Jack grew up on the coast, and began his career selling boats. He has worked at hockingstuart Armadale for three years, where he has thrived as an agent. He recently won the REIV Novice Auctioneer competition. 

How did you get into auctioneering?  

I’ve always been in the business of selling, I actually used to sell boats of all things! I had a great boat business in Queenscliff which has helped me develop my sales and customer service skills, and held me in good stead when I started a career in real estate. 

Three years ago I started at hockingstuart Armadale and I haven’t looked back. Auctioneering is also a major core competency in our office - in fact 90 per cent of our properties go to auction, so we all must be well versed in the practice. This inspired me to undergo the hockingstuart auctioneering training, a rigorous 10 week course which sets the benchmark in the industry. At the end of the 10 weeks, we had an auctioneering competition against all the others in the course, which was a great practice run for the broader REIV Novice Auctioneer competition. 

Out of seven finalists at the REIV Novice Auctioneer competition, four were from hockingstuart. This goes to show how effective this course is in advancing budding auctioneers in their career. 

What do you love most about your job?

What I love about real estate is that you’re not tied down to the standard nine to five grind in the office. You’re constantly out and about meeting people and helping them through what is one of the most emotional and financial decisions of their lives – selling a home. 

Ultimately, what I really love is that I’m always learning in this job, and I’m always looking for ways to improve. You could be complacent and go along doing okay, or you can go above and beyond and really get something out of this job. 

What makes a good auctioneer?

I think the most important thing to remember is that an auction is a public negotiation – you are there working for the vendor to get a great result for them. 

It is also really important to keep things exciting. It’s not uncommon to encounter an auction where there is not a lot of movement. It’s important to inject a sense of anticipation in the crowd and make them feel like something is going to happen. 

What set you apart from the other competitors in your category?

I have a slightly more relaxed style than most others – I try to crack a few terrible jokes to get a laugh out of the crowd. I’ve really learnt that creating a comfortable environment and not getting caught up in the mechanics and technical aspects of an auction can make the difference. 

Do you have any advice to a young person thinking of becoming an auctioneer?

The biggest thing I can share with others is just to put yourself out there and allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone. When I first started, what I really struggled with was standing up in front of 50 people, most of whom are older than you, and injecting authority. It was pretty nerve wracking! But as they say, practice makes perfect. I even went to a local park to practice which was a great way to perfect my skills. 

How are you feeling about the win?

It’s been really exciting and brought some great business opportunities for me. On a personal level it’s also given me a confidence boost - the win is great for me to be able to sell myself as an auctioneer and backs up my skills. 

The award is also testament to the high standard of the hockingstuart Academy’s auctioneering training and all the fantastic coaches there who really push us to excel. More importantly, it’s a great accolade for hockingstuart Armadale. The team there have been supporting me throughout my auctioneering journey. 

Where do you live now?

I just moved from Prahran to Richmond with my partner, which is still close to work.  I love the area, it’s in the heart of Melbourne. 

What’s your dream home, anywhere in the world?

It would have to be a penthouse in New York. I went to New York a couple of years ago and had Christmas in West Village and I just loved it.

See also:

Get to know Joe Mavrikos

Get to know Nina James

Get to know Adam McKay