With nearly two years of experience in the industry and a diverse background spanning retail, hospitality, and property management, Ruby has quickly made her mark. Her journey, which began on reception just days after her 19th birthday, is a testament to her passion, dedication, and the invaluable skills she has accumulated along the way. In this interview, Ruby shares insights into her experiences, the lessons she's learned, and her vision for the future in real estate.
My family has a longstanding connection to the office going back to before I was even born, so I’ve always heard about the staff and culture growing up and it sounded like something I wanted to be a part of directly. Seeing how it has grown so much over the years into the agency it is today with multiple departments was inspiring, but also, I wanted to be a part of something that will continue to grow and improve as I’m sure LJ Hooker Property Partners will.
I enjoy and appreciate the dynamic workspace that I get to experience every day I come to work. There’s an underlying factor of friendly banter between colleagues when they’re passing by or standing at the coffee machine (another reason I enjoy working here – free coffee) or even just a smile in the hallways – the warmth of the environment comes so naturally. Although this playful aspect doesn’t outshine the genuine care and pride that people take in their work and willingness to share knowledge gathered from their own journeys with others in efforts to help. We work well as an office because we do it together. There’s also a great selection of food surrounding the office which I like to enjoy.
Sales is a management of relationships in order to maintain properties and Property Management is management of properties in order to maintain relationships. Both require a vast skillset and deep ability to multi-task. I would say that working in sales I get to experience other people’s dreams more in depth and be a part of seeing them through on a daily basis.
Working with Brendan so far has been everything he promised. Before I started as his Sales Associate, he promised me long hours which he delivered in the first week of working for him and I wouldn’t have it any other way. In my first week I learnt so much and got to experience a young couple sell the first home they ever owned (and built) and I also got to experience a young couple purchase their first home; I got more excited for them than expected being able to be a part of the picture. He also promised me good laughs and I’ve done a lot of that recently. It’s a quality he exudes that makes working the long hours so much easier.
I feel like being younger is actually a positive difference I’m able to offer as I’m so enthusiastic and focused on learning from a wide variety of sources, so I am able to use these features to offer a new perspective to the team and clients from a fresh pair of eyes. Having a background in Rentals and Business Development also means I have background knowledge that I can use for tenanted properties or connecting with investors.
I think Park Ridge is a very favourable suburb of mine to service as not only do we get to sell houses that are for a large majority new builds, but we also get the experience of selling vacant blocks of land and specialising in developments which is a broader horizon. The suburb has a lot of room for growth and there is already so much community and social development in the works.
I’d say the most major items I’ve learnt since working here is collaboration and how to be efficient in a team setting, and communication is the most important thing and is highly valued by clients. A personal learning curve since being here has been not to stress myself out too much about things that are out of my control, even when they may not be going precisely how I wanted or planned.
Prior to being a Sales Associate I’ve had four other roles. The first was in retail which teaches you how to keep customers up to date with store deals that are currently on offer. The second in hospitality which teaches you how to form connections and talk to people. Then, I first started on reception here which is classic customer service skills, and as a BDM Assistant, I learnt how to communicate, multitask and prioritise very well.
I would say the first thing I did that felt like an achievement was having a 5-star Google review written about me – it instilled confidence in what I was doing, and my work was paying off. Seeing my work contribute to our BDMs’ monthly statistics and consequently having them break their personal bests and KPIs. Signing up my first investment property for the office to manage before moving to sales was also a noteworthy achievement and probably my favourite so far.
My goals for the future are very simple. Obviously, I would like to generate my first lead and have that seen through to being sold. I think it would be cool to have someone call ME asking for an appraisal instead of me having to call them. I’d definitely like to make Captains Club in the LJ Hooker network when my time comes. Most importantly my main goal is to be true to myself when dealing and handling business.
I have 3 simple pieces of advice to give to people looking to start a career in Real Estate:
1. Do your real estate course in person, if possible, through programmes like PRET. Doing it online can take longer and be more complicated
2. Be prepared to start anywhere and work your way up
3. Get advice and learn from as many people in the industry as you can, whether that be podcasts, books, keynote speakers and people you already know in the industry
Ruby Crowther is quickly emerging as a rising star in the real estate industry. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and innovative approach make her an invaluable asset to any property transaction. If you're looking to buy or sell a property and want the support of a team that prioritises relationships, professionalism, and outstanding service, reach out to Brendan Dingle’s team today.