Launceston Church Grammar School student Conall Cassidy has taken out the Tasmanian final of the Australasian Auctioneering Championships.
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The 18-year-old is mentored by Roberts Real Estate’s David Jackson, who Conall said has been instrumental in building his skills.
“The quality of mentors in my experience has been really good in Tasmania,” he said.
“The ones I’ve got to work with and the ones I’ve seen, they’re really good - I’ve learned heaps from them.”
The competition mimics a true-to-life real estate auction, with a mix of scripted and on-the-spot elements.
It begins with an attention-grabber, an introduction, terms and conditions, questions from the floor, a prepared property description, a live bidding, and a wrap-up to end.
Conall said that with its high quality of contestants, the Tasmanian final certainly tested his skills.
“My mentor tells me it’s harder to win the Tasmanian one than the Australasian one because the standard is so high here,” he said.
“Everybody said that the cohort as a whole this year was probably the highest quality they’ve ever seen in Tassie.”
Like last year’s Australasian winner Andre Biffa, also a Launceston Church Grammar School student and mentee of David Jackson, Conall came to auctioneering through a love of performing arts.
It has a natural appeal for the multi-talented student, who is also in barbershop quartet Club Sandwich.
“It’s fun, you get to do a bit of everything,” he said.
“You do a bit of public speaking, on-the-spot thinking, problem solving.
“I don’t know what really drew me into it, I just know it’s fun to get up there and talk to people.”
He believes enjoying what you’re doing is the key to a great sale.
“You have to be confident, but I think you just need to really enjoy it,” he said.
“I think the people who are relaxed in what they’re doing will adapt better and deliver it the best that they can than someone trying to go by the numbers and trying to get it out of the way.”
The championships will take place October 14 – 16 in Auckland, sponsored by the Real Estate Institute.
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