PHOTO: Haesley Cush. FILE
Award-winning auctioneer Haesley Cush has responded to common stereotypes about real estate agents, including claims that they are only “in it for themselves.” Cush, 46, has been with Ray White New Farm in Brisbane since he was 18 and has nearly 30 years of experience in the industry.
Cush acknowledges that some agents fit the negative stereotypes, focusing more on personal gain than their clients’ needs. However, he insists that such individuals rarely survive in the industry. “People who match the stereotype either don’t last or keep switching brands to escape their past mistakes,” Cush told the Courier Mail.
Together with his business partner Matt Lancashire, Cush operates Ray White offices in New Farm, Bulimba, Clayfield, and Toowong. Their offices have earned the Number One Multi-Business Network Internationally title, achieving more than $1 billion in annual sales. Cush also takes pride in giving back to his community through charity auctioneering.
Despite the negative reputation often associated with the industry, Cush works hard to challenge these views. “Our biggest challenge is accepting that people give real estate agents a bad rap, so we do a lot to fight the stereotype,” he said.
Award-winning auctioneer Haesley Cush (pictured with his partner) slammed critics of the real estate industry
Mr Cush (pictured) disagreed with accusations real estate agents are only ‘in it for themselves’ and described the wellbeing programs he has for his workers that ‘help them deal with the fact people are going to call them overpaid wanker real estate agents’
Cush also takes measures to support his team of 160 employees by offering access to wellness programs such as ice baths, saunas, personal training, and marriage counseling. These initiatives help staff deal with the stereotype that real estate agents are overpaid and self-serving.
He believes in confronting stereotypes head-on: “I can either be the stereotype or not, and I choose not to be it.”
Cush is one of several real estate professionals defending their industry, echoing sentiments from auctioneer Justin Nickerson of Apollo Auctions. Nickerson believes that most real estate professionals are dedicated, hard-working individuals. “I think the biggest misconception is that agents don’t care, that they are soulless in how they do their job,” Nickerson explained, urging sellers to research and select agents carefully to maximize the return on their property sales.
SOURCE: THE DAILY MAIL