Heading into 2024, business owners and agents will have to examine expenditure in order to maximise what they get to put-in-their-pocket. 2023 saw the cost of living and doing business increase, and listings and managements became more hard-fought for.

This meant there was a bigger bite into the traditional industry success metric of GCIs and our incomes didn’t go as far –  and 2024 won’t see that change.  It’s times such as these that it makes sense to be more excited about what you keep NCM (Net Commission Me) rather than GCI. Sure GCI is a wonderful vanity metric because it sounds so BIG but it’s not what pays your bills and enhances your lifestyle.

Founder and CEO of One Agency, Paul Davies has highlighted a clear distinction between sales and profit. His mantra has long been “It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep that counts”.  It was a driving influence on the design of his flat fee model when he created the One Agency brand in 2008.

For over 15 years he has encouraged business owners and agents to keep their focus on their profits, and not just look for more sales in order to improve their disposable incomes.

Paying closer attention to your profits means evaluating your ongoing expenses. Taking the time to determine what’s essential versus what’s ‘nice to have’ is a great way to reduce outgoings thereby instantly boosting profits – your NCM. 

One of the biggest impacts to increased profit an agent or business owner can enjoy is to switch to a flat fee model. And One Agency network members do just that– increase their profits substantially by making the switch, without working longer or harder. This is THE reason One Agency was created in the first place.

We’ve been asked a lot lately  –  what is the value our established brand provides?

Apart from enjoying the support of an internationally recognised brand, and the flexibility to run your own named business, you also get to keep much more of what you make.

Want to know what else? Read on… 

Established during the financial crisis of 2008, and being one of the first flat-fee modeled brands in the industry, the One Agency brand broke new ground by providing all the branding and marketing assets your real estate business required to put up an ‘open for business’ sign. 

As well as:

Recognition and Brand Awareness:

Being part of a proven brand gives a business instant recognition and awareness. We have invested significant resources in building an attractive, impactful, and memorable brand, with a positive reputation –  and we’ve captured market share. 

Eight years ago, I was where you are now. Nervous and fearful about making the step up to principal, even though I had 15 years of being a successful agent under my belt.

But, at nearly 50 years old, this was my ‘now or never’ moment – and I didn’t want to live a life full of regret. So I gathered my courage and leapt.

“I’ve never looked back.”

It hasn’t been easy. There’s long hours and hard work involved. But the reward has been second to none – and I’m not talking about the financial gain.

Running your own business is empowering. Every day, I get to put the key in my front door knowing that I get to do things my way. I love how my team is proud to come in and work for me.

And, as a result of the culture we’ve created, One Agency Lindy Harris is a resounding success. We’ve got a phenomenal 50% market share in Singleton, a small town in NSW.

So what’s my advice for those of you looking to make the transition?

Shaun O’Callaghan joined One Agency in 2016 after intially hearing about the brand at AREC and has since progressed from being a sales agent, to business owner and grew to be awarded International Office of the Year at the 2021 One Agency International awards.  Fast forward to 2023 and Shaun hasn’t looked back.

Prior to AREC he had no idea that the One Agency model existed. He had, however been considering starting his own real estate brand or partnering with an existing Victorian based franchises. Self-doubt about leaving his PAYG sales agent role and the expense and overwhelm of launching his own business meant Shaun considered his options very carefully.

“I didn’t want to have to create a real estate brand from scratch and really liked that One Agency have fixed monthly fees, no financial reporting to head office and great transparency around the business model,” he says.

Without the One Agency brand behind us, it would have taken so much more time and money to get started.

One Agency is leading the lead generation mission by already attracting over a 100 leads each month, using a strategy that’s not yet been adopted by many other networks.  With innovative new marketing collateral this number is increasing rapidly.

This accomplishment showcases the company’s dedication to equipping its agents with cutting-edge tools and resources to facilitate meaningful conversations with homeowners across various platforms.

One Agency’s Founder & CEO, Paul Davies, emphasises that effective lead generation extends beyond merely posting ads on social media and waiting for results. It hinges on the deployment of practical tools that foster increased interaction between homeowners and our members, as these conversations can be future listings.

