Anthony Lapadula has been in the real estate industry for 10 years. He joined Jellis Craig in 2007, initially in the Ivanhoe office, and is now a senior sales consultant and auctioneer. Anthony specialises in Melbourne’s inner north market, particularly Northcote, Fairfield, Ivanhoe, Ivanhoe East and Eaglemont, concentrating on the $1m to $4m price bracket. He has been recognised by Jellis Craig as their number one sales consultant in the Northcote office for several years.
What was your first job, and what was the most important thing it taught you?
Real estate has always been my only job and passion, so I’ve always focused my career in the industry. My first role was a sales consultant at the age of 20, not a PA, which enabled me to build my career from an early age.
What do you like most about your work now?
I like to be able to manage my own career and design my own future. I believe you get back what you put in. So if you have the passion, dedication and skills and are willing to work hard, there are great reward opportunities, both personally and financially.
What do you find most challenging about what you do, and how do you deal with it?
Like most agents, I find the work/life balance hard. It’s easy to be consumed by your work, especially when you live and breathe property. One strategy I use to manage this is to make sure I take time off – for example, Sunday is family day and I take holidays during quieter market periods.
Define success for you personally. What will you have achieved?
Success for me is developing long-standing relationships with my clients. It’s not just about selling their home or development, but becoming a trusted property specialist – the person who keeps them up to date with the current market, as well as their first choice for their next property move.
Describe your typical day.
I start my day with a cycle ride or a run, then breakfast with my partner. Then I head straight for the office, meet with my team and start making the day’s calls. This might be following up leads, talking with buyers, or updating my clients. In the afternoon I’m out of the office, meeting with new clients, managing current listings, overseeing my campaigns, hosting opens, and of course on Saturdays I’m in auction mode.
Is there one thing that’s not obvious about you that you wish more people would get?
I’m very much ‘what you see is what you get’ and I always conduct my business with transparency. If I’m doing my job properly, I’m communicating effectively and nothing flies under the radar.
What’s your secret skill or superpower that makes you so good at what you do?
My key strength is my ability to read different personalities quickly and adapt my style to each one so we can work together effectively. In the ’90s they called this ‘synergy’ but these days we talk about emotional intelligence. To be successful in real estate, you need to be able to read people’s personalities and emotions to understand their drivers and how best to manage the relationship. Being able to communicate and work with them in their preferred style creates better opportunities for successful outcomes.
What makes you laugh?
I like to find humour in every day; it’s important we can all laugh, especially when we’re under pressure. Outside real estate, my partner is a constant source of laughter – she is one of the funniest, most beautiful people I know.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received, and why?
My best compliment came from one of my clients, a well-known family here in Melbourne. They were very appreciative when I sold their house and have come to me to sell their other properties consistently over the past eight years. Repeat or lifelong clients are the best compliment; they are proof you are doing your job well.
Is there anything you’re afraid to do, or you would do if you weren’t afraid?
Years ago I was afraid to say it as it is. That’s not easy to do at the start, but making it a priority has helped me achieve my success to date.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Actually there are three things I’d advise my younger self, or agents just starting out in the industry:
- Find a mentor, someone you aspire to for their success within real estate or another profession. Learn from what they do and take on their successful habits. Ask for their feedback and advice.
- Realise you are the master of your own destiny and have the ability to design your own career. You don’t have to be a cookie-cutter copy of the last agent; you can be successful your way as long as you are dedicated, professional and always open to learning and seeking new opportunities.
- Make more calls. Each morning, set that list of 20 must-do calls and make them. You need to be talking to your network and contacts to see the next opportunity and develop long-term relationships.
What are your goals?
My longer-term goals are to continue to build my personal portfolio, building my relationships and networks. In the shorter term I’m focused on listing the best of Melbourne’s inner northern property and delivering exceptional results to my clients. Buyers in Melbourne’s inner north are educated and design savvy, so I’m focused on that. I’m also developing new ways to match sellers with the right buyers. This includes how we present and market properties, so they jump off the portal listing or printed page.
