A word from the Chairman – November 9, 2017

What a huge weekend in town last weekend with not only the influx of visitors enjoying the Melbourne Cup long weekend but a number of local events that enjoyed great participation from Lorne residents. The Lions Club seaside market provided a spectacular backdrop to Mountjoy Parade on Saturday and with music at local venues it was a solid reminder of the festive times that are in front of us.

It’s also the time of the year that our 12 students are heavily committed with their VCE exams as they strive to achieve an ATAR score to open the doors of their chosen study path. A stressful time not only for the students but also for families supporting their children through the intensity of their final weeks at school. At the end of the month it will all be over and the anxious wait begins until that ATAR number is revealed – good luck to all those in waiting!

I have shared with you over recent weeks that our family is at the end of the “school journey” and will be exchanging our part-time dual location residency to once again full-time in Lorne – and that cannot come quick enough. For the past 13 years our commitment to education has put many miles on cars, extra hours to a day and sacrifice that many, many parents make for their children, but in return it has been so rewarding to have been in a position to be able to achieve the goals we set.

As the chapter ends so begins the interesting task of dealing with real estate agents as they jostle for the opportunity to be employed as my chosen agent to sell our Geelong property. You may say, “a strange thing to say from someone within the industry”, and yes I’d agree, until I was sitting at the opposite side of the table from which I have been accustomed and in a market where my knowledge levels fall well short of those who work it on a daily basis.

What has surprised me is the lengths that some will go to ensure they secure your business, at whatever cost it may be. In one instance after ongoing dialogue with a young up and coming Newtown agent looking to “own a patch”, I was offered his services at zero commission to sell our Geelong property – what would you do, what would a 30-year plus estate agent do?

Well, for me it was easy, I would never expect an individual to work for no reward, let alone believe that any person could best represent my interests to the fullest when they fall short with their own pay cheque negotiation. Interesting conundrum!

Ian Stewart
Chairman – Committee for Lorne