Tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an agent at Reed & Co.?

My wife, Kate Cox, and I moved to Noosa 17 years ago after Kate was offered a position within a local agency. I chose to join her as we were living together at the time, and life has only got better since. We’ve recently moved to Noosaville after spending several years residing on Noosa Hill and in Noosa Sound, immersed in the buzz of tourist activity and the enjoyment they get from visiting the area.

I’d spent 25 years working in the wine industry, until four years ago when I made the decision to ‘retire’ from the industry and join Kate in real estate. We now work together to form a part of Team Cox at Reed & Co. Estate Agents.

What does your professional journey look like so far, and how did this journey bring you to Noosa?

After 25 years working across various areas including restaurants, cellar door, wine wholesale, retail, and events, making the move across to real estate was a change to something very different. I had already obtained a Business Degree, majoring in Finance and Marketing, as well as a range of financial qualifications which I’m able to apply to the new role.

Relocating to Noosa was initially a career move, however we quickly fell in love with all that Noosa represents; the perfect blend of sophistication and nature wrapped up in what really is quite a small country town. I like the fact that many of the people who live here have made a conscious decision to relocate and genuinely love the lifestyle.

What are your personal interests/commitments and how are they met within the Noosa Community?

I have a keen interest in financial markets and remain an active student of them. I enjoy golf and there are plenty of course options on the Coast, however I don’t get out as frequently as I’d like. I love a swim in the ocean, and the Noosa weather allows for this any time of the year!

I am an active member of Marcoola Surf Lifesaving Club and patrol during the summer months. Spending time on the beach, with the ocean as your office, is a great way to clear the mind. It’s also nice to engage with people visiting from different areas, and it’s amazing to see the absolute fearless nature of the young nippers, and the confidence it instils in the next generation.

There’s an immediate connection to nature in Noosa, which facilitates a more balanced lifestyle with an emphasis on relaxation. Compared to how frantic our major cities have become, the pace of Noosa is very favourable, but still only a short plane ride to Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide, or a quick drive to Brisbane if you’re in need of a ‘city fix’.

Tell us about your individual approach as an agent, and the personal qualities which help you achieve this?

I would like to think one of my special skills as an agent is my ability to really listen to the client and their needs and, in turn, find them the right property. I like to find the key motivation, or emotional link, of a buyer and look for suitable properties based on this. It’s important to ask the right questions; to understand their household structure and what amenities are important to them. It’s about clarifying what are the non-negotiables and presenting solutions which satisfy those criteria.

I feel honesty is another key ingredient. By providing a potential purchaser with all the available facts, you enable them to make an informed decision based on their own individual requirements.

Having lived amongst the hustle and bustle of Noosa Heads for many years, we have gained extensive knowledge of our key sales area and the lifestyle it presents. We know the different pockets in the area and what they bring to the table, and we base our marketing approach on living a lifestyle which encompasses each of the different aspects that Noosa has to offer.

What does your team look like at Reed & Co?

Our team is made up of Kate, Erin, and myself, and each of us have differing strengths and backgrounds which tend to work to negate our weaknesses.

Kate is our lead agent who liaises with vendors and negotiates the deal at the critical moments. I work more on the buyers; to get an understanding of where they are at and what they are seeking, whilst Erin focuses more on the administrative side and preparing each property to go to market, including working with photographers, stylists, and tradespeople.

All three of us are mature and have quite strong personalities so we have an effective exchange of ideas. We’ve all got backgrounds in other fields prior to real estate, so often we’ll offer solutions and insights to our team operation that may be a little outside the norm. The key element to our success as a team is that we are cohesive and tight knit, and combined we offer over 25 years of real estate experience, but three lifetimes in roles which focus on direct people engagement and customer service, ranging from hospitality to media to airlines.