James Redfern and Madeline Kennedy from Marshall White talk living and working together

Marshall White’s James Redfern and Madeline Kennedy have taken different paths into property, but now live and work together, while also raising two young children. And yes, they talk shop at home.

How did you get into real estate?

J: I’m from England and I came here as a 24-year-old backpacker. I’m interested in the arts, antiques, porcelain, various other things. I found my way to Armadale, where there were antiques houses and sale rooms, looking for work. I got chatting to someone who said: “Why don’t you go to the agent across the road?” I met Bruce Lockwood who was part of the firm Blackburn and Lockwood. He told me to go and knock on the door of his son Richard who ran an antique shop up the road. I turned up the next day to start my job in antiques and he said: “I’ve changed my mind. I think you’d be good in real estate.” I said I had no suits, no car. He said: “No worries; you can use my 1959 VW beetle.” He gave me $200 to get some suits. I went to the Salvation Army op shop in Greville Street, Prahran, and bought two second-hand suits.

Was it as easy for you, Madeline?

M: I got into real estate through a couple of friends who thought I’d be good at it. I was initially a pharmaceutical rep. I started in real estate with a small agency, stayed there for three years and then started at Marshall White.

What qualities did your friends observe in you?

M: Maybe that I’m a people person with strong people skills.

Your network must have been minuscule initially, James?

J: I had no contacts at all, no school connections, nothing. Now I’ve got clients I first met 30 years ago. I’ve sold some of the same houses three or four times and sold houses for the same people three or four times over.

Real estate can be brutal on family life – late-night deals and weekend auctions. How do you manage it?

J: Maddy and I have been together 10 years. Maddy is very understanding of the hours and my commitment. What I’ve learned is that it’s important that you cherish every moment.

M: We’ve got a three-year-old and a one-year-old. Real estate offers flexibility. We’ve recently sold our farm at East Trentham, but we do love getting away to the country. We’re looking to buy a beach house around Shoreham or Balnarring – that will work better with the kids.

What is it like working together and living together?

M: The combo works well for us. Our desks are next to each other. People say to us, “Oh, I could never do that”. We’re yin and yang. He is very good at looking after the people-management side of our team. I’m more systems oriented. I have a system and checklist for just about everything.

Do you talk work at home?

M: We do. Real estate never really switches off. I understand when James is out until 10pm doing a deal.

Give us an insight into doing deals…

M: A lot of the time people are selling under stressful circumstances. I appreciate the opportunity to help people move to the next stage of their lives. It’s hardly ever about the house.

J: I’ve had to help who’ve lost someone in their family or had separations or experienced their businesses failing. It is how you guide them through the process.