'I can read people': Lynsey Kemp on her Scottish roots, and why property is in her blood

You haven’t lost your adorable Scottish accent – how long have you lived here?

My friends and family think I sound Aussie! I first came on a working holiday when I was 18 and moved at 20. Before real estate, I was an executive assistant at Westpac.

My family are all in property and my parents renovated a lot. My dad is an architect and interior designer, and my brother is a builder.

Is that what prompted you to dive into the industry?

It was always a passion of mine. Then in the early 1990s, I had just gone through the process of buying a house in Sydney. I felt there wasn’t a lot of service being offered. I thought, “I could do this”.

How does this line of work suit your personality?

I can read people quite well. I’m chatty and not too intense. I get on with people and I know how to make them feel comfortable. It’s all about relationship building.

Scotland is known for its historic buildings. How does Balmain compare?

I grew up in a sandstone cottage with a modern extension in a village just outside Edinburgh. I always loved the original part of the cottage.

There are a lot of old properties in Balmain, homes dating back to the 1840s. I was blown away by it when I first came here by ferry.

What do you miss about the UK?

The history and Scotland’s beautiful countryside. I also miss the easy access to Europe.

Not the haggis?

I quite like haggis. My husband and I sometimes cook it for our friends. I think they’ve all really enjoyed it. Just don’t think about what you’re eating.

Tell us a bit about life away from work.

I’m married to a fellow Brit. He’s English. We met through friends on one of my trips back to Edinburgh. We’ve got a 10-year-old daughter, Harriett.

I’m quite a home body. We just finished a renovation last year, so we’re beginning to enjoy that.

I also love running. I’ve done more than 20 full marathons and I did an ironman 10 years ago. I’ve done 100-kilometre runs too, where you run right through the night. To get to the finish line is just fantastic.

What’s been the biggest change in your market?

When I started here, it was a much younger, more versatile demographic. Now there are a lot of families who have decided to stay in the area because they see that the schools are really good, there are a lot of lovely parks and it’s close to the city.

The parks are all chockablock and the cafes and restaurants are full of families.

What has this job taught you about people?

There’s obviously a lot of stress for people involved in buying and selling property. You need to tune in to what is important to each person. It might be financial considerations. They might need more space or be going through a divorce. We need to keep calm and keep them informed.