In her own words: 4 female perspectives on real estate from the women at Gary Peer

Here at Gary Peer, we’re chuffed to have an abundance of extraordinary women building their careers with us. Some of them for decades. So, in honour of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating by sharing the stories of four of our female team members.

All at different stages of their careers. Each in different roles –?from administration and sales to marketing and property management. Told in their own words, you’ll learn these women’s histories. Hear their thoughts on the real estate industry. And be inspired by the one piece of advice they’d give to their younger selves.

Amanda Davenport

Executive Assistant?

“Always learn as much as you can. Soak up the knowledge on offer – and learn all aspects of the business, not just the job you’re doing.”

I was my own boss for over 30 years. From event management to running carwashes, cafes and stores, I’ve done it all.

And it was?great. I travelled a lot and got to build my schedule around my children. But eventually, I burnt out. I needed a change. I was ready to become an employee again.

My first choice of industry? Real estate. And the transition was quick. One application, one interview – and I’ve been with Gary Peer ever since that day in 2018.

Real estate is fabulous. For a short time, we become an intricate part of someone’s life as they buy or sell their home – a process that brings up a lot of emotions. I’ve met so many interesting people, and I love hearing their stories as I support them through the sales process.

Plus, there are my colleagues here at Gary Peer. It’s a terrific and supportive culture. And I can honestly say that I still feel like I work for myself, because our team respects – and?trusts?– me to do my job.

One of my favourite things to do is help run the Gary Peer social club, planning and coordinating our team bonding activities. There’s always a big turnout to our events – especially of women.

When I think about women in real estate, I’d say that when I started, the sales side was dominated by men. But when I peeled back the layers, I found the support staff were overwhelmingly women.

So many successful,?male?estate agents achieved great things because of the outstanding women supporting them behind the scenes.

Since then, the number of women in sales has shifted. That’s largely because?society?is shifting –?and women have more support at home, liberating them to pursue more demanding careers.

It’s a good thing, because real estate?needs?more women – especially sales agents and auctioneers. A woman is often the decision-maker in her home, so it’s important that she can work with a female agent, if she prefers.

I admire?any?woman who works in real estate. It’s extremely rewarding. But it takes a lot of work, commitment and sacrifice.

And if I was to give one piece of advice to a young woman entering the industry, it would be this:

Always learn as much as you can. Soak up the knowledge on offer – and learn all aspects of a business, not just the job you’re doing.

?

?

Maureen Maserow

Licensed Estate Agent

“Find employers that will allow you to follow your passion. And just go for it! Don’t be afraid to fail. It’ll all work out in the end.”

I opened my first real estate business in South Africa with my ex-husband. It was 1990, and we were 22 years old.

We sold houses there for years before emigrating to Auckland. We sold houses there too. But one day,?the?property manager left unexpectedly, and I was thrust into property management.?

But you know what? I?loved?it. I loved negotiating, problem-solving, and getting to know the tenants and landlords. It’s an?ongoing?relationship – unlike the short, intense relationships formed in sales.?

And I loved the numbers. I've got a commerce degree, so balancing the trust account was very satisfying.?

Real estate around the world differs in a lot of ways. In New Zealand, for example, auctions take place on a Wednesday morning?at?head?office?– not onsite. And the commission structures are different.

But the people are the same everywhere you go –?and that's the part I love the most. Meeting people and seeing how they live (hint: it’s never what you expect!). But above all, I adore having good, honest conversations. Everyone’s got a story. And it’s usually a good one!

After the divorce, I moved to Melbourne with my kids. They were 11 and 14, and I had to be around for them outside school hours. So again, I went into property management –?it offered that flexibility I needed. I?then became?a director of property management for years.

But when my children grew up, I was ready for a change?and?felt the desire to return to sales. So I left my company and joined Gary Peer.?

It was easy to move from property management to sales, because Gary Peer really embraces growth and allows their staff to try out different roles and pathways. Having that support is invaluable.

I would say that in sales, there are still very few women compared to men – especially in director roles, or at the top of companies.?

