The Real Estate Institute of Australia’s 11th REIA National Awards for Excellence were held last night, where winners in 16 categories received the highest honour in Australian real estate.

It was a top night for the Toop family from South Australia with Toop&Toop Real Estate winning both the Communications Award and the Innovation Award. Anthony and Sylvia Toop, who started the firm in 1985, took a detour from their year-long road trip around Australia to attend the awards at Crown Melbourne. "I think it's getting quite full!" said Suzannah Toop, CEO of property investment and finance, of the Toop&Toop awards room. "Awards are such a good way to make sure we look back at what we've done, and keep striving to do even better," she said.

"As a team, we do find the awards process is a great way to stop and reflect on what we've achieved. Whether it be in marketing or innovation, we are always thinking about what we can do next, so it's nice to stop and celebrate the win." 

Genevieve Toop, CEO of sales and marketing at Toop&Toop, said marketing and communications is a huge part of their business. "We have an in-house studio team that work so hard to make sure we lead the way in this area so to be recognised nationally for that, we're so proud of the team," she said. 

Other winners included Dianne Brereton of Call2View Real Estate in the Northern Territory, who took out the Achievement award. "I came from the hospitality industry and I've been in real estate for four years," said Brereton, who was recruited by Call2View. "I love the industry, it's such a rewarding industry, and I love being able to help people on both sides, the people that are selling and buying."

Brereton said she'd like to see the image of the real estate industry elevated. "I'd love [agents] just to get outside of their comfort zone and do that little bit extra to try and lift that image up for the real estate industry, that would be lovely."  

Tony Collidge, President of the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania, said it was great to see "someone other than the bigger states winning all the time."

Western Australia took five of the sixteen categories, while the ACT and South Australia won three major awards.

CBRE Victoria won the Commercial Agency of the Year enabling them to be inducted into the REIA Hall of Fame in 2017 for winning the same category in 2014, 2015 and 2016. CBRE Victoria will join Hall of Fame inductees Independent Property Group ACT for Large Residential Agency of the Year 2008, 2009, 2010, and Communications Award 2008, 2009 and 2010, Toop & Toop Real Estate South Australia for Innovation Award 2006, 2007, 2008, Sissons Estate Agents for Small Residential Agency of the Year 2008, 2009, 2010 and Simon Pressley from Propertyology for Buyer’s Agent of the Year Award 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Neil Laws of Kerleys Coastal Real Estate in Queenscliff, Victoria was awarded the prestigious President’s Award for 2016 which recognises significant contribution made by an individual to the real estate profession. Laws has been in real estate for over 40 years and an REIV member since 1987. He has served in various senior positions at the REIV, including one as President, two terms as Chairman of Members Council, nearly eight years as Chairman of the Board of Realestateview.com.au, and on the Estate Agents Council. He is a committed member of the REIV Auctioneering Chapter, judging and convening Australasian Auctioneering Competitions for many years.

Special guests included Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming & Liquor Regulation, the Hon Jane Garrett MP, representatives from the National Association of REALTORS® in the U.S. and representatives from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

The recipients of the 2016 REIA National Awards for Excellence are:

Business Broker of the Year – Simon Winter, Raine & Horne Corporate Business Sales, SA.

Buyer’s Agent of the Year – Kent Cliffe, Momentum Wealth, WA.

Corporate Support Person of the Year – Jennifer Wright, Realmark, WA.

Residential Property Manager of the Year – Laura Levisohn, M Residential, WA. (proudly sponsored by Rockend)

Commercial Property Manager of the Year – Kevin Dwyer, Raine & Horne Commercial, ACT.

Community Service Award – LJ Hooker Cessnock and Kurri Kurri, NSW. (proudly sponsored by Terri Scheer)

Innovation Award – Toop & Toop Real Estate, SA.

Communications Award – Toop & Toop Real Estate, SA. (proudly sponsored by Top Snap Photography)

Achievement Award – Dianne Brereton, Call2View Real Estate, NT.

Commercial Salesperson of the Year – Daniel Sanzone, CBRE, WA.

Residential Salesperson of the Year – Jonathan Charles, Independent Property Group Woden, ACT.

Commercial Agency of the Year – CBRE, VIC.

Small Residential Agency of the Year – One Agency Launceston, TAS.

Medium Agency of the Year – Realestate 88, WA. (proudly sponsored by Direct Connect)

Large Residential Agency of the Year – Independent Property Group, ACT. (proudly sponsored by Direct Connect)

President’s Award – Neil Laws, Kerleys Coastal Real Estate, VIC.