Acknowledging International Women’s Day (IWD) when your team is made up entirely of women is, for Curtis & Blair Real Estate, “just another day at the office”.
From their home base in Medowie, the group of ten plans to celebrate the annual date the same way they do every week – with coffee.
For them, this year’s theme Inspire Inclusion is about celebrating a significant shift in their industry, one that is seeing more women taking up real estate than ever before.
But, it’s taken its time, says agency principal Jane Blair, who has worked in the industry for the past 20 years.
“It’s been a slow transition,” she admits.
“But, I like what I’m seeing.
“I’m very proud of my team. They’re great multi-taskers and they all have excellent time management skills.
“Without generalising, they are skills that you often see with working women, and in-particular working mothers.
“Juggling a family and a career is something I believe we’re very good at.
“And, the reason we are so passionate about promoting a good work-life balance in our business.”
Jane says she’s ridden the roller coasters of fluctuating property markets and witnessed attitudes towards buying, renting and selling change in her time in the industry.
Facing opposition when she first set out as an all-female business was something she took in her stride.
What she focused on was something she’d always felt was missing – “the ability to build trusting relationships, talking the same language and having clients shouting your name joyously”.
Jane and her team also prefer to work with a little fun thrown in, too.
“Our team are renowned for being easy going, down to earth and taking the anxiety out of real estate transactions,” she says.
“We say it how it is and relate to you at your level.
“For us, teamwork and communication is everything. We’re proud of our comradery at Curtis & Blair and keep our tools sharpened so that your experience is contagious.
“You could say we bring a woman’s touch.”
Curtis & Blair specialises in property in Medowie, Salt Ash, and Port Stephens’ surrounds.
“We’re a new brand, but our team has combined experience of over 40 years in these property markets,” says Jane.
“We live here, and we work here, which means we work closely with the local community to ensure we give the most accurate advice.”
And, while the industry may be attracting more women to its teams, the wage gap still has a bit of work to do.
Despite the numbers of male and female real estate agents in Australia being split almost 50/50 in 2023, the profession continues to have one of the largest pay gaps in full-time median income in Australia.
While men in the real estate profession reported a median yearly personal income of $76,804 last year, it was a figure that’s 35% higher than their female counterparts.
For more IWD stories:
- International Women’s Day 2024: Meryl Swanson
- International Women’s Day 2024: Frances Kay-Lambkin
- International Women’s Day 2024 events in the Hunter
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