Townsville boutique agency Whaites + Co recognised for supreme year of sales

The decision to carve her own path has paid off for a Townsville real estate agent who is thriving on the back of the region’s booming property market. Now, shes shared the secrets to success.

Whaites + Co director Jess Whaites has experienced tremendous success in Townsville since launching her own boutique real estate agency almost a year ago. Picture: Supplied.

A Townsville real estate agent’s pivotal decision to carve her own path has paid off, with her new agency riding a wave of success over the last year, earning her national recognition as a rising star.

With 16 years experience in the real estate industry, including five as a residential sales agent, Jess Whaites was working for a boutique real estate agency when she was faced with the choice of being absorbed and “lost” within a big franchise, or striking out on her own.

Choosing the latter, she founded the boutique real estate agency Whaites + Co in November 2023, and harnessed Townsville’s booming property market with excellent service and word of mouth referrals to sell 61 properties, worth over $29m, in a year.

With a “hands-on approach from start to finish” and tailored marketing campaigns selling residential properties above the asking price, her agency boasts the impressive average of seven days from listing to under contract – one of the fastest turnaround times in the market.

Whaites + Co’s success didn’t go unnoticed, with Mrs Whaites earning a Rising Star Award at real estate network Agents’Agency Corporate Awards late last year – which celebrates emerging leaders who demonstrate outstanding innovation, dedication, and business acumen.

Whaites + Co director Jess Whaites received the Rising Star Award at the Agents’ Agency Corporate Awards. Picture: Supplied.

The agency was also nominated for effective business unit of the year, while sales administration assistant Steven Marsilio received a nomination for best in a supporting role.

Mrs Whaites said the award was a testament to the support she had received from her clients, team, and the Townsville community.

“I think the benefit of going out on my own was being able to build my own personal brand and also quality control … I know how my clients are going to be dealt with, because I’m the agent dealing with them,” Mrs Whaites said.

Whaites + Co Administration Assistant Steven Marsilio received a nomination for best in a supporting role at the Agents’ Agency Corporate Awards. Picture: Supplied.

“I know the level of service that they’ve come to expect, that I’m going to continue to deliver, and I didn’t want to lose that if I were to go in another direction.”

With its “support local” tagline, Whaites + Co backs local suppliers, photographers, videographers, sign writers, hamper curators, and florists.

Currently based in a temporary CBD office, there were big plans to recruit more staff and secure a permanent office space in 2025.

Highest 12 month change in values for houses in regional Australia. Picture: CoreLogic.

While Townsville’s residential property market wasn’t expected to experience another huge increase in values this year, she anticipated “steadied, continued growth”, fanned by interest rate cuts, potentially as soon as February.

“Between the defence, the port expansion, and renewables (projects), there’s so much happening here in Townsville, (bringing) an influx of population,” she said.

“We’re going to need more homes. That’s going to put demand on the established market and new build market as well for developers.”

For more information, visit: whaitesco.com.au.

Originally published as Townsville boutique agency Whaites + Co recognised for supreme year of sales