Property Point 31 October

I’m sure there are lots of positives about being a medical doctor, whether that’s a general practitioner or a specialist of some sort.

There’s the thing about helping people, guiding them on their health journey as they attempt to overcome all the disturbing and confronting difficulties that ageing, Western diets, stress and gluttonous modern indulgences tend to create.

It’s important work and the community rightly values doctors and the crucial role they play in diagnosing health issues, prescribing solutions, easing pain and extending the life expectancy of their appreciative patients.

I imagine that, for doctors, the downside of their profession is the fairly constant need to deliver bad news, often to poor souls who have done nothing wrong and do their best to lead healthy lives.

Apart from that annual check-up people have, patients tend to go and see their doctor because there’s a problem.

When doctors have sweet dreams it’s probably about an imaginary day at work when there is a constant flow of people who are either in sparkling health and need no treatment and those previously ill people who are dramatically improving and on their way to a full and permanent recovery.

Those times when health scenarios improve and doctors get to deliver good news to patients do happen, of course, but wouldn’t it be good if it happened all the time?

“Yes Bob, the test results are in. Full recovery. No worries, happy to help … next.”

“Hi Sarah, so the pain has stopped has it? Yes, well the scans show the problem has disappeared so everything couldn’t look better. See you in a year for a routine check-up! Next. …”

Unfortunately, the reality is that the nature of their work means that doctors, dentists and other medical professionals do have to diagnose problems and deliver bad news.

Which brings me to real estate agents and the difference that currently exists between them and medical professionals.

Okay, apart from years of gruelling study, a broad yet deep understanding of the scientific complexities of their area of focus, a professional standing that puts them at the top (rather than the bottom) of the ladder of community regard and a level of trust that means people willingly put their lives in a medical professional’s hands … there is another difference.

It's the good news diagnosis. That’s what real estate agents are currently able to deliver to people wanting to sell their property in Mackay.

“You bought your house in 2004 and you want to sell? Well, the good news is your place is worth a lot more now.”

“You bought your house in 2016?  Well, the good news is your property has more than doubled in value.”

“You bought your house four years ago? Well, it’s worth about $250,000 more today.”

It is a great part of my job to be able to do an appraisal on someone’s house and tell them how much more their property is worth now than it was when they bought it. And it is particularly enjoyable when I sold the house to that person.

I sold a cheap, basic property to a young tradesman about two years ago. He did a few simple renovations without spending too much and got me to sell it for him recently. He made nearly $200,000 and has been able to step up the real estate ladder.

I’ve been selling real estate in Mackay since 2011 so there are other terrific examples of people coming back to me to sell their properties. There are other young blokes and women who now have partners and kids and I get to sell the property they bought from me for a huge profit and help them take significant financial strides on their property journey.

I do remember the dark days of a real estate downturn when the diagnosis wasn’t so positive. Hopefully the current status quo continues. But we know it can’t forever. Next.

‍