Huge achievement! Celebrating 40 years as a PM in Canberra

When Marion Nielsen started her career in real estate in 1981, the industry – and our nation’s capital – looked very different to how it does now.

After growing up in a small country town, Marion had moved to the “big city” to find work. She landed a role as an assistant for a little agency called Kouvelis and Stefanou Real Estate, and became the owners’ go to for everything.

Marion recalls the process to obtain a licence to work in real estate was a lot more complex back then; requiring at least 2 years of night courses at TAFE while working in the industry.

“It wasn’t like it is now – registration was a huge badge of honour and showed you had put in years of training and study,” says Marion. “Then you had to sit before a panel of agents and answer questions about the Act before you could get a licence to practice. I was only 21 at the time, so I was one of the youngest agents to get my registration which was a big accomplishment.”

Marion continued to work for the same agency for an impressive 38 years, until Philip Kouvelis decided to sell the business to Maloneys.

“Now I am with Maloneys, so I have only ever worked for the same company. It’s been a privilege to be part of its growth. In 1981 we had a rent roll of about 20 properties, which became over 600 properties at one point. I have worked as an assistant, property manager, and business manager overseeing all the property management staff. It’s been an exciting and engaging career, and I even have landlords from the 1980s who are repeat clients which is something I truly value.”

Of deciding to work in property management over sales, Marion says she absolutely loves the relationships she builds with landlords and tenants.

“Housing is very important. It gets into your soul, because it’s an essential part of life and wellbeing. In property management, we help knit it all together by forming relationships with landlords and tenants and helping them make it work.

“We ensure tenants have a safe home to live in, and give landlords assurance that their asset is well maintained. I consider us the glue that tries to keep everybody happy!”

Over the years, Marion has watched as the industry has completely evolved – from paper and ledgers to computers and internet.

“I still remember when we got our very first computer in the agency. There was one for the whole office, and it was only there to manage accounts. Looking back, I wonder how we did it. There was no bond office back then, and no ACAT, and the legislation was quite different.

“What hasn’t changed though is the value of relationships and the stability of the Canberra market. Being a government town, we are creatures of habit. So even if the national market slumps, we don’t really do anything – we just wait. Then when it goes up, we act.

“But I’ve not seen a market like the one we’re in now. So many people are selling because of high values, and buying because of low interest rates. This is edging us towards a rent crisis with very little stock to offer. As always, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”

When it comes to property advertising, Marion has seen it all. She still remembers frantically crafting property descriptions on a typewriter to hand into the Canberra Times by 4pm on a Friday, ready for the Saturday and Wednesday newspapers.

“They were absolutely tiny ads and cost a fortune! There was no ‘open for inspection’, just a number for people to call. You made inspection times with everyone who was interested, and took them through the home one by one.

“Now it’s a dream to be able to take great photos and share them online, then run open inspections. Online marketing has been a huge and important change – it’s saved us and our customers so much time.

“Especially now with Zango, I feel the Canberra market isn’t so captured and we have more choice. Zango is easy to navigate for me and for tenants and buyers. It’s the new kid on the block, but it’s definitely getting out there and we get great coverage and enquiry from it.”

For anyone contemplating a career in real estate, Marion says absolutely give it a try.

“This is a great industry and career path for somebody young who wants to see it through to the end. My retirement isn’t for a while, but it’s been a terrific career so far with no need to chop and change to be satisfied. It’s very rewarding.”