Di Jones Woollahra sales agent Emma Brown-Garrett has secured a place in the state final of the REINSW Novice Auctioneers Competition, drawing on her performing background, which includes a successful previous career in Bollywood.

It is sometimes said that auctioneering is the "theatre" of real estate, and Brown-Garrett showed this was true when she won the 10th and final heat of the Novice Auctioneers Competition last week, beating a field of 11 candidates. She will now go on to compete against the nine other heat winners at the Novice Auctioneers Competition State Final on Thursday, 10 August 2017, at the Police and Justice Museum in Sydney.

Image: Emma Brown-Garrett competing in the REINSW Novice Auctioneers Competition.

Brown-Garrett  has been performing since she was 14, and was part of the NIDA young actors program. She has appeared in short films and on stage, and between 2008 to 2013 she took time out from her real estate career and lived in India where she had a successful Bollywood career.

“Auctioneering is a type of performance, and that’s why I feel comfortable with it," said Brown-Garrett, who said she had to ask herself if she was auctioneering or simply playing the role an auctioneer.

“I’ve always wanted to compete in the competition,” said Brown-Garrett.

Brown-Garrett, who has been working in real estate for 15 years, said her colleague Mitchell Dansey won the same heat last year, and her auctioneer mentor Josh Larsen had encouraged her to give it a go.

She said she did "take it on as a role and do a performance", and said part of her preparation was to find her own style.

Though mentored by a male, Brown-Garrett said she was "able to implement a more feminine side.”

Brown-Garrett, who had to auction a Porsche driving experience for $700 at the event, was one of four female auctioneering contestants, suggesting that auctioneering is becoming an increasingly popular career choice for female agents. In total, 17 female agents, out of 66, competed in the Novice Auctioneers Competition across 10 heats – the largest number the competition has ever seen.

“Auctioneering is something I really want to continue,” said Brown-Garrett.

REINSW President John Cunningham said Brown-Garrett had a strong presence.

“As soon as she walked on stage she set the scene and had the right voice projection, tone and flow. Emma was professional and it was clear she well prepared,” he said.

Last week's competition raised $7,726 for the McGrath Foundation.

Read more about the REI's auctioneering competitions:

Bronte Manuel: South Australia's three-time auctioneering winner

Tom Esze takes home the main prize, again: REIWA 2017 Auctioneering Championship

Twenty-six-year-old Ned Allison is New Zealand's top auctioneer