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| The New Millennium | |
When Mark Brimble stepped down as president at the end of 2003 it heralded a major change for the REIQ. For the first time in the Institute's history, the position of president was not filled. In January 2004 Peter McGrath was elected Chairman of the Board of the REIQ and Don McKenzie filled the newly created position of managing director. The changes were indicative of a major revamp of the Institute's structure and strategic direction. |
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As part of this strategy the REIQ also announced its intention to introduce a member education program that would make specific professional development compulsory in order to retain accreditation. Included in the changes was a new disciplinary tribunal that would allow real estate consumers to refer incidents involving REIQ members to an independent complaints investigation unit. The existing code of conduct was rewritten with a stronger emphasis on professional standards. Another major change occurred in 2004, when branches became known as zones. |
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So what were the big issues at the beginning of the millennium? One that hit the industry hard was the emergence of property scams involving marketeers on the Gold Coast. the scams involved the sale of property at inflated values and unfortunately, the general public tended to tar real estate salespeople with the same brush. The first homebuyers' scheme was introduced in the year 2000 to kick-start the stagnant economy. What it did was re-energise the building and housing sector, one of the largest sectors of the economy. |
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The real estate industry today is not just about selling. Some 20 years ago it was stated that salespeople also have to be strong marketeers and involve themselves in marketing and advertising. This places a lot of pressure on a salesperson's ability to effectively communicate what it is he or she is trying to sell. Dan Molloy, who took over the helm as managing director in 2007, agrees and says: |
 Environmental issues such as sustainable building design and water and energy conservation became major social priorities in the first decade of the 21st century |
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"Being in real estate is probably as much - if not more - about people as it is about property. So with changing market conditions it is important that real estate people understand the power of communication; it is about their ability to communicate with sellers, buyers, lessors and tenants. It is their ability to be able to deliver the message, to deliver advice and not be afraid to tell people how it is; because in the marketplace people expect their real estate agent to have that knowledge and be up to date. They must have access to the right information - and the data and the research - to be able to demonstrate some currency, which is really the key." And as Gordon Postle said some 41 years ago. "If real estate agents are to be professionals, then it demands high standards, educational qualifications and decided obligation in a code of conduct."
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Order your copy of Dreams, Deeds and Dedication: A History of the REIQ here |
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2000 on |
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