One Agencies journey

CAPTION: Times News Group director Dean Webster (right) sits down with One Agency Torquay founding director Shaun O’Callaghan to talk about the agency two years on. Photos: NAWAL AL-ADASANI

One Agency, the journey so far

ONE Agency Torquay has recently reached a significant milestone after local real estate agent Shaun O’Callaghan launched the business 2 years ago.

Launched as One Agency Shaun O’Callaghan, the business has grown significantly providing a broader Torquay based full service agency that offers sales, property management and real estate advice, with record breaking sales across all categories including lifestyle acreages, high-end properties in excess of $3million and everything in between.

Now boasting a support staff of 8 out of their new Fischer Street office, Shaun and his team focus on ensuring their clients receive a premium service that goes above and beyond.

To find out more about how One Agency Torquay has achieved this rapid success in a short period of time, Times News Group director Dean Webster sat down with Shaun and his team to chat about the company’s progression.

Dean:

Let’s talk about your auction success, you say One Agency is selling more under the hammer than any other agency, if so, how do you achieve this Shaun?

Shaun:

Vendors who have been specifically interested in auctions have been intrigued by our results, particularly given that we have sold 100% under the hammer on the day of auction, which have all exceeded the reserve price.

It’s about buyer nurturing and an advisory role, guiding potential buyers to ensure they are comfortable and not intimidated with the auction process.

Dean:

You report your average auction selling price above reserve is quite high, how do you achieve this without low balling the reserve figure?

Shaun:

Importantly, the reserve price is usually a high price that the vendors are happy to sell at, not a price that we set as the agent.

New legislation ensures we show comparable properties when setting the advertised price, so really it just comes down to the day of auction and how we prepare the buyer to discover their highest price, which I see as part of our job working for the vendor.

You are right though – our average sale price above the vendor-set reserve is currently over $90,000.

Dean:

Kellie, at One Agency you talk about offering a boutique style of Property Management where you oversee around 60 properties whereas other property managers are dealing with substantially more, can you tell us about that?

Kellie: 

We have made a conscious decision to provide an end to end property management service where relationships are the priority.

We constantly hear from landlords that it is our point of difference with having one person for them to contact.

It ensures rapport, open communication and we know what’s happening in our landlords and tenants lives, so we are best equipped to assist them.

At our agency we insist that our landlords and tenants are treated with respect and we want them to feel comfortable and at ease that we will take care of everything.

Dean:

I see that you have expanded and diversified your sales team with Olivia Swann and Chris Henson now supporting you in sales, what is their role and how do they work together with you through the sales campaign process?

Shaun:

Olivia is our sales consultant and has been with our agency since September.

Olivia has had local selling experience and we are consistently receiving positive feedback on her follow-up, direct manner and capacity to bring deals together seamlessly.

Chris is uniquely equipped in his role as Senior Sales Consultant, having worked as an agent in Dubai, served as director of a Melbourne agency, and accrued diverse sales expertise during his career.

Chris applies his knowhow to accomplish excellent client outcomes across differing property markets, and we are thrilled to have him onboard with his experience and skills adding tremendous depth to our team.

Dean:

Olivia, you are fairly new to the agency, but not new to the region, what drew you to One Agency?

Olivia:

Through my past experience in other real estate offices, I really knew what type of business I wanted to work in next.

I was quite specific about my needs and I felt that the values at One Agency really aligned with mine.

When One Agency opened I followed the success of the business quite eagerly and from there decided that that is the work environment that I want to be in.

Dean:

Chris, this is a big lifestyle change for you, what has prompted you to move from large agencies in the city and abroad to come to Torquay?

Chris:

After nearly two decades of international sales experience and dreaming of a Surf Coast seachange for years, we put the wheels in motion following the birth of our second daughter last year.

After engaging Shaun to sell a property for me in Torquay, there was no doubt that One Agency was a company I wanted to work for, where our values were completely parallel in terms of family, ethics and community.

Dean:

Shaun, how many people are in the office to support the sales and property management team?

Shaun:

We have a team of 4 who support the sales and property management team with Amanda overseeing of all aspects of the business, she is the glue that binds the team together and offers support along with Karen to enable the sales agents to have the time to do the best they can for vendors and buyers.

Dean:

You have mentioned One Agency is recognised for selling a lot of high end, lifestyle and marquee properties like 2 Anderson, 190 Duffields, 415 Nortons and more recently 5 Pride Street, how do you achieve these listings?

Shaun:

Having sold high-end properties – meaning properties over $1.5mil to $3mil plus – and achieving such strong price results, has meant that vendors who are considering selling continue to get in touch with us to learn more about our sales strategy that best serves our vendors to consistently achieve standout results.

Dean:

In 2 years you have generated a great deal of presence in a short amount of time, where do you expect to be in another 2/5 years time?

Shaun:

I believe our team will continue to set the benchmark for auctioning homes on the Surf Coast, that our property management team will still be delivering A-1 personalised service, and I really believe that we’ll be an employer of choice locally and that our current team will still be here, being the same group of customer-service focused, energised, upskilled individuals that they are!

Dean:

As a long-time local and local business owner, engaging with and supporting local community groups and causes seems to be a high priority for both yourself and the business.

I also see that your agency is supporting the 50 Year Storm (Man Up!) initiative via sponsorship and working with organisations around improving mental health funding locally, what has been the driver behind this?

Shaun:

At One Agency, we have all been personally effected by suicide, so community solidarity around mental health is something we all see the importance in, hence our considered decision to put our efforts into community.

I have recently been involved with Bolt Blowers, VicSurf and also on the committee along with being a sponsor of 50 Year Storm in memory of Shaun Brooks.

It is very important for us to get behind this and bring better conversations to help one another, and support one another, around mental health issues.

We know we are part of an evolving community and love to be a part of keeping it that way, as more people enter the community, we would like to assist where we can to provide good values and the connections that make our place in the world very special.