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An experienced auctioneer told REB what it takes to make an impact within this male-dominant field.
When asked what advice she had for people considering a move into the auction space on a recent episode of The WIRE, Tara Kelly said: “Be hungry … I’ve said to a few girls that have approached me; be painful, push yourself.”
Ms Kelly is an auctioneer at Place Estate Agents and is the social media manager at Professional Media.
She is reportedly the only female auctioneer practising in Queensland, and she explained that during her time training, male colleagues were all she “had to look up to”.
“I’ve met a lot of awesome people along the way for sure, but not many females,” she said.
She developed an interest in auctioneering over three years into her time as an agent at Place, and she said she is “as obsessed as I was six years ago when I first sparked an interest”.
Ms Kelly suggested that professionals must always look for opportunities to “practice”, whether they be career-starters in training or seasoned veterans in the auctioneering space.
“Practise, practise, practise. That’s the main thing. It is a skill, and practise makes perfect … Whether it’s in my head [or] driving out loud, it doesn’t matter. I just think you’ve got to constantly be on the ball,” she said.
“So put yourself ahead of people; just show that you’re passionate about it. Show your hunger.”
Over the three years of her most rigorous training, she admitted that she “was probably a bit of a pest”.
“I practised in front of the mirror. I did auctions mid-dinner at my family. I’d go home and be like, ‘OK, everyone’s got to listen to an auction; now we’re going to auction off the sausages that we’re eating tonight.’ So everyone’s like, ‘Oh, here we go again. Tara is on our auction front’.
“I was just absolutely obsessed … I thought, ‘If I’m going to go for this, I want to be the best.’ It was just a journey to that,” Ms Kelly said.
Ms Kelly said that the feeling of conducting a purchase is “like nothing else in the world”.
“There is seriously nothing better than seeing a vendor so happy their property is sold and a buyer celebrating the purchase of their new home. I can’t even describe the feeling.
“When you get a pat on the back from the vendors and they’ve got tears in their eyes, it’s just amazing. I just absolutely love it,” she continued.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with responses from people … as a young female auctioneer, I’ve received a lot of support and messages from women saying that they would love to get into this space. I’ve inspired them; they’re starting to practise.
“I think that is how we get more women in. It’s literally showing them, ‘Hey, I’m doing this; It can be done.” If I can do it, anyone can.”
Listen to the full conversation with Ms Kelly here.
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