'It’s all about your team behind you': Meet Canberra’s Nick Purnell

On the weekend after finishing high school, agent Nick Purnell was working at open homes with his parents, real estate greats Kevin and Genette Purnell.

His natural course into property was shaped by his mum and dad, the beloved founders of Canberra’s Purnell agency.

Having grown up in and around the business, his career choice was instinctive.

“I have probably been coming into the office since I was a baby,” he says.

Nick was licensed in early 2012 and is today the leading agent in the Inner South suburbs of Kingston and Barton, selling the most properties.

He has a highly regarded surname in the industry, but has forged his own path, cementing himself as the Inner South specialist. This was a strategic decision.

“Real estate is a lot about momentum, and completing the most transactions within the Inner South area means you’re always in people’s minds when they do want to sell,” he says.

“A lot of agents try to be a jack of all trades – for me, I made a conscious decision that I wanted to be an expert within the area.”

The family legacy is in stable hands. Kevin and Genette are parental figures to staff, who are led by Nick and his sister Brie, as directors and co-owners of the business.

A long-established ethos underpins the agency, which opened in 1987.

“It’s often hard in real estate to keep a reputation for a long period of time, but we’ve successfully managed to do that,” Nick says. “We always treat everyone with respect whether they’re a tenant, an owner, a seller or a buyer.”

This philosophy extends to creating a workplace of mutual ambition and high standards. “I think it’s all about your team behind you,” Nick says.

“I’ve got Angie (Meli) and Simran (Bajwa) who work alongside me, and there is no doubt in my mind that without their help, we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing.

“People see an agent doing the transactional volume, but realistically it’s a team-based sport. The support I’ve got is what drives us to be in the position we’re in.”

Purnell, a newly married father of two, says most people in the business have a personal connection, which results in a strong culture.

“We were at the Christmas party and we realised there’s probably only one person working for us in a role we advertised for,” he says.

“Everyone else has some connection to the family or a past staff member – they’re a friend, or a friend’s mum, or someone who started as a friend and has been here 30 years. It really does feel like one big family.”

Such long-standing local ties have shaped the way Purnell connects with clients.

“I’ve always been an outgoing, friendly person,” he says. “Growing up in Canberra, there’s a lot of goodwill that comes with that.”

Purnell’s plans for the future include property development. He completed a bachelor of building and construction management degree, as an adjunct to his work as an agent. He has not taken on a development yet, but the foundation – to guide a project from turning the soil to unfurling sold stickers – has been wisely set.

“Knowing about the building industry is a really good knowledge base when you’re selling bricks and mortar,” he says.

“A developer needs to know about the market – I’ve got that side – and with the construction side, that’s hitting both of what you need in that space.

“There are definitely instances where it makes it easy to talk to people about a property, renovations they can do, and whether something can be fixed and easily sorted.”

Purnell’s business instincts and forward momentum don’t end with property. Two years ago, he opened Rumble, a boxing gym in Reid. There, he has also created a community.

“Our boxing gym is fully non-contact, and it’s purely fitness-based,” he says. “It’s much like a high-intensity workout class.” And the benefits go beyond physical exertion. “I think it’s a sport that’s really good for fitness and also for self-esteem, motivation, and confidence,” he says.