My Neighbourhood with Simone Howell

Tell us why you joined Jellis Craig.

It was the opportunity to work with highly experienced and successful people who I greatly admired – that were also importantly good humans that I trusted.

We gravitate towards those who reflect the kind of qualities we admire in life and business. There’s no team I trust more, and this fills me with great confidence both personally and professionally that we will be incredibly successful together, but also importantly that we will enjoy the ride. And, what an amazing brand. With a shared database of over 1.7m buyers across a strong and connected network of offices. This reach enables us to refer buyers, and match buyers to homes across Melbourne which is an incredible advantage.

Tell us about your background in business and marketing, and how that has shaped your career today?

I spent my earlier years at General Manager level in various sales and marketing roles with some of Australia’s largest blue chip organisations. Midlife, I wanted a change. I wanted to build my own business and work locally, helping people. So, I set up my own real estate agency and many years later I am a Director at Jellis Craig. The skills and experience I’ve gained over my career are invaluable to being a property agent - coupling commercial acumen, and sales and marketing strategy, with outstanding communication and negotiation skills.

What do you love most about working in real estate? Can you elaborate on your 'referrals only', style of business?

I fell into real estate with a passion for renovating, and interest in design and wanted to get away from the big corporate city lifestyle, and work locally, and build my own business. I genuinely enjoy helping people and want to help them achieve great success. I take the responsibility of selling a home as a privilege and a great responsibility, and will always provide trusted advice, leave no stone left unturned and work extremely hard to negotiate to achieve the best price possible for my clients. My style and business model relies on “raving fans”, my business is built on fostering relationships, outstanding testimonials, and referrals.

How has Brighton’s premium property market changed over recent years?

It has certainly been fruitful over the last 5 years. Prior, we had seen 10% growth in blue chip Brighton homes and land value year on year, and providing resale forecasts for developers that were attractive and straight forward. The banking Royal Commission in 2018/19, the intensity of the growth market coming out of Covid, and the recent unprecedented interest rate cuts, cost of living pressures, and land tax changes – it’s been really interesting – with big highs, and lows.

Do you have a favourite sold property? What made it so memorable? 

I listed and sold one of Brighton’s landmark homes in July 2020 on 3200m2 approx for $16.5m with bay and city views for miles. An iconic mansion we had all driven past for many years and wondered who lived there. It was an incredible campaign with over 350 buyers through the home, each of the locals with a tale or two to share about the previous owners hosting great parties. The sale attracted both developers looking at the potential to build luxury townhomes, and homeowners looking for a lifestyle estate. It was memorable in both its scale, and campaign success.

You've been a Bayside local for more than 20 years, what makes the neighbourhood so great for families and what have you loved about it?

I truly love where I live. I was drawn to the Bayside lifestyle as I love the beach in winter and summer, the sunsets, the bike path running from Port Melbourne to Sandy, full of bikes, joggers and dogs – and my kids have grown up in some of Melbourne’s best schools. My home, work, pilates, yoga, greengrocer, hairdresser, favourite shops and restaurants, are now all within a 2 km radius of each other.

Tell us about ‘home’.

We just sold our renovated home last year in Brighton East, which we enjoyed for a few years and are now living just near Martin St Village in the north pocket of Brighton, enjoying the ability to walk everywhere. There’s another renovation project in me - but after Covid, we are going to take our time with this one.

Can you tell us some of the best advice you have received or a favourite quote?

As a female Director, have you faced any unique challenges or obstacles in your career? How did you overcome these?

Of the female agents I know and have worked with, they typically are better listeners, and are better at empathising with vendors and buyers, building trust. By understanding the needs of both your vendor and buyers, you are able to be a very effective communicator and negotiator. Often it’s the female in a relationship driving the decision making and then typically they feel more comfortable opening up to a warm engaging female agent as they are better able to understand their thoughts and needs.

The 8th March is International Women's Day (IWD). What does IWD mean for you? Why do you think it is an important day?

It’s an opportunity to celebrate - to honour the movement for women’s rights – and show our respect, admiration, support and love for each other most importantly. All of my long-term female friends and colleagues share one great thing in common – that is there is no jealousy, they genuinely love and support each others successes through good times and bad.

What does feminism mean to you?

For me its about equality, and all humans having equal rights and opportunities. It's about respect, and what is fair.