Openn celebrates top agents at 2019 Excellence Awards

31 Jul 2019

Agent

Openn celebrated the best of the best at its second Excellence Awards on Thursday July 25.

Not only did the night honour some of the most dynamic and talented real estate professionals, it also saw some stars from the 2018 awards return, including Steve Lay who was a finalist for an award in 2018 and took out three wins in 2019.

In honouring the winners, Openn Managing Director, Peter Gibbons, said the event was about more than just good salespeople; it was about the new frontier of real estate and pioneering change in the industry.

“The night wasn’t just about recognising the best performing Openn agents and agencies," said Mr Gibbons. "It was about celebrating all the talented people who are leading the way in changing the face of real estate.”

“Openn has come very far in just a short year, and we certainly couldn’t have done it without all the agents and agencies who have supported us along the way.”

The last 12 months have seen Openn hit some big milestones, including the near completion of a national rollout, the launch of an online training system, a major upgrade of the Openn platform, and in May 2019, Openn recorded its highest value property ever sold through the platform. The $4.73m home was sold by Caro Cunningham of Mint Real Estate and is thought to be the most expensive home ever sold on an online auction platform in Australia.

Openn has also been named a finalist for the Telstra Business Awards, with the finals held in October.

Steve Lay of Lay2 Real Estate was the man of the night, taking out the win for Openn Negotiation of the Year, Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year (WA) and Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year (National), as well as being named a finalist for Highest Total Value of Property Sold and Most Openn Properties Listed. Lay2 Real Estate was also a finalist for Openn Negotiation Agency of the Year.

Mr Lay won Openn Negotiation of the Year for 32 Murray Street in WA’s Bayswater, which sold in 18 days for $742,000 after seven buyers showed interest and was watched online by 70 observers. He said that with the help of Openn, he’s been able to completely transform how he’s handled tough market conditions.

“We are absolutely sailing. Let me tell you the headwinds that you’ve got right now, if you can get the skills set right, when the market turns, you won’t have two or three bidders - you’ll have 10, 15 or 20,” said Mr Lay.

“A lot of agents won’t do this because it’s change. It’s not hard work, it’s just skillset changes. I really think there’s a big opportunity in this market to get ahead of the curve. Believe in it because this is magnificent. I can’t get over it.

“If it’s not working for you, have a look around, because it is working. So you need to change something,” concluded Mr Lay.

Mr Lay wasn’t the only big winner for the night. Nik Varga of Varga Realty took the title for Highest Total Value of Property Sold with a total value of $15,575,500. He was also a finalist in Most Openn Properties Listed, a finalist in Openn Negotiation of the Year, and a finalist for Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year (WA) as well as Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year (National).

Varga Realty also took the crown for Openn Negotiation Agency of the Year.

Openn Negotiation director Brad Glover closed out the festivities by congratulating all the finalists and winners and championing their passion for advancing the industry.

“Congratulations to all our finalists and winners. You’ve really exemplified what it means to be a modern agent,” said Mr Glover.

“It's easy to stick to the status quo - to keep doing what everyone else is doing. It takes real guts to be an agent who’s willing to lead the charge and try something new,” concluded Mr Glover.

The full list of winners and finalists:

Most Openn Properties Listed

Winner:
Roslyn Ierace, Elders - Southern Districts Estate Agency

Finalists:
Steve Lay, Lay2 Real Estate Nik Varga, Varga Realty

Most Qualified Buyers on a Property

Winner:
Nick Wallace, Mack Hall Real Estate

Finalists: Paul Fraumano, Ray White Ormeau Damien Page, Modern Agents

Lowest Days on Market

Winner:
Quy Early, Q Realty

Finalists:
Kim Findlay, Laurie Kelly Real Estate Ross Cleaver, Varga Realty

Highest Total Value of Property Sold

Winner:
Nik Varga, Varga Realty

Finalists:
Steve Lay, Lay 2 Real Estate Simon Hardaker, Astemi Property

Highest Percentage Above Reserve

Winner: Damien Page, Modern Agents

Finalists:
Shyloh Gardiner, Prowest Real Estate Colin Wallbank, LJ Hooker Pemberton

Openn Negotiation of the Year

Winner:
Steve Lay, Lay2 Real Estate

Finalists: Caro Cunningham, Mint Real Estate Nik Varga, Varga Realty

Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year – WA

Winner: Steve Lay, Lay2 Real Estate

Finalists: Nik Varga, Varga Realty Murray Wellington, Wellington & Barber Real Estate

Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year – VIC

Winner: Craig Mann, First National Real Estate Craig Mann

Finalists: Wayne Hutchinson, @realty Adrian Barnes, First National Real Estate Craig Mann

Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year – NSW

Winner: Simon Hardaker, Astemi Property

Finalists: Peter Smyth, Smyth Property Steven Dick, Raine & Horne Newcastle

Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year – QLD

Winner: Damien Page, Modern Agents

Finalists: Charles Wiggett, Hauss Realty David Aldis, Ray White Ormeau

Openn Negotiation Agent of the Year (National)