Words of Wisdom – with Recruit RE and Ross Mundy

“Work hard and know that you won’t make money straight away. It’s a bit like climbing a mountain - you can't start at the top, but eventually you'll get there and see the other side, and it's worth it.”

Ross Mundy is an expert negotiator and exceptional at building connections. With a background in finance and business, Ross has built a meaningful career in real estate, possessing a consummate knowledge of his local market.

Recently going through a brand change, Ross' team of 7 passionate and driven professionals made the switch to Marshall Chan Yahl, where they continue to focus on client advocacy and the local community.

Tell us about your career, how long you’ve been in real estate and the different roles you’ve had

I’ve been in real estate for 9 years now, starting at the end of 2014, and have held similar roles throughout my career.  When I first started, I was a standalone sales agent, growing my team over the years.  I am now a director at Marshall Chan Yahl.

Is real estate the only industry you've worked in?

I studied business at university and worked at American Express for around 6 and a half years.  It hen took a short journey to a smaller business with another individual before getting into real estate.

What professional real estate training and qualifications have you completed?

I completed the certificate of registration and licensing course to become a class 1 licensed real estate agent, and prior to starting out in real estate I obtained a degree in business.  I also complete CPD training each year to stay up to date.

How would your friends and colleagues describe you?

I think everyone would describe me differently.  The overall theme would be fun and loyal.

What led you to a career in real estate?

At American Express I was in a relationship management role and piloted a program with involvement in the real estate industry.  My theory on real estate is like Maslow's theory - food, water and shelter – basic things that everyone needs.  It was also an industry I was very curious about.  Those I worked with in the industry always talked very positively about it and that's ultimately what led me to getting involved.

What is your proudest career moment?

Recently starting at Marshall. Chan. Yahl. and being named a director in that business, in addition to opening an office with some amazing people and colleagues.

How have you found the experience of changing brands?

I've worked across a number of industries and roles and feel I've worked enough to know where my niche is.  For me personally, working within a brand that is family-oriented with a great culture but that is also agile is essential.

This industry changes so quickly and you need to be agile.  Sometimes being the biggest is not necessarily the best.  Having enough presence in your marketplace is important.

What led me to Marshall. Chan. Yahl. is the experience of previously working with some of the team and knowing how they operated.  Their hyper-local model also appealed to me.

It's been an easy transition and they've provided our team with all the tools to succeed.  There's an amazing support network within the company across multiple offices that encourages you to overcome any roadblocks and excel.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I am in the office between 8am-noon and then out on the road. The afternoon is for appointments with vendors, purchasers, showing properties and listing appointments.

What do you find the most rewarding part of your job?

I'm a big client advocate, and a large part of my business is repeat clients and referrals.  Seeing my clients do well is probably the most rewarding part.  If you look after the client, the natural consequence is that, when they do well, so will you.

What unexpected opportunities have you had across your career?

Every day is different, and you never really know what you're walking into.  I've met some amazing professional people over the last 10 years and been very fortunate to have had some amazing experiences and learnt a lot over that time.

Is there anything you would do differently given the chance?

I would have put on an Associate earlier.  There's only so much that you can do within a day,and you need to be in a position to back yourself.  Often that means spending money to make money.

How do you find the best talent to join your team?

We've had several of our team members join through recommendations from friends or colleagues.  I've interviewed many people over the years, and sometimes you just need to trust your intuition.

What advice would you have for early career professionals?

Work hard and know that you won’t make money straight away.  It’s a bit like climbing a mountain - you can't start the top, but eventually you'll get there and see the other side, and it's worth it.

I often tell those coming into real estate that it's like doing a double degree.  It's one of the few industries where you start out in an Associate role and get a paid internship.  If you can be patient and work hard, the dividends are there at the end.

What advice would you give to real estate professionals to support their mental health?

I think it's important to give yourself ‘me’ time away from the industry, whether that be going to the gym, meditating or doing something that you love.  The big game-changer for me in this industry has been forward planning.

What do you think are the biggest recruitment challenges we're facing in real estate?

Expectations are a big challenge.  Understand that this isn’t an industry that offers instant gratification, and we need to find people willing to put in the long haul and build a rewarding career.  If you find those people, everything will be all right.

What is your opinion of the current real estate market?

I think we've had low interest rates and low inventory that created a bit of a housing boom in the last 2 years.  We're back to a normal market, which makes it a more challenging market.

Do you have advice for anyone looking to buy or sell a home?

Buy a home when you can afford it.  Don't worry about market conditions, and if you're constantly trying to time the market, you'll get it wrong.  You can only find the bottom when it's going back up.

What is your top tip for flourishing in the real estate industry?

Do the right thing.  It's easy to cut corners in this industry and tell people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.  So always do the right thing.

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