“Our members are driven to accelerate their businesses,” says Mr Davies. “We have strategically implemented tools across multiple channels, including print, SMS, email, and social media, to ensure no opportunity goes unnoticed. All this without our members incurring any additional costs.”

In a recent development, One Agency unveiled an innovative initiative that allows homeowners to instantly access property reports on their mobile phones or devices.

With a firm focus on agents’ success, CEO Paul Davies has spearheaded this strategic move to revolutionise the industry when it comes to lead generation & delivering a client focused experience.

Mr Davies expressed the organisation’s dedication to meeting agents’ core needs: “We know what our agents want, it’s more business.”

In response, ONE AGENCY has made substantial investments in enhancing their ONE PLACE platform, which equips agents with the tools they require to not only win more business but also appear highly efficient in their competitive marketplace.

Returning to the fundamentals of marketing, Mr. Davies revealed that the ONE AGENCY network has experienced a resurgence in print marketing and an intensified focus on social media activities.

In recent weeks, the group has implemented a brand new lead generation strategy that Mr. Davies describes as groundbreaking:

According to One Agency CEO Paul Davies, winter provides the perfect time for real estate professionals to reflect on their goals and achievements for the current year, using the slower months to assess progress and make any necessary adjustments or improvements to their business. 

Drawing upon his five decades in owning and operating real estate businesses, Mr Davies emphasises the importance of using the quieter months to set clear goals for motivation and a clear direction for the final quarter. 

“With the demanding nature of the real estate industry, establishing and tracking goals is instrumental in driving success,” he says. 

According to statistics, 25% of people give up on their goals within a week, while 65% abandon them within a month. To combat this trend, Mr Davies recommends using the relative calm of winter to engage in a brief yet impactful goal-setting exercise.

Despite the downturn in the market, One Agency has managed to expand their presence throughout Australia & New Zealand, bringing 41 new Licenses to the group in 2022 with an additional 6 ready to launch in the new year, taking the international brand toward the 200 Licences mark. 

It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep that counts has been the mantra of One Agency’s CEO, Paul Davies since the network was established in 2008. 

Reflecting on his 50 years in the industry, Mr Davies commented to REB that whilst the vast majority in the industry are focussed on GCI the important number is NCI (Nett Commision In). He added that it’s been a recurring experience to witness the ‘light bulb’ moment when agents realise that GCI isn’t the most important thing, as many are taught to believe. 

The international brand is showing no signs of slowing down as they announce four new offices to the network in key locations throughout Australia, opening before the end of 2022. The network’s set-up concierges are also preparing new members who are committed to launching in the early months of 2023. 

November has seen the network welcome Principals, Amber Hazel-Panay &Theo Panay (OIEC) who head One Agency Westside, providing substantial inner Melbourne expertise gained at an independent agency. Andrew Seaman with his Business Manager, Patricia Murphy, has rebranded after 25 years from a major franchise group to One Agency Goulburn. Melissa and Michael Verschuur leaving Stone Real Estate Logan and launching One Agency Verschuur Property Group in Queensland. And, Deborah Low who is returning to the network after 10 months with another network.

The four new real estate businesses are in addition to the recently announced record number of new principals added to the network over the 2022 calendar year.

Speaking on the pleasing growth of the network, One Agency Founder and CEO Paul Davies said

There are two big differences between the real estate professionals who are doing it tough right now and those who are thriving, according to One Agency founder and CEO Paul Davies.

“I know a lot of principals and agents are doing it tough right now. But I also know, from speaking to One Agency licensees across Australia and New Zealand, that some are thriving. The two big differences are that their businesses are lean and their minds are sharp,” he said.

Mr Davies said that, on the business side of things, successful principals and agents regularly review expenses. They also look for lower-cost ways to achieve the same outcomes.

“For example, they’re renting premises in secondary locations rather than main streets, cancelling subscriptions they’re not using, outsourcing jobs rather than hiring staff to do them in-house, refinancing to lower-rate loans and switching from high-commission franchise groups to no-commission groups like One Agency,” he said.

In terms of mindset, Mr Davies has noticed that successful real estate professionals tend to be level-headed.“They stay calm, no matter what the market and economy are doing. As a result, they make clever decisions,” he said.

