How did you both start in the real estate business? Have you always worked in this industry or did you do something else previously?

Annika:  I started at McGrath head office in Marketing in 2004, having worked in the PR and IT industries prior to this.

Aaron: I started as a trainee in real estate at 18 years old, fresh out of school, and then progressed to a sales PA and finally a sales agent.

What do you love about your job?

Annika: Creating great relationships with our clients and being able to sell beautiful properties in one of the best areas of Sydney (and arguably Australia) whilst working together in an industry that provides a variety of activities on a daily basis.

Is real estate a good profession for couples? Do you compete with each other?

Annika: It works well for us. We complement each other, and buyers and sellers like the dynamic that we offer.

Aaron: We love what we do and people find it evident in our enthusiasm. We always work together and don’t compete with each other.

How do people perceive you when they know you’re a husband and wife team?

Aaron: They first look with wide eyes and ask “How does THAT work for you?” It’s usually then followed with a laugh and a comment that they would probably kill one another if they worked together. Most people then acknowledge that we make a great team.

What would you like to see done differently in the real estate industry?

Aaron: Agents not feeling as though they have to have a particular persona. People want to deal with real people. “Slick” characters using over-rehearsed and over-used scripts are a thing of the past. Good service delivered by real people via clear communication and straight-talk is what people really want and respect.

What’s your advice to a young person thinking of entering the real estate profession?

Annika: Work alongside a great agent for 3-4 years to get a good understanding of the industry – absorb every minor detail and learn all the intricacies of what’s involved. It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle and you need to be 100% committed to it and love it; otherwise it isn’t the right career for you. Great results and reputation are achieved through hard work, commitment and dedication - success doesn’t happen overnight!

What’s your outlook for your local market for the rest of 2015? 

Annika: Lack of stock and high demand coupled with low interest rates we believe will ensure the prices and the strength of the market in our area will remain consistent.

What was your first home?

Aaron: Mine was a three-bedroom house in Melbourne and Annika’s was a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney. Whilst they will always hold a special place in each of our hearts, they have long since been sold on for new owners to enjoy.

Where do you live now? Surry Hills.

If money were no object, what would your dream property be?

We are very excited to be about to build our dream house on the Northern Beaches, overlooking the beach and providing plenty of space for our kids to play and grow.