In helping others achieve their dreams, Kate Smith has achieved her own

REI Super employer profile

Kate Smith, Business Owner of Harcourts Smith, Semaphore, South Australia

The Adelaide suburb of Semaphore offers up a diverse selection of people and properties, and Kate Smith delights in the changing demographics of this popular beachside hamlet.

REI Super: What is that you like about working in real estate?

KS: What I enjoy most about it is that you're challenging yourself every day. You're always striving to better your customer service, there's certain goals and targets that you need to hit financially within the business, as well. It's always about improving yourself and getting to that next level.

There's also the people aspect; building relationships with your clients and helping them achieve their goals and their dreams.

REI Super: What would you say are the challenges of working in real estate?

KS: You are going to get a lot of “no”s. But even when missing out on a property, I think of the next opportunity. You need to be resilient and be able to move on from any setbacks. And, like any people-orientated field, you are going to continuously come across different personalities.

REI Super: Can you tell me about the history of Harcourts Smith?

KS: The business began with my mum over 35 years ago. We were the first established agency on Semaphore Road. There's a nice family history there, and then I myself started in the industry about 18 years ago, and then took over officially 11 years ago.

REI Super: What would you say is behind the growth and success of the business?

KS: My mum had built a very good reputation in the area, and that certainly helped me in the beginning stages of my career. Since then I've put back a lot into the community, because I'm very passionate about our community. I've tried to sponsor and be involved in as much as possible, which has brought a lot of focus onto our business.

REI Super: Can you tell me a little bit about the community itself?

KS: We have a lot of people that have been in the area for a long time, so it is a transitioning community. We're starting to see a blend of the old, original owners and a lot of young couples and families moving into the area. It's become a very popular seaside location.

REI Super: What are the sales like in the area at the moment?

KS: We're experiencing a very high demand for property. We have a very diverse selection of properties, ranging anywhere from $250,000 to million-dollar plus. It’s a very tightly held neighbourhood.

In neighbouring Port Adelaide, there's been a lot of development, and the resulting job opportunities has seen a big increase in investor interest.

REI Super: What do you look for when you're recruiting staff?

KS: You definitely need to have the right attitude, and you need to be committed to the industry. In real estate, you can work incredibly hard for many years before you start to see any real financial reward. You need to be very resilient and have right attitude when it comes to dealing with people.

REI Super: Do you talk to your staff about super?

KS: Absolutely. My own super is with REI Super, and has been for my whole career, and I do encourage the staff to do the same.