Mr Davies urged principals and agents who are struggling right now to take action immediately, to stop smaller problems growing into larger ones.“In an emergency, businesses often cut staff because that’s the fastest way to reduce costs. Unfortunately, it’s also the fastest way to reduce revenue, and so should be avoided if possible. If you make smaller cost savings today, you hopefully won’t need to make larger ones tomorrow,” he said.

Mr Davies also noted that when you’re in a desperate position, it becomes harder to win business, because it shows through in your body language during listing presentations.

Furthermore, as your financial position deteriorates, so does your mental health.

New real estate listing feature makes Open for Inspections more accessible for people with mobility challenges like veterans or parents with prams

Four property industry leaders have come together to advance inclusivity for people with mobility challenges such as veterans, the aged, parents with prams and the physically disabled with the introduction of an easily identifiable mobility friendly filter and wheelchair icons for agencies to add to suitably equipped properties. 

One Agency is the first real estate network to offer the new “Mobility Filter” on eligible property listings, and popular real estate search portal Homely.com.au will carry the mobility icons on properties listed from One Agency for sale & rental properties which went into effect last week.

One Agency, Homely.com.au, Bespoke Media Group and MRI Box+Dice joined forces to create an integrated and scalable way to increase visibility on mobility-friendly properties in the marketplace in response to feedback from aspiring buyers and tenants.

Founder and CEO of One Agency, Paul Davies is urging those who can affect change in the industry to think about how tiring and exclusionary it must feel, and how these updates will make a world of difference. The addition of a ‘Mobility Friendly filter gives One Agency properties a point of difference initially. But it’s my hope this Mobility Friendly filter and other inclusivity features will one day become industry standard. 

One of Australia’s largest residential real estate groups is launching three new divisions as part of their growth plan for 2022, in response to strong demand from potential recruits.

As part of the network’s expansion, One Agency is adding Projects, Commercial and Rural divisions.   

The first Projects Licence approved launched last month, under the leadership of respected business principals, Nigel Napoli & Alex Walker. They have joined One Agency to increase their opportunities from within the 600+ Agency network.

 The One Agency Projects New Property Collection business comes to market with over 160 apartments now available to purchase, across Sydney. 

One Agency Founder and CEO Paul Davies said, projects, commercial and rural Agents who had previously expressed interest in joining the group prior to the creation of these divisions can now apply.

One Agency has been delighted to discover an unofficial network that has grown within its midst, of female business owners who mentor other women thinking of joining the group.

Stephanie Mason, who opened One Agency Stephanie Mason in July 2020, has already spoken to a lot of prospective licensees since joining the group.

“I find it very easy to relate to these women why the move is so great for a female in particular, especially if they are running a one-person business like myself,” she said.

“We discuss the reasons they might be looking to move, the obstacles that might pop up and how best to manage them, the benefits of joining the group, and what it can do for your personal lifestyle and professional goals.”

Annette Pinkerton, who’s owned One Agency Pinkerton Properties for eight years, said it’s important for female real estate professionals to support each other.

“I believe that because women are not greatly represented in our area, that prospective new talent looking for mentors or someone to aspire to might bypass our industry,” she said.

“I try to ascertain what their goals are before dishing out advice. I let them know that I’m here to support them. Sometimes, all they need is the encouragement and belief from another woman to find the courage to take the leap.”

Elizabeth Morris, who opened One Agency Liverpool Plains in October, spoke to a female licensee as part of her due diligence process. She said she would be happy to return the favour, by chatting to other women who were weighing up the pros and cons of starting a business under the One Agency brand.

“Coming from a middle-class family and making the decision to go out on my own was a huge decision and one that I thought I would never be able to accomplish,” she said.

“It’s a very male-dominated industry, and as much as we have progressed in the years, there are still a lot of older males out there who don’t think we can do it. If we listen to that side of the argument, we can become very self-conscious,” she said.

One Agency co-founder Annie Davies, who is the only woman to have founded or co-founded one of Australia’s top 10 real estate groups, said she was delighted to see so many women join One Agency, because real estate is an industry that suits many women.