Allhomes Rising Star Awards 2017: Rollercoaster ride for winning Canberra agents

It has been a roller-coaster couple of weeks for two of real estate’s rising stars.

Sebastian Gutierrez has not only been crowned Canberra’s best emerging sales agent.

Since receiving the award, he’s also become a father.

It’s been such a whirlwind time that the young Ray White Belconnen agent drove his partner to the hospital in the 2017 Allhomes Rising Star-emblazoned BMW he was driving as part of the prize.

Ray White Belconnen principal Ben Faulks says Gutierrez has come a long way since stepping into the business three years ago.

“He had a real desire to succeed. We were impressed with that,” Faulks says.

“He’s matured at every turn, he’s incredibly coachable.”

Gutierrez, a former painter, has been as humble as he’s been chuffed since the awards ceremony on July 26.

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His Belconnen office was also excited to hear the news that one of their own had been crowned a rising star.

Faulks says his colleague, Scott Jackson, was particularly proud, having mentored and coached Gutierrez when he first joined the agency.

“Had you asked a lot of people two years ago, I’m not sure they would have seen him in that role, when he was just starting out as a young person in real estate,” Faulks says.

“To his credit he’s knuckled down.

“He’s got a passionate energy, he wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s been very supportive of others on his journey.”

This year’s rising star in property management, Thomas Hathaway, has also had a whirlwind couple of weeks since receiving his award.

Thomas Hathaway of Hathaway Real Estate is the winner of a 2017 Allhomes Rising Star award. Photo: Nick Burrows

The founding director and principal of Hathaway Real Estate says he received a flurry of messages immediately after the awards ceremony.

“I had a gentleman contact me looking for a change in property manager. He has six properties, which is great,” Hathaway says.

“The phone’s been ringing off the hook.”

Launching his own agency earlier this year was a challenge for the emerging industry leader.

Hathaway says his career growth and the goal of seeing his “own name on the door” inspired him to take the plunge.

“It had been sitting in the back of my mind for a number of years,” he says.

“Luckily, with my career, I had done all avenues of property management.

“I saw a gap in the market. I think there certainly are other agents who don’t give property management a good name. That’s why I’m building my business around service.”

Hathaway is hopeful the award will shine a light on the many property managers throughout Canberra who are going above and beyond.

It’s a thought that crossed his mind after receiving his trophy two-and-a-half weeks ago.

“Reflecting on every [finalist] in the room, we’re all striving to do something different,” he says.