Network & Industry News

IR Days Set New Industry Benchmark for Support of Property Managers 

First National’s second round of Investor Relations Days wrapped up in QLD and NSW recently, fulfilling the network’s commitment to lifting our property managers’ skills, work/life balance, time management and wellbeing. 

Once again, the agenda and format of delivery was met with great appreciation and enthusiasm from our dedicated property managers

With an additional focus this year on managing domestic violence (DV) and bettering self-defence skills, First National is truly a provider of the industry’s leading services, as affirmed by Relationships Australia Victoria.

‘First National should be congratulated on raising the issue on domestic violence and how it affects property managers. No other network has or would think of it. Also, many property managers have spoken to me and said thank you as we have now given them the confidence and resources to not only do their job better, but protect them.’

Felicity Vance

Programs Facilitator & Coordinator

Relationships Australia, Victoria

'Having personally worked with First National for over 17 years over my career and most recently many years with Affordable Staff, I felt very privileged to be part in the initiative of the IR Days to strengthen and boost the well-being of our Investor Relations Managers.  As always, thank you First National for making me feel part of the family!'

Lisa Grey

Business Development & Account Manager

Affordable Staff

• Representing the RISE Initiative, Kylie Davis provided a frank, fun and helpful presentation that explored the neuroscience behind why we sometimes have great days, then struggle on others, and how to reach toward better mental wellness every day.
• Rebecca Clow unpacked strategies around emotional intelligence and how creating certainty is a game-changer for effective communication. 
• Julie Collins explained how we can offer superior and reputable service, while achieving better outcomes for finalising tenancies and avoiding tribunal.
• Chris Helder delivered a high-energy keynote loaded with laughs on how useful believe delivers the tools for a better mindset and customer relationships.
• Jemore Santos combined fitness training with realistic attack and escape situations in an empowering session that delivered basic Martial Arts skills for confidence, strength and resilience.
• Commercial property managers heard from National Property Manager, Anne Donchos about barriers to growth, how to overcome them and how to set up for a successful commercial division in your agency.

‘The whole day was a huge success, we loved all of it. Honan even made insurance fun. The trainers were all great and the topics broad and very relevant. Chris Helder was a hoot and the perfect speaker for that after lunch spot where people are usually tired. Best IR Day yet.’

Karen Joseph

FN Manly (NSW)

‘Loved the energy from all the speakers. My favourite would have to be Chris Hedley & Fiona Blayney. They brought an energy to the subjects they discussed. It was lovely to hear the personalities and what colour each person is. We are going to discuss this further in our office. As we have a lot of different personalities.’

Becky Gwin

FN Surat Basin Chinchilla (QLD)

‘Engaging discussions on mental wellbeing, domestic violence and industry challenges were just the beginning and it is always great to catch up with other members and discuss local markets. A big thanks to Ray, Debbie, Lucy and the team at head office for a fabulous day. We are already looking forward to the next one.’

FN Forster Tuncurry

‘I liked that the event was a two-day event. The location for the dinner was amazing and the food was sensational. It was fun to meet and chat with other agents from the other offices the night before the event. 

The day was definitely energy packed. I liked the t-shirts, Kylie Davis was a great speaker, felt like I was really taking in everything she was saying because of how she spoke and her content. Loved Chris! We were all able to identify ourselves and others in our office and, all weekend, we have been chanting his mantra and learning to enjoy every moment!’

Sarah Davis

FN Coastwide (Wyong, NSW)

PODCAST: How Net Promoter Score can Transform Your Business

The latest episode of the Our Fabric podcast sees Lee Woodward interview Joel Davis about how NPS has transformed the performance of his property management business. Click the image to listen.

TECH: Harness the power of AI to grow your business

First National has released a new eBook that keeps you abreast of lightning speed developments in Artificial Intelligence – AI For Real Estate.

If you have been experimenting with ChatGPT or Bard, you’ll already know that the skill of your ‘prompt-engineering’ dictates whether your results are great or garbage, and whether it’s dead obvious to your customers! 

Our Performance Partnership with ListSMRT has delivered a superb tool that lets you skip the learning phase of ChatGPT to achieve outstanding and compelling listing adverts, so our eBook guides you on how to make the most of their fantastic tool.

However, you’ll still want to use ChatGPT for other tasks and, through collaboration across our marketing and communications teams, we’ve shared the prompts we’ve developed to help you achieve industry-leading headlines, calls to action, bios for staff, suburb profiles for your websites.

We even show you how to analyse documents or reports like CoreLogic updates, revealing the tricks behind this exciting new development. Click the image above to dive into our new iBook or share it with your team.

GOVERNANCE: Regional Councils Key to Collaboration

Regional Councils provide vital input to the governance structure of First National Real Estate. As a cooperative, collaboration is key to success and Regional Councillors volunteer their time to guide your network on professional development, marketing, events and local initiatives. 

Ahead of the QLD/NSW IR Days, our Queensland and New South Wales Regional Councils both convened for their scheduled meetings and we thank each and every contributor for their valuable time, input and service to the network. Thank you for your valuable time.

MEMBERSHIP: Chairman and CEO Luncheons

Queensland and New South Wales members and their staffs attended our pre-IR Day Chairman and CEO Luncheons to hear from the network’s leadership on property market developments, the industry and economy.

UPSKILLING: Feel like an imposter? Don’t miss the next Wellbeing webinar!

Imposter Syndrome is the persistent inability the belief that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. If this is you, or at least you on some days, then you’re at risk of anxiety. 

Let us help free you from this unhelpful thought process and unlock your confidence and potential. Register for our upcoming webinar with Ashley Whitehead from EQ Minds. 

INDUSTRY: REIA reflects on 100 years

The industry’s peak body has looked back on a century since the conference that voted to establish its existence. 

Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) deputy president and Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) board director Leanne Pilkington marked the occasion and kicked off the institute’s ‘REIA 100 Celebration’, which pays tribute to the 15 September 1923 gathering as well as the institute’s formal establishment in 1924.

In the century since, the REIA has advocated for higher industry standards, better customer service, better government housing policy, and has been behind countless initiatives to support the success of all real estate agencies.