IT Guru Reboots Career as Multi-Award-Winning Agent

When Iain Simms isn’t relaxing at his Sunshine Coast acreage property with his family, dogs and chickens, he’s busy selling homes.

Lots and lots of homes.

The former IT specialist who has worked in the UK, USA and Australia has made a huge impression since joining Henzells in 2013, winning the leading independent agency’s coveted sales person of the year award for the past three years.

He sold $22.5 million worth of property last financial year alone and in excess of $65 million in total since joining the company, firmly entrenching him as one of the Sunshine Coast’s leading agents.

Born in England, Iain fell in love with Australia during a backpacking holiday in the 1990s, finally settling for the quiet life on the Sunshine Coast with his wife and their three children. It’s a far cry from his previous career in IT and international business where he faced gruelling daily city commutes and jetting between Australia and the USA working for the likes of Nestle, General Motors, CBS and NBC.

“After 13 to 14 years my hunger and desire was gone. I felt I needed to get out from behind the desk, go out and meet people  and get some work-life balance, but still be in a role where I could make a decent living,’’ he said.

After working briefly for Coronis, Iain switched to Henzells Agency where he enjoyed the family friendly atmosphere and strong support systems.

“There’s great flexibility. I can work from home when it’s suitable, get involved with my kids’ sport, and then roll the sleeves up and do what needs to be done, whether that’s working into the evening or over the weekend,’’ he said.

With a hat-trick of sales awards already in the bag, we asked Iain what motivates him to go out and be the best he can be every day.

“With three kids and a mortgage, what more motivation do you need?’’ he said with a laugh.

“Seriously, I enjoy the responsibility that comes with selling real estate and helping people when they’re in a tight spot.

“For people selling their homes to fund their retirement, for example, an extra ten thousand dollars can be a really big deal. I take that responsibility very seriously and work hard for every one of my clients,’’ he said.

“Communication is a big thing. People can smell flashy sales talk a mile away. They want trustworthy advice. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t give them the bad news along with the good.”

Iain says the client-agent relationship was becoming more important than ever with so much conflicting news in the market place.

“The market can seem very confusing, filled with both positive and negative news. My advice is work closely with your agent, and sell when you’re ready. Don’t wait for the peak,’’ he said.