But I think the world's changing – and I don't think it's specific to real estate. Now, if you want to do something – you can. The world is open to the changing role of women. And men!

Whatever your gender, there are a lot of different ways that you can be in real estate. And there’s something to suit most people.

My advice? Find employers that will allow you to follow your passion. And just go for it! Don’t be afraid to fail. It’ll all work out in the end.

?

?

Tori Carpentier

Executive Assistant

“I think that the sky is the limit for women. There’s nothing men can do that we can’t. For me, progress is about empowering ourselves to make an impact – which we already do, daily!”

?I originally planned to be a medical receptionist after school. But after trying it out, I decided that the industry just wasn’t the right fit for me.

So I started looking into other industries where I could apply my admin skills. Real estate quickly came to mind because I’ve always loved looking at houses. It felt like an exciting, natural next step.

At 21 years old, I got my first real estate job on the Mornington Peninsula, as a receptionist. It was fun, interesting; I’d found my industry! But there wasn’t a lot of room to grow, as most peninsula agencies are very small.

So, roughly three years later, I traded the sea for the city and moved to Gary Peer – where I now work as an executive assistant to Phillip Kingston.

For me, the admin side of real estate is my Goldilocks zone. I get to project manage company-wide events. Collaborate with our marketing partners. And manage the administration of core business activities – like our weekly sales meetings.

There’s an element of predictability to the work, which I enjoy – I’m not someone who likes sudden change. (It’s why I couldn't work in sales!)

But although I don’t like change, I?do?always want to be professionally evolving; learning new things, every day. And the leadership team at Gary Peer supports that – I feel like I can?grow?here.

I’ve been in real estate for over 10 years now. I’m fortunate to have never felt disadvantaged because I am a woman.

But I understand that hasn’t been the case for every woman in our industry. Which is why I’m so thankful to ground breakers, like Director Sally Zelman, who continually promote the importance of women in our industry.

I get to work with Sally every day. And I love to learn from her by observing how she operates.

I think that the sky is the limit for women. There’s nothing men can do that we can’t. For me, progress is about empowering ourselves to make an impact – which we already do, daily!

To my younger self, I’d simply say: “Be confident and stand up for yourself. Work hard, pay your dues – and it'll all pay off in the end.”?

?

Jenny Caughey

Branch Manager, Property Management Division

“Traditionally, property management has been fronted by women. And if you ask me, it’s because we’re the ultimate multitaskers!”

I’ve been with Gary Peer for 18 years. But my life in real estate started well before that.

I began as a receptionist, and worked my way up to become a property manager for a developer.

That job was fascinating. I got to watch towers get built from the ground up, and learn about technical things (like?membraning!). Now, I can look at a home and immediately spot a defect –?a skill that assists me in what I do today.

After seven years there, I moved to Gary Peer: first as a property manager, then as a branch manager. I love connecting with clients – I’ve worked with some of them for over a decade.

Traditionally, property management has been fronted by women. And if you ask me, it’s because we’re the ultimate multitaskers!?

As a property manager, you have to wear many hats. On some days you’re a tradesperson or an accountant. On others, you're a mediator –?trying to resolve conflict. Some days, you’re Erin Brockovich! So you get to use a lot of different skills. It’s very satisfying.

These days, property management is a really exciting career – especially for those who have families. You have options – no matter which path you choose. You can work part-time, job share, or manage a smaller portfolio. And when you’re ready to dial your hours back up, you can do that, too.

I’ve also seen more men move into property management, in search of work-life balance. They want to enjoy weekends with family, and practise their passions – like playing for the local football team.

The result is that we now have a 50/50 split of women and men in property management at Gary Peer, which is exceptional.

I choose to stay at Gary Peer because of its culture – especially regarding staff development. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have all the answers – there’s always someone to help you figure them out.?

That’s also the culture I try to maintain in my team. A culture where you can be yourself – and grow.

Feeling inspired by Amanda, Maureen, Tori and Jenny??Join the team at Gary Peer?– and carve your own path in real estate.