Feeling Right at Home with Sun & Sage
Achieving real success while being real in real estate? Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer meets the local real estate agent who focuses on the person behind the property and proves that a different perspective can often benefit all involved.
As soon as you meet Kathy Wise of Sun & Sage Real Estate, it’s clear she’s not your average agent. First, there’s her refreshingly warm, authentic personality, and the way she asks lots of questions about you – your life and your future goals – not just the home you’re selling.
You’ll feel instantly at home in her serene, stylish office space, with sage-green accents and thoughtfully chosen furniture – a place where you can feel relaxed, at ease and taken care of. Even the brand name – Sun & Sage – sets it apart from your typical real estate agency, reinforcing the message that when you choose Kathy to sell your home, it’s an experience like no other. The allure of the sun and wisdom of sage.
Kathy says she didn’t deliberately set out to do things differently – she just can’t help it.
“I love great service, I love when people go above and beyond, and I love people who are able to think outside the box and be creative,” she said. “I treat people how I’d want to be treated or how I’d treat my best friend. Service to others, rather than looking out for myself, runs through every transaction we make here at Sun & Sage.”
But this doesn’t come at the expense of results, with Sun & Sage recently achieving a record-breaking price for a sale in Sunshine Beach – something Kathy attributes to her commitment to focusing on the seller’s goals and working with them to achieve their dreams.
“It’s all about focusing on the client’s goals and what they need to achieve their dream life,” she explained.
“I take the time to understand what is really driving the client’s decision to sell. We talk about what their motivation is for selling, whether it’s a new chapter, a fresh start, or the chance to profit.
“We also work out their dream price and dream buyer, and then market the house to that buyer to achieve that result. We achieve success for our clients through understanding their motivations and creating strategies and a campaign that align with a brilliant result for them.”
A key skill of Kathy’s is her ability to foster trust – both with her vendors and buyers.
“A vendor was recently amazed by a price I’d achieved and asked how I did it, and the simple answer was ‘trust’,” she says. “The buyer trusted me as an agent, trusted the information I gave her and knew I wasn’t playing games.
“I’m passionate about building those relationships and proving that you don’t have to resort to questionable tactics to get excellent results.”
Kathy is committed to going above and beyond for her clients, even when that requires creative thinking – like a recent example where she listed a property in Sunshine Beach for an older couple who wanted to retire with a nest egg for the future.
“They didn’t have the budget for styling, but I knew I wanted to make their home beautifully appealing to their dream buyer, so we put in the elbow grease ourselves,” she said. “We did our bit, they did their part, and I also worked alongside a buyers agent to help them with their journey. I just want to get the best result for everyone.”
The words ‘authentic’ and ‘transparent’ have been overused in the real estate industry with every agent claiming to have their seller’s best interests at heart. But for Kathy, it’s just who she is.
“I love that people like Celeste Barber or Hamish and Andy have got where they are by simply being themselves,” she said. “I believe in treating people well, and like attracts like.
“Some people like that ‘rockstar real estate’ vibe, and others prefer a more nurturing approach.
“It’s like how there are many brands of chocolate on the shelves – we don’t all have to like the same ones. And sometimes the smaller, boutique brands are the ones that’ll blow you away.”
Selling your home can be a fraught experience, and Kathy provides calm and clarity when people need it most.
“I bring warmth to what can be an emotional time for many people,” she shares. “My clients love to come and hang out in the office and get a hug, and many of them bring gifts, which is so lovely.
“I’m grateful to have created a space to foster these community connections.”
It’s only natural that Kathy would choose someone equally lovely to be her wing-woman – and her assistant and marketing coordinator, Briony, is a delightful addition to the team who ensures the good vibes continue throughout every client interaction.
“She’s my work wife,” Kathy enthuses. “And she’s also the super-creative and talented mind behind our regular newsletters, which we try to make fun and interesting.”
In an industry that is dealing with the biggest and most emotional purchases people can make, there are often criticisms however, Kathy is determined to be a ray of sunshine.
“I’m proof you can achieve successful results by being yourself,” she said.
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