Alison Kemp | Agent of Excellence Interview

Alison Kemp | Barfoot & Thompson Papakura
Agent of Excellence FY2020

We caught up with one of our Agents of Excellence, Alison Kemp, to discuss her morning rituals, professional advice she has been given and more.

Watch above or read the full interview below. 

What are your morning rituals?

Every day is different for me. When I get up in the morning, I work out what I have planned for the day and that dictates what time I start.

A semi-routine for me is making sure I always moisturise! I also can’t leave the house without having vitamins, apple cider vinegar and going on a walk. I do this so my mind is in the game before I start the day.

I’m really not an early morning person so I don’t make appointments first thing, I always make them after 10 am if I can. I’m a night owl, so I know to work to my strengths.

What was your first sales job?

I was actually 14, and I was selling fireworks at the Pakuranga Plaza. I was stuck in a booth and when someone came to buy some I was so excited I didn’t know what to do. So that was my first sales job and I didn’t do any other sales roles until I started in real estate.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve been given?

One word I was taught very early on, and I didn’t fully understand the implication of it was next. In this job we get rejected, we have things happen that really knock you for 6, and that word got me through a lot of those situations. We definitely have to adapt and learn not to take it too hard, so next was a pivotal word.

Another piece of advice was to treat every appraisal or every piece of contact I have with clients like a job interview, so I was taught to be professional. Make sure to look the part, talk the part and act the part. You only get that one time to make an impression and it’s so important.

Who inspires you?

At the beginning of my career, I had five mentors, both male and female who inspired me. My manager is always there for me too, I look up to her. She guides me but is also a friend. Accumulating those people around you to make sure you have that support is so important, people that build you up not push you down.

What do you love about being a real estate agent?

That I help people, that’s what drives me, that’s why I get up in the morning. I know every day will be different. I meet amazing people, some of my clients become friends. The people I meet in the industry are incredible too.

What’s your biggest career fail?

I turned up to an open home late, which is our worst nightmare. There were about 20 people there waiting. I jumped out of my car and said hello to everyone, then two freight trains went past making so much noise while I was trying to talk to everyone. They just looked at me and walked off.

Why do you love working with realestate.co.nz?

I love working with realestate.co.nz because the service they offer is second to none. I have a great relationship with my account manager and everyone there that I deal with. They treat you like a person, not just a number that brings in work. I feel appreciated and that’s the essence of what most of us want. They also get stuff done straight away – I ring and can get anything sorted immediately. The service is top-notch. The website, I just prefer it – my listings are clear and easy to navigate. It’s a far better platform for my advertising and it reaches so many people.