A win at the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania awards night on Saturday came as a huge shock to one of the state's most respected agents.
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Harcourts Launceston owner, director and sales representative Jeremy Wilkinson has been working in real estate for 20 years, but his recognition as the state's residential salesperson of the year came after a year of never before seen uncertainty.
Mr Wilkinson was not a stranger to the award, having won it six times before 2015 and in its inaugural year in 2007.
The now-seven time winner credited an increasingly competitive and quality real estate market in Launceston as the catalyst for his award renaissance.
The professionalism Mr Wilkinson said he prided himself on was what he believed saw him return to the REIT award dais, and what got him on there in the first place 14 years ago.
"It's just about being ultra professional and doing the job right every single time," he said.
"When I first started I wanted to bring integrity back into the game because I just saw so much strange stuff happening.
"It's not complicated to make it easy for people and to better the industry. Ninety-nine per cent of us are really good people, and it's good to show the community that."
Over the past year Mr Wilkinson said he had sold about 115 properties, a number that was slightly higher than a usual year, but one he never expected when confronted by the COVID pandemic.
While the virus decimated several industries, the housing and real estate market was not one of them. Housing prices have soared in Launceston, and Mr Wilkinson said the market was now as strong as it had ever been.
He said the strong market produced better agents who, in-turn, ensured potential buyers got their money's worth.
For Mr Wilkinson that meant an agent who worked 12 hours each day, six days of the week, and had a passion for delivering for the "business, staff and community".
"It's a tough job. You don't just put your suit on, sit at your desk and tap on the keyboard. There's so much pressure in the job, but I enjoy every day of it," Mr Wilkinson said.
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