Number one for a reason!

If you’ve bought or sold a house in Hamilton, or visited an open home, in the last 21 years, chances are you’ve come across Sonia Christison and Glenn Collins.

Sonia and Glenn are, frankly, the best in the business. Both renowned for their outstanding commitment to their clients and achieving incredible results, it’s easy to see how they’ve recently reached the remarkable milestone of $1.5 billion in sales.

And while it’s certainly a fantastic achievement, Glenn says there’s never been a set target for Team Glenn and Sonia, but rather an ongoing focus on constant improvement and continually exceeding client expectations.

“We’ve always operated from a point of view that by creating good relationships with vendors, buyers, team members, other agents and others in the industry, and some hard work in the mix, everything else will take care of itself.”

Sonia and Glenn say they’re proud to have achieved the $1.5 billion sales mark but are equally as quick to heap praise on their team, Sheree Crawford, Helen Wang and Bree Stevenson, saying their “close-knit, hard-working” colleagues are at the heart of their combined success.

“We couldn’t ask for a more supportive team, as well as the wider Lodge network, to work with,” they say.

So, how did a former health management worker (Sonia) and Freedom Furniture manager (Glenn) come to be Lodge’s number one salespeople for 19 years running?

Looking for a career change, Glenn initially contemplated a role in property management. Sensing he was more suited to a sales environment, Glenn was encouraged to look within Lodge’s real estate division, and since then he and Sonia haven’t looked back.

Over the 21 years they’ve been in sales, Sonia and Glenn have developed a fine-tuned ability to relate to people from all walks of life, and it’s an approach that has stood the test of time through a constantly evolving real estate market.

“No doubt the arrival of technology has made many things easier within the industry, but at the end of the day it’s been the relationships we’ve built and by leading with those values of honesty, empathy and transparency, that has opened a lot of doors for us.”

Lodge Managing Director Jeremy O’Rourke agrees and adds that Sonia and Glenn’s success comes down to a few specific things.

“For a start, they place most of their focus on looking after their clients first and foremost. Don’t get me wrong, they’re both competitive, but it is their genuine interest in the people they come across that sets them apart, and that’s something you just can’t fake. They both have impeccable reputations.”

Jeremy says they also practice what they preach and never ask others to do something they wouldn’t do themselves. They’re also extremely generous with their time and knowledge. 

“It’s the combination of these factors that have ultimately led to the high levels of repeat business they get, and ultimately their success.

“On behalf of everyone at Lodge, a very big congratulations on this significant milestone. Here’s to the next billion!” 

Glenn and Sonia agree that it’s hard to imagine going back to a regular 9-5.

“Having been our own bosses for so long, and the freedom and flexibility to think outside the box, it would be hard to adjust. And we’d be lost without our Lodge family, the culture here and the reputation the company has – it’s hard to beat.”

Both say Lodge has really come into its own to carve out its spot as Hamilton’s leading real estate agency.

“We’re a really cool, local real estate company that has matured into a really good real estate company with a national standing.  I think we can all be proud of that.”