While many athletes who switch to real estate after retirement typically find themselves in sales roles, one agent has decided to help buyers make their purchase instead.
Having grown up on the Central Coast, Aurum Advisory senior buyer’s agent Tim Moltzen said that while he had been interested in the industry, he had not expected to transition from a National Rugby League career into an agent at just 27 when injury pushed him into early sporting retirement.
Moltzen said that significant injuries had given him the opportunity to consider what life could look like post-football and he was intrigued by the lifestyle a real estate career could offer.
“I actually did a radio interview, and they asked me what my plans were next. I said: ‘I’ve got no idea. I just retired last week. I have done a real estate course, so we will see where that gets me,” Moltzen said.
Within just days, Moltzen said he was offered a sales associate position, which led to direct interactions with buyers and planted the seed for a switch to a buyer’s agent role further down the line.
“In doing that, I felt that I came to understand buyer motives, frustrations and what kind of dialogue helped them,” he said.
Moltzen said he felt a transition to a buyer’s agent role was the next natural step in his career, seizing the opportunity when a colleague opened his own agency in 2019.
Making the most of the overlap
Moltzen said that many aspects of his sporting career carried over into his new career path, with both placing a large emphasis on preparation.
“There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and I feel that’s the same as rugby league,” he said.
“People see you play for 80 minutes on the weekend, but they don’t see the hours and hours that you put in to training to get yourself ready for games.”
He said that another similar experience was the impact that he could have on somebody’s life by achieving a good result for a client or the fans.
“The rush of winning a game, it’s not the same thing as buying a house, but you get a great feeling of doing a good job and securing something for a family or investors,” Moltzen said.
Moltzen said that adjusting to a more self-directed lifestyle in real estate was a struggle at first.
“If I don’t have structure, I really struggle, so you have to have it in order to stay on top of all your clients, and if you don’t have it, you might miss out on opportunities for clients,” he said.
A relatable experience
Moltzen said that having come from a professional sports career had opened the door to a potential client base that he could relate to – other athletes.
Because of his prior experience in professional sports, Moltzen said numerous athletes reached out to use his services or simply ask for his opinion.
“I can relate to other athletes who are looking to buy or invest and want some privacy or anonymity through the process,” he said.
“I have been able to help athletes just through being an ex-athlete, having those connections and building that trust with them.”
Moltzen said he had a poor experience with a manager when he was a player and wanted to ensure that other athletes were treated fairly.
He said that when he approached other athletes, it was important not to try to sign them as clients immediately, but to offer them some value before asking for anything in return.
Moltzen said that earlier in his real estate career, being known as a former Wests Tigers boosted his visibility in the area, but after more than six years in the industry, it had become more of an icebreaker.
“I’d prefer to be known as Tim Moltzen, the buyer’s agent,” Moltzen said.
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