A swathe of new appointments is set to boost Laing+Simmons’ focus on attracting best-in-business real estate professionals looking to make the transition to successful long term business owners.

This transition from agent to business owner is rife with pitfalls, according to Stan Platis of Dexar Group, the parent company which owns Laing+Simmons.

“The skills, techniques and expertise that define a successful agent do not guarantee them success on the business front. There are essential foundations for a successful real estate business that are often outside the comfort zone of even the very best agents,” Platis said.

“We understand this and that’s why the Laing+Simmons approach is focused on mapping out every strategic step required. We enable real estate professionals to become business owners in their own right, helping them to create an asset for their future, be it focused on sales, property management or both,” he said.

“One of our key points of difference is our ability to work with like-minded business owners to take their sales and property management functions and create a bullet-proof asset for their future, then to nurture its growth.

“In this way we see ourselves not as traditional franchisors but as business partners.”

Platis said the new head office appointments make for a stronger team with broader experience to capitalise on new opportunities.

David Robinson joins the Laing+Simmons head office team as network growth manager, charged with driving productivity and revenue improvements for the existing offices as well as attracting new businesses to the network.

Joining him is Rod Fitzgerald, who assumes the role of head of corporate partnerships and events.

Long serving general manager Leanne Pilkington now takes on the role of managing director, continuing to oversee the successful operation of the franchise network but now with a more strategic focus on building the Laing+Simmons brand in New South Wales and nationally.