it really takes to run a real estate business today

While the industry stays glued to central bank forecasts, Harcourts Australia CEO Adrian Knowles suggests agents are missing a far more powerful, and personal, rate: the one that reflects how much you actually care.

Call it your “Interest Rate”, not the economic one, but your genuine interest in clients past, present, and future. This isn't about economic cycles. It's about how you show up, how you listen, and how often you follow up.

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Past clients: Did you disappear after settlement?

The most glaring client attrition often starts after the deal. Adrian points out that many agents lose future listings simply because they stop showing interest post-sale. But keeping in touch doesn’t have to be pushy, it can be a simple anniversary text, checking in on how their home’s working for them, or remembering key life milestones.

These thoughtful actions compound over time, transforming former buyers into future sellers and repeat referrers. “If you don't take the initiative, they'll move on, likely with an agent who did,” Adrian says.

Present clients: Beyond the checklist

Are you treating current clients like numbers in your CRM or real people with stories? The best agents do more than process transactions, they ask deeper questions, anticipate concerns, and understand the “why” behind the move.

It's about building trust, not just ticking boxes. High engagement turns clients into fans and makes you not just an agent, but their agent.

Future clients: Start caring before they even call

Being the local market expert isn’t just about knowing stock, it’s about knowing people. Smart agents are watching shifts in lifestyle preferences, demographic patterns, and infrastructure changes so they can start conversations before the phone rings.

Want to win in 2025? Know what’s trending before your prospects do. “Your ability to anticipate future needs shows prospective clients that you’re not only knowledgeable but genuinely attuned to what matters to them,” Adrian says.

Raise your rate, your way

Your client relationships are the true yield of your business. So while interest rates might fluctuate, your personal Interest Rate is entirely within your control.

Take 10 minutes today: send a check-in to a past client, ask a current one about their five-year plan, or research what’s heating up in your local patch. Because in this market, the agents who lead with care are the ones who stay in demand.

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TOGETHER WITH REAPIT

Matt McGown, Reapit's Global Chief Product Officer and Mark Armstrong, Reapit's Global CEO. Photo: Supplied

Tech just got simpler

Reapit has unified Agentbox, Console Cloud, and InspectRealEstate into one powerful, AI-ready platform, streamlining your sales, PM, and rentals under a single login. Early users are already tracking $3B in referral value across the platform and that’s just the beginning. With the new Golden Profile, agents can now follow a client’s full property journey, from tenant to landlord, buyer to seller, unlocking better service and more listings.

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ECO ENERGY

Renters are willing to pay more for energy-efficient homes. Photo: Getty

Renters are willing to pay more for energy-efficient homes

Australian renters are facing an energy efficiency dilemma. According to a new PropTrack Origin survey of over 4,800 respondents, 35% would pay higher rent for smart energy features, despite one-third having no energy-efficient elements in their current homes. The biggest barriers is a lack of control (56%) and upfront costs (27%), with most believing landlords should take responsibility for improvements. Despite these challenges, 45% of renters plan to invest in energy efficiency over the next five years.

BETTER BUILDING

Modular homes could help the housing crisis. Photo: Getty

Modular homes could solve housing crisis

Australia could turn to modular construction as a solution to its housing affordability challenges. These factory-built homes can reduce construction costs by 10-20% and slash building timeframes by up to 50% compared to traditional methods. The government has allocated $54 million to support the prefab and modular housing sector as part of its strategy to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029.

COUNTRY HOMES

Sales of expensive country houses in the UK are showing signs of recovery. Photo: Getty

UK country buyers gain the upper hand

The UK's luxury rural property market is showing signs of recovery as falling prices lure buyers back. Knight Frank reports that exchanges for country houses worth over ÂŁ750,000 increased 7% in June compared to last year, while average prices dropped 3.5% in the quarter. With supply up 9% and only 5.9 potential buyers for each new listing (compared to 19 during the pandemic), it's now the most favourable market for buyers in seven years.

CELEBRITY HOMES

NFL star Josh Allen lists his sleek Monarch Bay home for $8.5M, featuring midcentury style, floor-to-ceiling glass, and exclusive beach club access. Photo: Douglas Elliman

NFL star lists bachelor pad after wedding

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has put his Southern California home on the market for US$8.5M, just weeks after marrying actress Hailee Steinfeld. The midcentury-modern residence in Dana Point's exclusive Monarch Bay enclave features four bedrooms, expansive glass walls, and access to a private beach club. Allen purchased the property in 2023 for $7.2 million, suggesting the newlyweds may be consolidating their real estate holdings.

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

The flip side of real estate? One minute you’re sipping oat lattes after a record-breaking sale; the next, you’re stuck in traffic with a “For Sale” sign stabbing you in the ribs, running late to a listing where the dog’s eaten the staging cushions and the vendor swears they definitely decluttered. It’s clearly not all luxury homes and slick deals. ☕👠

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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