Women in Real Estate: Louise Barton

Introducing Louise Barton, Sales Agent & Lead of Team Barton at Bresic Whitney. In the real estate world, she believes blending in should never be an option. She also believes you should stay true to yourself, as genuine passion fosters instant invaluable connections. Discover more about Louise and her invaluable insider insights...

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN REAL ESTATE?

Around 10 years now.

WHERE DID YOU START?

My real estate journey started in the Highlands of Scotland, and it was my career that took me to Sydney, where I have lived for many years now.

IS IT YOUR DREAM JOB?

Definitely Real Estate, for me it was the perfect fit and I honestly couldn't imagine doing anything else now at this point in my life. I've gone through periods of love and hate with the job but ultimately the positives for me have always outweighed the negatives.

I love that you are in control of your own success, if you work hard then you have endless opportunities and can unlock huge potential in yourself. You also have the pleasure to meet a lot of interesting people and it is so satisfying to have the opportunity to work with them during such an important life event, I feel extremely grateful that I get to share that experience with them.

BEST CAREER EXPERIENCE?

Winning North Sydney Agent of the Year within the first 12 months of working in Sydney as a standalone agent. It was a personal goal of mine and I love being one of the leading agents in this beautiful location.

WORST CAREER EXPERIENCE?

Navigating the initial move from Scotland and feeling the loss of my support system of my family and friends being so close. Moving to the other side of the world for your career alone can be lonely at first until you find your way. Starting again is hard but also extremely rewarding when everything you have achieved has been solely down to your own determination and trust in your judgement.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT REAL ESTATE DURING YOUR CAREER?

It's important to understand your "why" and set clear goals, Real Estate can be, at times, mentally testing and it's important during the low moments to be very clear on why you are working so hard, for sometimes nothing back. It keeps you moving in the right direction when you are clear on your motivations and what you are working towards. It's also important to be your true self, this will help win and retain business - when attending a listing appointment and putting on an act, clients will sense this and ultimately it is harder to build a natural relationship. Trust is everything within the industry and is important for both new and repeat clients.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF DURING YOUR CAREER?

I have learnt how strong I am, I have built a very strong resilience during my time in the industry which allows me to dust myself off quickly after the losses that come with the territory of the job.

I would say I also have learnt that my caring side really shines when working with my clients which helps to build genuine long-lasting relationships. I'm extremely loyal and I don't stop until the job is done, no matter what obstacles occur. I think my true passion around each and every sale we look after is truly unique and helps us stand out in the industry.

HOW HAVE WOMEN’S ROLES IN REAL ESTATE CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?

We are seeing a rise in young ambitious women who are not afraid to say what they think and have big goals. They aren't prepared to work for employers unless they receive the support and inclusive workplace they deserve. It's so refreshing to see more women move into leadership roles within the industry, creating inspiring role models for new females entering the industry.

I think we work in a truly unique position where it can provide the modern female with a great work-life balance once they have formed their name within the industry. We have clients coming to us more and more looking for a female agent to represent them due to our nurturing approach to sensitive situations and high attention to detail.

IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR, ARE THERE ANY REAL ESTATE TIPS YOU COULD SHARE?

As the market changed we focused on two major areas:

Client and Future Client Communication - frequency builds trust, it's confusing for sellers with so many agents promising them the world during the interview process but fear lack of service if they list. I think regular touchpoints with valuable information are the key to initial relationship building and helping them understand how we work. Always, with existing clients it was important to have daily catch-ups, even the smallest touch point can fill them with ease around the sale, we believe a client should never have to chase us for an update.

Buyer Servicing - we have always had a large focus on servicing our buyers as well as sellers, which was more important than ever in a low inventory market, essentially most buyers will turn into sellers at some point and they will remember what agent helped them throughout their own property buying journey.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

Be persistent and stay patient. Celebrate each win, even the small ones, as they take you to your end goal and ultimate success.

ANY REGRETS REGARDING YOUR CAREER?

I wish I hadn't been so hard on myself when I first moved to Sydney and begun again, I should have enjoyed the growth more when starting my journey here as I now look back with so much pride. I realise how many skills and lessons I learnt whilst building my career in Sydney and they are invaluable tools.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER WOMEN WANTING TO START A CAREER IN REAL ESTATE

? Never feel like you have to blend in and always stay true to yourself, as genuine passion shines through and builds instant connections. Don't try to be like everyone else, there is only one you and that is your USP (Unique Selling Point).

Surround yourself with as many industry professionals with high-performing habits that you can learn from and put into your day-to-day practice. Lastly, always show up fully and believe in yourself.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FASHION & BEAUTY TIPS THAT YOU’VE LEARNED WHILE ON THE JOB?

I save time by selecting my workweek outfits on a Sunday so I'm not wasting time selecting an outfit each morning. I like to stick to classic neutral colours in my work wardrobe that never go out of style, usually teamed with some low-key gold jewellery to finish off the outfit - I think it's nice to look put together but also effortless at the same time.

I always chose a low heel or a stylish flat shoe as I am always running around from appointment to appointment! I think the best way to dress for your day is by staying true to your own personal style, dress in whatever you feel confident in and that confidence will shine through whilst you work.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

I am really excited about my recent move to BresicWhitney, it is an exciting next chapter for both myself and Jade Prior (Sales Associate). We look forward to continuing to work with our valued clients along the Lower North Shore.

CONNECT

Louise can be contacted 7 days a week at 0419 629 280

& louiseb@bresicwhitney.com.au

Also, visit www.bresicwhitney.com.au for more details

... and follow her on instagram here instagram.com/louisebartonrealestate