Local experts Alex, Kate and Tom discuss success in the current climate

Now into their fifth year of working together, Inner West sales specialists Alex Mastoris and Kate Fitzsimmons met while working in different departments of CobdenHayson’s Annandale office. More recently, a repeat vendor introduced the pair to Tom McKenzie, an energetic go-getter who proved to be the perfect addition to the team.

 

Providing astute insight into the nuances of the current local market, the trio agrees that there’s undeniably some hesitation from buyers at the moment. Alex comments, “There’s a definite sense of buyers waiting it out to see what happens with interest rates, with some still hoping to catch a bargain. The flow-on effect of recent rate rises has made borrowing more difficult and in doing so has increased caution from potential purchasers. However, that said, we’re still seeing good buyer activity and transactions.”

 

“A poignant lesson I’ve learned in real estate is that thorough communication is vital and honesty is always the best policy. People always respond positively to great communication, reliability and transparency. This builds a level of trust which facilitates a smoother transaction among all parties involved. These foundational essentials work in any type of market and with people from all walks of life. Even if clients might not agree with our observations, we’re assured of maintaining our integrity while giving advice that we stand by.”

 

“We believe that there’s merit in not being a suburb-specific team. This approach allows us to monitor the broader market and meet all types of buyers from all over the Inner West and beyond. It also affords us the expansive knowledge needed to provide expert advice and guide buyers to areas they may not have previously considered, which in turn creates a larger pool of purchasers to draw upon for our vendors.”

 

“One thing’s for sure – community is essential for growth, both personally and professionally, and building strong relationships has really helped cement our reputation in the area. As a team we love nothing more than supporting local small businesses, grabbing a bite to eat and getting to know the owners. Engaging with locals and clients is integral to generating word-of-mouth recommendations, which is, of course, the highest compliment you can receive as an agent.”