Well-known real estate identities Ron and Lenore Sieber have sold their established and successful Carina office, RE/MAX United Vision.
The Siebers purchased the RE/MAX franchise in January 1999 and over the past 17.5 years have amassed many real estate, business and community awards, built lasting relationships with colleagues and customers, and maintained an enviable reputation.
Keen to see their business legacy remain with the RE/MAX brand and the right people at the helm, the Siebers sold to husband and wife team, Rod and Gaby McEwan.
“The enormous amount of goodwill that comes with the purchase of the business is humbling,” said Ms McEwan. “It is an honour to have been chosen by Ron and Lenore, and it is also a responsibility we don’t take lightly.”
Ms McEwan has more than a decade of experience in real estate sales and property development on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, including working for the Siebers.
“My life actually changed when I became RE/MAX, when I joined Ron and Lenore’s team, and I realized that RE/MAX offered me an opportunity to make far more money than traditional offices and also offered great training and I was working with seasoned professionals, all of who ran their own businesses. I found this very refreshing and loved the model because, as the founder says, EVERYBODY WINS.”
She points to parallels and coincidences between the two couples.
“Rod and I are of the age Ron and Lenore were when they purchased RE/MAX United Vision. We take similar roles in the business, and we share like values. Their daughter was 18 at the time, and we have an 18 year old son.”
“Our ‘My Property Group’ business was born out of a genuine desire to serve people while Ron and Lenore purchased their RE/MAX franchise to realise their dream of delivering a high standard of service.”
Both couples are committed to ‘giving back’ to their community and broader charities. Ms Sieber is well-known for her fund-raising for RE/MAX Australia’s chosen charity, Make-A-Wish® Australia. Ms McEwan works at Meals-on-Wheels and has done so since moving to Brisbane.
The McEwans sponsor a street party in a small Philippines village every year, sponsor children through Compassion Australia and they have had very personal experiences with what a difference a charity like Make-A-Wish can make.
They are currently selling a house commission-free for the Andre Burger Cricket Academy to help a talented child who otherwise couldn’t afford to join the academy. The McEwans themselves have a son who is a very talented cricketer, playing in the first X1 at the Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in Brisbane.
“And Lenore and I are both renowned for constantly changing our hair styles and colour!” Ms McEwan added.
Both Rod and Gaby McEwan are licensed real estate agents but Mr McEwan also has a strong construction background, has owned businesses in South Africa and Australia, held state and national sales manager roles in Australia and has owned and renovated numerous investment properties himself.
When it comes to experiencing the needs of real estate agents, buyers and sellers as well as property managers, landlords and tenants, he has ‘walked the walk’; and will head a property management department he plans to build up, offering a very unique service that he believes nobody else will match given his experience in the construction industry and knowledge of buildings.
Ms McEwan will pursue her marketing flair and passion for real estate sales.
“When Lenore posted their pending retirement on Facebook, there were many, many hundred responses within a day. They are truly Brisbane real estate icons and we have some big shoes to fill, but we have the passion, a wonderful team and everything else it takes to do it,” said Ms McEwan.