Perth’s longest standing agents navigate clients through a difficult year

Perth’s property market is going from strength to strength, and Druitt & Shead First National's Kate Saunders is giving her employees the tools to do the same

REI Super: Tell us about what you enjoy about working in real estate.

Kate: It is such an exciting industry to be a part of. Not only is every day completely different, but we get to work with people to get their life moving forward. We get to assist them with opportunities to embark on the next stage of their life, whether it’s upgrading, downsizing, or purchasing an investment.

REI Super: What would you say are the biggest challenges of your job?

Kate: We've been really lucky in Western Australia to avoid the worst of COVID-19, but the legislative changes have affected property management significantly. But we’ve adapted and have been able to navigate our clients through those legislative changes and what it means for their properties.

REI Super: How did Druitt & Shead First National come to be?

Kate: We are one of the longest-standing agents in Perth. Paul Druitt founded our office in 1973, and Rob Druitt & Roger Shead took over when Paul retired in 2001. I've been part of the company since 2005 and a shareholder since 2009. We started off in St George's Terrace in Perth and have been in our existing premises in Scarborough Beach Road in Doubleview since 1983. Even though the company has grown significantly since its founding, it’s still run like a family business with the same core values.

REI Super: What is behind the success of your Druitt & Shead First National?

Kate: Over the years we've built a reputation for always doing the right thing by our clients. We get a huge amount of repeat business, which is indicative of the fact that people trust us. We've worked really hard over the years to maintain and grow that reputation in the industry.

REI Super: What is the Perth property market like now?

Kate: When COVID-19 hit, there were a good few months there where everybody was waiting to see what the lay of the land would be. There was a lot of uncertainty. We sent our staff to work from home without knowing when they’d be allowed back! As things have settled down, though, the market has been exceptionally good. The rental market is the best it's been since 2016. Our vacancy rate is sitting at 0%, and the rents are going up. We have also seen some movement in the sales market. 

REI Super: Are you seeing many Victorians trying to make an escape to Perth?

Kate: Definitely. I think that there's a lot of people who are waiting for the borders to open, too. With the resources industry being as strong as it is here, the job market is outperforming the rest of the country, so a number of people are relocating here for work, and we’ve even seen an increase in adult children moving out from their parents’ home. Much to the relief of the parents, I’m sure!

REI Super: How did your staff find the transition to working from home?

Kate: In the property management department, we already had the ability to work from home, thanks to PropertyTree and other cloud-based software that we use. We’ve been able to maintain our high standards of service, so it's worked quite well for everyone involved. The sales team have always had the ability to work from the road as you would imagine, so this was a seamless transition. 

REI Super: How is Druitt & Shead First National involved in the local community?

Kate: We're part of the community REInvest programme which is facilitated by REIWA. Community REInvest is a philanthropic program through which REIWA member agents identify opportunities, mobilise resources and support the people of WA, particularly the homeless. 

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

Kate: We look for a good fit with what we believe in. We're very customer-service oriented and it is important to us that our staff uphold our company values and are at the forefront of the industry. 

REI Super: How does super come into the hiring process?

Kate: REI Super is the right default fund for our office. It’s the only national super fund listed in both the real estate and clerical awards, so whether it’s for a receptionist or a sales agent, we know we’re doing the right thing by our staff. Knowing the fund has insurance options tailored for commission-based incomes gives us peace of mind, too. 

I've been with REI Super since I started working in real estate over 20 years ago, and I've been exceptionally happy with it their service. 

REI Super: Why is it important for you to be a member of REIWA?

Kate: REIWA works hard on our behalf when there's issues within the industry; for example, the recent legislative changes that have come into effect. REIWA kept members informed of the changes with up-to-the-minute communications, and petitioned government on our behalf. It’s great having them in our corner. They offer us a lot in the way of advice when we need it, and the training they offer is excellent.