Canberra wins big at national real estate awards

Canberra punched above its weight at the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s national awards night on Thursday, winning three of the 16 categories.

The 11th REIA National Awards for Excellence ceremony was held at the Crown Melbourne. The ACT and Western Australia were the evening’s big winners.

Raine & Horne Commercial ACT’s Kevin Dwyer won the award for commercial property manager, Canberra’s Independent Property Group was named large residential agency of the year, while the company’s Woden agent Jonathan Charles took out the residential salesperson award.

Independent Property Group has previously won the award, most recently in 2014. Mr Charles said the company had excelled at the awards because of its level of customer service. 

“I think it’s a combination of the culture that our company has, how we do business and how it affects our vendors and purchasers,” Mr Charles said. 

“We have a philosophy that clients come first and that’s really shown at these awards, so we’re really pumped and proud of them.” 

Mr Charles won the institute’s ACT award for residential salesperson of the year in 2014, but it was his first time picking up the gong at the national awards night.  

Western Australia picked up the most awards, taking out five categories including commercial salesperson of the year.

The prestigious president’s award was picked up by Neil Laws of Kerleys Coastal Real Estate in Queenscliff, Victoria. The agent is a 40-year veteran of the industry.

Real Estate Institute of the ACT president Frank Pompeani said the judges were looking for professionalism, customer service, initiative and nominees who were outstanding corporate citizens.

“The ACT has performed extremely well in our national awards over the years and we should be very proud of our level of professionalism in all agencies,” Mr Pompeani said.

Independent Property Group have been outstanding and are multiple award winners over the years. Credit goes to the individuals Jonathan Charles and Kevin Dwyer in the commercial arena as well.”