Andrew Burke may be a fixture of the Ray White Special Projects Queensland team but his experience extends well beyond the sunshine state.

The Associate Director honed his craft both in Australia and internationally before settling into his role at Ray White Commercial.

How did you start your career in commercial real estate?

I studied a property degree and then did residential house sales for 18 months. Doing Open for Inspections in the year of the 21sts was brutal. From there, I moved into industrial property for quite some time and was transferred to Hong Kong in this role. I lived there and in Singapore for four years working in industrial property. 

Upon my return to Australia, I worked for a developer, which showed me that agency is only a small part of the property timeline, although a very important part. After a few years of investment and development advisory (essentially, it was too much report writing and I missed connecting with people in agency), I moved to Ray White Commercial.

What do you enjoy most about being an agent at Ray White Commercial? What makes Ray White Commercial different? 

There is a  much more flat structure. I report to my direct boss and then the White Family and that’s it. There are no layers and layers of directors, vice presidents, regional managers etc. like in the larger companies with whom I once worked. Ray White Commercial also offers the best training I have had in my career.

What are your go-to property marketing methods that you present to your clients?

It’s simple, at the end of our exclusive sales process (either auction or expressions of interest) the seller will have no doubt that the market is fully aware of the sales opportunity. The market will be fully tested and hopefully, we will have achieved a premium sales price for them.

Tell me about a unique success story?

We were appointed by a large education group who wanted to purchase land in Narangba (30kms north of Brisbane) for a school suitable for students from Prep to Grade 12. We assessed several locations with suitable infrastructure and then approached landowners “off-market” in this region. We were able to secure a suitable school venue by negotiating with seven different (adjacent)  landowners totalling 19 hectares and $17.2 million. It was quite a balancing act to address the needs and wants of seven different owners and still keep them all onside to conclude with a successful sale.

Why do you enjoy about the property industry? 

The thing I most enjoy in life is observing and analysing people and making connections with them, and that is what the industry is all about. You get to meet all sorts of different people and when a significant part of their savings are on the line, you see their real personality. Some people are generous and humble whilst others can be “challenging”.

What’s the one thing you know now, that you wish you knew when you first started out?

Training on the job in real estate is everything. Yes, a property related university degree is handy but all it really just shows is that you have persistence. Almost of everything I have learned in property has been “on the job” learning. I encourage people to start work in the industry straight away and don’t wait until you graduate. You also have to specialise or be with a market leader if want to be successful.

This article was first published on the Ray White website.

Read more about Ray White Special Projects: 

BriStar Group pays $15.675 million for 31-hectare Thornlands site in south-east Queensland

Maryborough development site hits the market for $3.375 million

Key development opportunity in Moreton Bay Region