An experienced real estate agent recently faced backlash from Australians after asserting that his profession ranks among the most hardworking in the nation. His comments sparked significant discussion.
Ivan Brescic, who co-founded the Sydney-based real estate firm Bresic Whitney, now dedicates his efforts to mentoring emerging agents across Australia. His extensive industry experience spans over several decades.
Earlier this month, the 47-year-old shared a brief video on his Instagram account, directly addressing those critical of real estate agents, calling them ‘haters’.
“This message goes out to everyone who criticizes real estate agents—you don’t truly understand us,” he expressed.
“It’s that straightforward. You might think we’re overpaid, but that’s not the case,” he continued.
Mr. Brescic emphasized that real estate agents are available to their clients every day of the week, highlighting their dedication and commitment as among the strongest in Australia.
‘To anyone who slags off the real estate industry you simply don’t know us,’ he said.
‘If you think we are overpaid, you come and try it.
Ivan Brescic (pictured) co-founded the Sydney real estate agency chain Bresic Whitney and now works as a mentor to up-and-coming agents across Australia
You come and do what all my people and what my fellow real estate agents do out there. You couldn’t do it if you tried. So I say that with respect.
‘But like the real estate agents out there, you have no idea.
‘We deserve what we get paid. We work hard. You guys need us to manage your homes, find a buyer for your homes, help you sell your homes.’
Mr Brescic signed off the video with a message for his fellow real estate agents.
‘Let’s keep being us, and we can block all that noise out,’ he said.
Aussies were divided by the video.
‘I showed this to my neighbour who is a neurosurgeon after his 17 hour shift today. He had four successful operations so far this month and one unsuccessful to which he had to meet the family and tell them the bad news face to face,’ one man joked.
‘Anyway, he agrees with you.’
The 47-year-old industry veteran (pictured) shared a short video to his Instagram page earlier this month calling out the ‘real estate agent haters’
‘My cardiac surgeon saw this and now he’s donating money to Agents without borders,’ a second wrote.
‘As a former midwife turned real estate agent, I promise you we’re not the hardest workers out there… not even close,’ a third said.
‘Sure we juggle a lot and some of us actually care deeply about people. But no one dies if a deal falls through. We’re not saving lives, we’re selling homes.
‘You can be proud of what you do but stay humble, jeez.’
‘Is this satire?’ a fourth said.
‘My goodness. The most real estate agent thing EVER. Well done,’ a fifth said.
Mr Brescic, who is currently running a coaching and wellness retreat in Bali, told Daily Mail ‘the haters are always going to hate, no matter what’.
‘Anyone who knows a real estate agent well would also agree that it is a tough industry, the hate comes from people who don’t know any agents,’ he said.
‘People say we’re overpaid, then why are we never in the top 10 or 20 of the highest paid jobs? Of course those who are in the top 10 or 20 per cent are doing really well, but that’s like any industry and it can take years to find clients.
‘Agents get a bad reputation because it’s an emotional experience when you’re trying to buy or rent, but we always try to deliver a good customer experience.
‘I’m a real estate coach, one of my values is excellence. My post was to say the general public doesn’t know that real estate agents work really hard.
‘Unless you know a real estate agent really well, then you don’t know us. We get a lot of flak. I’m not saying some real estate agents do the wrong thing and act the wrong way, but we’re the middle man between a landlord and tenant, buyer and seller.
‘I don’t know any other job where you go to work for free every day.’
