NT’s top 10 most powerful real estate agents revealed for 2022
There’s nothing quite as volatile as the property market but with advocates and agents like these, the future is in good hands. Find out who made the top 10 most influential people in the real estate industry.
Northern Territory
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There’s no one more keen to top a most powerful list than people from the real estate industry.
They’re all scrambling to make the NT News’ Most Powerful, which is back with a twist.
The list will be launched with a series of top 10 most powerful across the Territory’s leading industries.
Today, we reveal the 10 most powerful people in the real estate industry, including Real Estate Central Projects and Sales Professional director Daniel Harris and Elders Real Estate Katherine Rural and Commercial Sales principal Alison Ross.
These realos are dominating across the Territory and have the momentum to keep the industry humming in 2023.
But where will they end up on the final 120 Most Powerful list?
10. Jen Wardell
The Territory’s favourite real estate agent as voted by NT News readers in 2020, Number 63 on our list of Most Powerful Women last year couldn’t go without a mention.
Wardell from LJ Hooker in Darwin has a number of awards under her belt but that’s only a speck on her long list of marks she’s made on the market.
A quiet achiever in the industry, Wardell’s expertise in social media marketing has made a huge impact on the way her entire agency operates.
Her pull is extended past the real estate circle and onto the netball court, leading the helm of Nightcliff Tigers Netball Club in 2022.
9. Derek Hart
During 13 of the 14 years Hart has been a real estate agent, he has received a nod from the industry.
From a rookie of the year award in 2008 to being ranked fourth nationally for residential sales in 2020, the Elders representative dominates the competition.
Basically the face of the company in the Top End, he took out another Elders award in 2021 as the number one salesperson in Darwin.
He has sold 70 properties so far in 2022, with a median sale price of $540,000.
He is renowned in the local Leanyer community and doesn’t shy away from a selling challenge.
Hart also takes pride in his time spent volunteering as the coach of footy teams and in fundraising events.
8. Drew Hendriks
The Northern Territory’s most popular real estate agent, according to ranking site Rate My Agent, Hendriks hails from Alice Springs and has a relatively low amount of experience compared to some of the other names on this list.
But that hasn’t stopped the recommendations from flowing in.
Almost 200 people have inked their support for Hendriks from Alice Springs Realty, cementing him as the unofficial people’s real estate agent.
He is a self-described real estate nut, first getting into the property market when he was just 18 years old.
If that wasn’t enough he was named the second runner up for public choice salesperson of the year narrowly missing out to two huge names of Top End property sales.
7. Andrew Harding
Despite kind of falling into the role, Harding has gone from strength to strength as a real estate agent in the NT.
Getting his big break at Darwin’s Real Estate Central learning the ropes from Braden Menzies and Sascha Smithett, Mr Harding made the bold but powerful decision to branch out on his own and took over Ray White Darwin in May this year.
With a focus on the ever-expanding premium market in the inner city suburbs, Harding is continuing his upward trajectory and attracting clients left right and centre.
Since starting in the role as Principal of Ray White, Harding has already sold 42 properties across the suburbs.
6. Glenn Grantham
He’s been a reliable and familiar face in Darwin’s real estate industry for more than a decade. Grantham began his real estate career in Western Australia at the ripe age of 18, becoming a licensed agent two years later.
Grantham was recruited to national agency Raine & Horne to run its Applecross office and in 2008, relocated to Darwin to lead the company’s Top End team.
He’s since become one of the Top End’s most prolific sellers and authorities on the industry, leading an award-winning team of property professionals.
In the last 12 months he’s sold 31 properties at a median of $455,000, according to realestate.com.au.
Grantham is known as a staunch advocate for Darwin’s real estate industry, a go-to for insights into the property market in the NT and a leader in promoting a market inclusive to first home buyers.
5. Ryan and Lee Doyle
If you happen past a for sale or lease sign on a commercial building, chances are it’s been erected by the boys from North Commercial NT.
Brothers Ryan and Lee Doyle have 25 years of experience between them and it shows.
They took out the Commercial Agency of the Year at the REINT awards in 2022, with Lee being awarded the Commercial Sales Agent award in 2011.
The group has drawn in big names in their sales with deals done with the commonwealth, ANZ Bank and Goodman International.
More recently, they’ve sold the Batchelor General Store and a number of shop fronts in the harbour-side suburb of Larrakeyah.
4. Sascha Smithett
Twice in one year this property powerhouse has been described as one of the Northern Territory’s most influential.
Real Estate Central acting principal Smithett has worked hard to earn her place as a reputable name and big seller in the industry.
Named as number 62 on the NT News’ Most Powerful Women List in 2022, she has several awards to her name and even more property sales under her belt.
With 25 years experience, it’s no wonder Smithett rates so highly on her client reviews, managing a perfect score of 5.0 from 104 reviews.
She has been described as professional, respected and genuine, with a knack for selling houses quickly and for the best price for sellers.
3. Alison Ross
She leads the team at Katherine Elders with an in-depth knowledge of the local area.
The agency was awarded the gong for best Medium Residential Agency of the Year at the REINT Awards this year, and it’s no question why with Ross achieving 33 sales in the past 12 months.
She’s a testament to the growth of the business over the past year, with it being named the Small Residential Agency winner in 2021.
Her influence was particularly felt during Katherine’s housing boom earlier this year, as workers moved in droves to the small community.
And this leadership in the Katherine market will not let up anytime soon.
As a member of the Katherine Chamber of Commerce executive committee, Ross has not only gained respect among the sellers she has helped but also the wider business community.
2. Adam Hayes
He’s the people’s choice of real estate agent if the REINT awards are anything to go by.
Fours years in a row Hayes from Call2View Real Estate has taken out the Public Choice Salesperson of the Year award.
He’s achieved the perfect review rating of 5.0 from 67 reviews, with previous clients describing him as “helpful”, “professional” and “honest”.
Despite being at the helm of a smaller agency, Hayes has the Palmerston and rural area market locked down, with 73 properties sold in 2022.
Hayes has gained national recognition as well, being nominated as one of just four finalists in the residential salesperson of the year category in the 2021 Real Estate Institute of Australia awards.
1. Daniel Harris
It’s hard to go past one of the biggest names in selling ranking the number one most powerful in the real estate industry and Real Estate Central’s Harris has that category locked up.
The Darwin agent ranks as the statistical number one, having sold the most properties in the Northern Territory than anyone else over the past 10 years.
In the last 12 months alone he has sold 131 properties as the lead agent.
Among his selling accomplishments, Harris has also been named REINT Residential Sales Person of the year four times, including 2021 and 2022.
His influence stretches across industries and codes, being the major sponsor of the St Mary’s Footy club and a player sponsor for Maurice Rioli Jr and Daniel Rioli in the AFL, as well as the agency sponsoring Darwin Cricket Club.
He’s also been described by a client as the most successful agent in Darwin.
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