4 FEMALE PERSPECTIVES ON REAL ESTATE FROM THE WOMEN AT GARY PEER
Maureen Maserow LICENSED ESTATE AGENT I opened my first real estate business in South Africa with my ex-husband. It was 1990, and we were 22 years old. We sold houses there for years before emigrating to Auckland. We sold houses there, too. But one day, the property manager left unexpectedly, and I was thrust into property management. But you know what? I loved it. I loved negotiating, problem-solving, and getting to know the tenants and landlords. It’s an ongoing relationship – unlike the short, intense relationships formed in sales.
Find employers that will allow you to follow your passion. And just go for it! Don’t be afraid to fail. It’ll all work out in the end.
And I loved the numbers. I’ve got a commerce degree, so balancing the trust account was very satisfying. Real estate around the world differs in a lot of ways. In New Zealand, for example, auctions take place on a Wednesday morning at head office – not onsite. And the commission structures are different. But the people are the same everywhere you go – and that’s the part I love the most. Meeting people and seeing how they live (hint: it’s never what you expect!). But above all, I adore having good, honest conversations. Everyone’s got a story. And it’s usually a good one! After the divorce, I moved to Melbourne with my kids. They were 11 and 14, and I had to be around for them outside school hours. So again, I went into property management – it offered that flexibility I needed. I then became a director of property management for years. But when my children grew up, I was ready for a change and felt the desire to return to sales. So I left my company and joined Gary Peer. It was easy to move from property management to sales, because Gary Peer really embraces growth and allows their staff to try out different roles and pathways. Having that support is invaluable. I would say that in sales, there are still very few women compared to men – especially in director roles, or at the top of companies. But I think the world’s changing – and I don’t think it’s specific to real estate. Now, if you want to do something – you can. The world is open to the changing role of women. And men! Whatever your gender, there are a lot of different ways that you can be in real estate. And there’s something to suit most people. My advice? Find employers that will allow you to follow your passion. And just go for it! Don’t be afraid to fail. It’ll all work out in the end.
THE PEER REVIEW
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