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THE Ray White Group has raised the bar on the Gold Coast with the recruitment of a star agent who has ambitions to be one of the Sunshine State’s best agents within five years.
James Drake has joined Australasia’s leading property group as a Sales Agent with Ray White Sovereign Island and will have a particular focus on the luxury and prestige waterfront market.
“The idea of joining a major brand that offered so much support and exposure, not only on the Gold Coast but nationally, was really appealing to me,” Mr Drake said.
“The longevity of the business in the area and the individuals within that business excited me and I’m really looking forward to collaborating with likeminded people across the nation.
“I wasn’t born here but I’ve been raised in the area for the last 20 years, so I have the benefit of excellent connections and relationships from what I’ve already built so far in my career.
“I’ve been in the real estate industry ever since I left school – and after realising a Bachelor of Business at university really wasn’t for me – I found my passion for connecting with people when helping out a mate for his open home. That’s where my real estate journey began.”
Mr Drake has had an impressive journey throughout his career, from starting his own independent business to working with numerous brands, and Ray White was the next logical step.
“Ray White is incredibly resourceful from a corporate point of view – the back-end offering is far superior when compared to any other brand,” he said.
“If you know how to do the right things in this industry, and then combine that with the leading brand, it’s simply a recipe for success.
“I’ve always had ambitions to grow a team and I’ve just hired my first ever Sales Associate – it’s the first team member I’ve ever had join me.
“In the first 12 months we’ll just put our heads down, work hard, and do what we do best – list and sell. The five-year-goal is to be in the top five agents in the whole of Queensland – then perhaps business ownership in the future.
“There’s never been a better time to be in real estate on the Gold Coast and once we’re in motion, it’s going to be an exciting wave to ride.”
Ray White Queensland CEO Jason Andrew welcomed Mr Drake to the family and said the recruitment had wider implications to the long-term plan.
“We’re really looking at building something special on the Gold Coast and our ability to attract an agent of James’s calibre is a testament to what we aim to achieve there,” Mr Andrew said.
“James has proven throughout his career that not only can he list and sell some incredible properties – but he does so with outstanding service – delivering a memorable experience in the process.
“I personally wish James all the best and I know we’ll all be watching with great interest and excitement to see what he can achieve with the fantastic team at Ray White Sovereign Island.”
