In a newly created role, a real estate veteran will oversee Barry Plant’s auctioneering capabilities, strengthen skills across the network, and develop the next generation of talent.
Barry Plant has appointed experienced auctioneer James Hatzimoisis to the newly created corporate role of chief auctioneer, based at the network’s HQ office.
With nearly 40 years of real estate experience and more than 5,500 auctions conducted, Hatzimoisis will be part of Barry Plant’s Novice Auctioneer Training Academy, helping staff develop their auctioneering skills.
Additionally, he will provide coaching and mentorship to senior auctioneers, with a focus on lifting standards across the network.
Hatzimoisis’ appointment came ahead of Victoria’s new reserve disclosure price laws, which came into effect on 1 October.
According to Hatzimoisis, the changes will alter the way buyers and agents interact, while vendors will need to rethink their pricing strategy to reflect the market.
He rejected the idea that the measures will significantly change buyer competition, as long as agents continue to help sellers price properties in line with market conditions.
“It’s about educating both sellers and buyers about how the new legislation’s going to be working,” he told REB.
The appointment followed Hatzimoisis’ recent decision to step back from ownership of Barry Plant Taylors Lakes and St Albans after more than three decades.
Hatzimoisis said the last 20 years of his career had been dedicated to coaching, training and mentoring, making the move a natural next step.
He said the decision to create the role came about through conversations with Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell a few months earlier.
“The chief auctioneer role has given me a new lease on life because I can take all of that experience and put it to work across the network. I’m really enjoying it,” he said.
According to Pennell, Hatzimoisis’ new role at HQ would be an asset to the wider network, bringing practical, on-the-ground experience, while helping people develop their skills and adapt to industry change.
“We are thrilled that he has chosen to continue his Barry Plant journey in a role where that knowledge and experience can now benefit people across the entire network,” she said.
Hatzimoisis said auctioning properties came with a lot of responsibility, and differences in auctioneers' skill levels could sometimes mean tens of thousands of dollars.
“My role is twofold: train the junior auctioneers properly before they go out, and provide coaching and mentorship to upskill our senior auctioneers,” he said.
As part of his role, Hatzimoisis will work with HQ to collate auction data and insights to help offices improve performance while giving the public more information about the auction process.
Originally working in accounting and insurance, Hatzimoisis began in real estate in 1986 as a sales cadet at Barry Plant Niddrie, making his first sale the day after he started.
He progressed to business owner in 1992 when he bought into the Niddrie and St Albans business, before helping establish a strong presence in Taylors Lakes and later expanding with business partner John Nakic across Melbourne’s west.
Alongside Nakic, Hatzimoisis was involved with nine offices, helping develop future business owners and upskilling people before giving them the opportunity to own their own businesses.
Hatzimoisis said real estate was about much more than money, and professionals needed to focus on the fundamentals, become better operators, develop their people and look after their clients.
Despite constant changes in technology and industry rules, Hatzimoisis said the fundamentals remained consistent.
“Our workflows have changed in the last five years, but the way we treat people has not. You can have all the technology in the world, but at the end of the day people still want to deal with people they trust.”
He also said the professionals who thrived were the ones prepared to constantly learn, adapt, and reinvent themselves while staying curious.
“What worked yesterday will not necessarily work tomorrow, so you have to keep learning without losing sight of the fundamentals,” he said.
Pennell said Hatzimoisis’ understanding of the need to adapt was one of the qualities that made him a strong fit for the new role.
“James understands that success in real estate is never about standing still. He has continually evolved throughout his career while remaining grounded in the fundamentals of trust, relationships, hard work and exceptional service,” she said.
“We are incredibly fortunate to now have his perspective and expertise at HQ, and I have no doubt our agents and auctioneers will benefit enormously from having someone of James’ calibre helping them sharpen their skills and raise the bar.”
Hatzimoisis said he was passionate about putting deals together, but he most enjoyed seeing generations of clients return, servicing the grandchildren of people he sold to 40 years ago.
“That is the part of this industry you cannot replace with technology,” he said.
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