How Jemma Turner transformed her family business into a regional powerhouse

• Key figure: Jemma Turner, Sales Manager at Magain Real Estate – Seaford
• Challenge: Managing increasing business volume and manual processes while competing in a challenging market with dwindling stock levels
• Solution: Implemented Realtair to automate property market updates and streamline workflows, enabling family members to manage tasks remotely
• Key achievement: GCI growth from $1M to $1.35M in 12 months (35% increase) while listing 45 properties in three months

Whilst many agents across Australia grappled with a challenging market and dwindling stock levels in 2023, one regional South Australian agent was quietly achieving the unthinkable: 45 new listings in just three months, and a stunning 35% surge in revenue. The architect of this success? A young agent who’s transforming the traditional real estate playbook with Realtair’s digital solutions.

Meet Jemma Turner, whose innovative blend of family values and digital prowess has not only earned her a place among South Australia’s top 25 agents but is reshaping expectations of what’s possible in regional real estate. From her coastal base in Aldinga, Jemma has built a business that proves you don’t need to choose between high-tech efficiency and high-touch relationships – you need to master both with the right tools.

Remarkable growth in challenging times

Despite market headwinds, Jemma’s results speak volumes. Her business witnessed an exceptional leap in Gross Commission Income (GCI) from $1 million to $1.35 million in just 12 months. Even more impressively, her team listed 45 properties in a recent three-month period — a standout achievement in a market where stock levels have challenged even the most established agents.

This growth trajectory isn’t just about numbers. Jemma’s team has maintained this momentum through systematic processes and strategic delegation, proving that regional agencies can scale without losing their personal touch. “We’ve just come out of our biggest listing quarter,” Jemma notes. “We did 17 last month, 10 the month before and 18 the month before that.”

Family values meet modern tech

What sets Jemma’s operation apart is her unique blend of family-driven values and cutting-edge systems. Her team includes her sister, who has been integral to the business for three years, bringing local knowledge and trusted relationships to their client interactions. Together, they’ve created a business model that honours their community roots whilst embracing innovation.

Meanwhile, their mother manages quarterly Market Updates remotely — sometimes even from Bali. This flexible arrangement showcases how proptech can enhance rather than replace the personal touch that defines successful agencies, whilst also demonstrating the possibilities for work-life balance in modern real estate.

Transforming client communication

Jemma’s approach to client service reflects the evolving demands of modern property sellers and buyers. “Speed of response in the technology era is absolutely everything,” she explains. To meet these expectations, she’s built a system that balances automation with personalisation, ensuring no client falls through the cracks.

By implementing Realtair’s digital tools, Jemma transformed her team’s workflow from overwhelming task lists to streamlined processes. Prospecting, once a manual and time-consuming process, became an efficient touchpoint that generates valuable client feedback and opportunities. This systematic approach has allowed her team to maintain high service levels whilst managing increasing volume.

Community at the core

Despite her tech evolution, Jemma’s success remains deeply rooted in local connections. Both she and her sister grew up in the area they now serve, translating to authentic community knowledge that resonates with clients. This deep understanding of the local market gives them an edge that technology alone could never provide.

The agency maintains strong ties through local sporting club sponsorships and community engagement, demonstrating that digital efficiency can create more time for meaningful community interaction. “We’re really heavily involved in a lot of the sporting clubs,” Jemma explains. “We’ve either played there previously ourselves and most recently become major sponsors for pretty well all the sporting clubs within our community.”

Structured for success

Jemma’s growth strategy centres on clear role specialisation. Her team includes dedicated marketing specialists who handle property preparation and photography, allowing her to focus on high-value activities like negotiations and buyer interactions. This structure ensures comprehensive client service whilst maintaining personal attention where it matters most

“My job is to oversee everything and do the negotiating, deal with buyers, specifically be there for their opens,” Jemma explains. “But I can have a marketing specialist within our team organise the signboards and the photos and help our clients get the houses ready for market.” This clear delineation of roles has been crucial to maintaining quality service whilst scaling the business.

Advice for growing agents

For agents looking to scale their business, Jemma’s message is clear: start with systems early. Her experience has shown that the right foundation of processes and technology can accelerate growth and prevent common scaling challenges that many agents face.

“If I had Realtair 10 years ago and every single appraisal that I’ve done was in Realtair, systematised with reminders to send market updates, without a shadow of doubt, my business would be at another level,” Jemma reflects. This insight offers valuable guidance for new agents entering the industry and experienced agents looking to scale their operations.

Looking forward

Jemma’s journey from local agent to regional powerhouse demonstrates that success in real estate isn’t about choosing between technology and personal relationships—it’s about making them work together. With systems in place and continued growth projected, she’s proven that regional agents can build thriving businesses by combining deep local knowledge with modern solutions.

More than just a success story, Jemma has created a blueprint that agents can follow regardless of their market or experience. Her path shows that the future of real estate belongs to those who can master both sides of the equation: maintaining strong community connections whilst embracing digital innovation. It’s this balance of the personal with the professional, the traditional with the modern, that sets the foundation for sustainable growth in today’s market.