In profile: Colliers International's director - investment services and office leasing, Tim Mutton

Agent: Tim Mutton

Position: Director - investment services and office leasing

Company: Colliers International

Office location: Canberra

How long have you been in the industry?

Joined Colliers International as a graduate in 2003.

What's happening in the area you specialise in?

The increasing volume of capital looking for investment in Australian real estate markets has seen competition for commercial investment property increase. This has affected the majority of Australian Capital cities and Canberra is no different. Sales activity in the first quarter of 2014 has been strong and values are under upward pressure.

Describe the most interesting property you have sold

In 2012 I was involved in the sale of an office building occupied by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in Albury, NSW. This property was built for ATO and was built with a number of features for the ATO. The property was attractive to a number of investors given the high quality tenant but given its regional location was different to anything seen in the market for some time. The property attracted local and international interest and saw spirited bidding.

What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?

I strongly believe that to be a good agent you need an enquiring mind. You need to be able to think laterally and not be afraid to spend time understanding your clients and their properties. I also think you have to be patient. A lot of people get into Real Estate for rapid results but you need to spend time learning your market, understanding the personalities operating in it and then turning this information into winning investment ideas for your clients.

What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?

Uncovering value for my clients in areas overlooked by the majority. The number of times we have had good investment and development properties available but people have overlooked them to follow the herd into substandard assets baffles me.

Where would you invest a spare $750,000?

While Canberra's leasing market appears slow there appears to be good value emerging for properties with leases ranging from three to five years. If I had a spare $750,000 I would look into something in the CBD or Barton and take advantage of the current low interest rates and likelihood that the current leasing market conditions are at rock bottom and expected to improve in coming months.

Which football team do you support?

ACT Brumbies, Canberra Raiders and GWS Giants.

What's your favourite app or techno gadget?

I would be lost without my Sharp EL 735 calculator. Very old fashioned but faster than any app I have found to calculate values.

How do you use social media?

I use social media to keep track of colleagues and friends but also to better understand my client's and customers. The amount of information available in social networks is growing exponentially and to be able to have this information at my fingertips is amazing.