'Oldest rookie' says career change at 50 was worth it

SUSAN Brant joked she was probably the oldest rookie of the year the Real Estate Institute of Queensland had ever awarded when she took out the title.

Glenn and Susan Brant at the Amber Werchon Property awards night at Fourth Floor, Mooloolaba Photo: Erle Levey / Sunshine Coast Daily. Picture: Erle Levey

SUSAN Brant joked she was probably the oldest rookie of the year the Real Estate Institute of Queensland had ever awarded when she took out the title.

The Amber Werchon Property sales consultant told 500 finalists and guests at the REIQ 2015 Awards for Excellence in Brisbane a career change at 50 was well worth it.

The win came as a shock to her and she admitted she had not even prepared a speech.

Ms Brant ran her own training business for 15 years before she turned her hand to real estate on the Sunshine Coast.

"I would never go back," Ms Brant said.

"I love making the sellers happy when they move on and the new owners happy when they move in."

The mother of three children later admitted that when she decided to make the move her youngest son teased her about her inability to lie in an industry perceived as notoriously full of sales pitches.

"I said 'well, you don't have to lie'," Ms Brant said.

REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella said finalists were judged on professionalism and best practice, gaining recognition not only for their exceptional achievements but also for their commitment to integrity in the profession.

"The REIQ Awards for Excellence are considered the pinnacle of achievement for real estate practitioners in Queensland," she said.

"We had a number of first-time winners last night with some having been finalists for many years before being named the state's best."

- APN NEWSDESK

Originally published as 'Oldest rookie' says career change at 50 was worth it