BRIAN Wood was born and raised in Swan Hill and has been in the real estate business locally for 32 years.
He was recently named as the Swan Hill Agent of the Year by the Rate My Agent website.
Mr Wood said the organisation was like a version of TripAdvisor for real estate agents.
“Customers, both buyers and sellers, can go online and lodge a review as to their agent’s performance, or non-performance if they haven’t performed,” Mr Wood said.
“It is quite transparent and completely independent.
“Not all agents use it as it does make us vulnerable.
“If someone is not happy and they put a negative review up then everybody sees it.
“The award is not that I have sold the most properties or made the most commission, it’s purely based on customer satisfaction.
“I am humbled and honoured to receive the award and I really appreciate the support that my clients have given me.
“They don’t have to put reviews in but it’s wonderful that they have elected to do so and the majority have been favorable, although not all of them.
“That’s one of the things: you always have to look to learn from your mistakes and be wanting to improve.
“After 32 years I’m only halfway through my apprenticeship,” Mr Wood said with a laugh.
Although there have been many changes in his three decades, Mr Wood says he feels customer service focus has always been a big part of it.
Covering a vast area of about 100 kilometers around Swan Hill, Mr Wood sees that there is a critical shortage of housing stock available on the market.
“The recent changes the state government has introduced into Victoria under the tenancy laws have made it tougher for landlords and a lot of landlords have left the market,” Mr Wood said.
“Regulations are also making it tougher for builders so we now have a situation where there is an undersupply of residential property.
“That, unfortunately, forces prices up.
“Although the government is doing its best trying to keep rentals and prices down, the forces of supply and demand are pushing them up.
“With the lack of availability of properties we are not seeing huge growth in the town’s population, although it would be great to see some more growth here.”
