Family comes first for local property business

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for Donna Erskine who has decided to carry on her father’s love of the property industry.

Donna’s real estate business becomes Ray White Strathpine this week, joining the largest property company in Australia, after working side-by-side with her father who has been in the industry 36 years.

“Being given the opportunity to join the family business some five years ago and now rebranding a business with my husband, Rob, is such a thrill,” Donna Erskine said.

She’s done it all in real estate; starting as a sales consultant, moving into property management, purchasing her family business and now opening her own.

The team, too, has plenty of local knowledge and real estate experience.

“Although we are small in numbers, small in services is something we are not. There is room for growth and this is what we will be achieving under the Ray White Strathpine brand,” Donna said.

Senior sales consultant Peter Thatcher has lived locally for 18 years and has forged a career in property over the past five year. Rosemary Lugg, another sales consultant, has been a local for four decades.

Investors, tenants and clients will be dealing with locals in Kirstie Kiernan and Katherine Bonnett, as well as Donna’s step-mother Raelene Ward.

Family values are an asset in real estate businesses, according to Ray White Queensland chief executive Tony Warland.

“One of the things that we cherish in the Ray White Group is genuinely being a family business. Donna has come from a family real estate business and joins us with those same values. In fact, her brother has the Ray White Wamuran office,” Tony Warland said.

The market in and around Strathpine, currently, is rebounding after some tough months.

“It’s an extremely hard market with the economy at the moment.  People are getting confidence back with interest rates falling and the sales are moving for properties that are priced in accordance to the market,” Donna says.

“Ray White is the leading agency in Australia, we’re confident that becoming a Ray White office is going to bring more interest to both the sellers and the investors.”

“Living in the local area and with my children, James and Jasmine, going to the local high school, our family is involved in the local community with sporting events and also school functions.  We’ll continue to support and attend local events as an office to support the community too.”