The REIWA's 2017 Awards for Excellence took place last month, providing an opportunity for the institute to recognise both agents and agencies for their excellent service and industry knowledge.

Held at Crown Perth and with more than 400 attendees, the night was a major event for the industry. 

Mint Real Estate was a major winner on the night. Mint Real Estate Claremont won ‘Small Residential Agency of the Year’, one of Western Australia's most significant industry accolades. It was the second year in a row Mint took home the prize.

Peter Clements of Mint Real Estate Claremont also took home the trophy for ‘Residential Salesperson of the Year’. The awards follow the agency’s victory at the national Real Estate Institute Awards in Canberra in March, where Mint was named the best small agency in Australia.

Clements said, "The truth is we don’t aspire to have a full trophy cabinet, we aspire to be Number One for exceeding our client’s expectations. But it is a real honour to be recognised.”

These awards are particularly meaningful because they are judged on excellent service, business acumen, and expertise, said Clements.

Nevertheless, Mint Claremont had a terrific year in an extremely challenging market. During the year the agency:

• Set a new ‘highest price’ records on six streets
• Had an average time on market of just 16 days (Perth average is 69 days)
• Generated on average four offers for every listing
• Negotiated an average uplift of $171,159 (around 20%) on initial offers
• 86% of listings were repeat or referred clients

The agency also introduced a new app called ‘Openn’, through which buyers can negotiate individual conditions with the seller before placing electronic bids.

“With a lot of negative sentiment in WA’s economy, Openn proved to be invaluable during the last year. Buyers took comfort in the fact they could transparently see the value that other buyers were putting on a property,” Clements said.

“By bringing negotiations into a public realm, we removed any doubt they might be feeling about taking action in an uncertain market.”

Earlier in the year, Clements was awarded the status of ‘Grand Master Salesperson’ by the REIWA, in recognition of his sales exceeding $53 million in the last financial year.

REIWA chief executive Neville Pozzi said the institute received a very high standard of nominations for the awards, making for a lot of tough decisions.

The 2017 Awards for Excellence winners

• Kevin Sullivan Memorial Award: David Airey, Airey Real Estate
• Achievement Award: Scott Jordan, Professionals Stirling Clark Real Estate
• Communications Award: Realmark
• Community Service Award: Professionals State Service Centre
• Corporate Support Person of the Year: Sandra Pereira, Abel McGrath Property Group
• Innovation Award: Realmark
• Commercial Agency of the Year: CBRE
• Commercial Property Manager of the Year: Lisa Jansen, CBRE
• Commercial Salesperson of the Year: Anthony Vulinovich, Raine & Horne Commercial
• Large Residential Agency of the Year: Harcourts Alliance
• Medium Residential Agency of the Year: Bourkes
• Residential Property Manager of the Year: Laura Levisohn, M Residential
• Residential Salesperson of the Year: Peter Clements, Mint Real Estate Claremont
• Small Residential Agency of the Year: Mint Real Estate Claremont
• Buyer’s Agent of the Year: Raymond Chua, Momentum Wealth Residential Property

Read more from the REIWA:

Perth property prices could tick higher this spring: REIWA

reiwa.com Awards: celebrating WA real estate's finest

Perth's most affordable suburbs within 10km of the CBD