Australia has a long history with providing banking institutions, health care providers and even superannuation options dedicated to the needs of police and other emergency services. However, there has never been a go-to provider for navigating the many realms of real estate – until now.
Hiking the Kokoda Track in 2016 was a life changing event for Emergency Services Property Advisors founder, Luke Lawlor. Although already armed with over twenty years experience in the real estate industry, getting to know his fellow adventurers while he was completing the track really got the wheels turning, as many of them were in fact emergency service workers.
For Luke, it all made sense. Emergency service workers were usually time poor, exhausted from shift work and navigating high stress jobs – however, they also usually had families at home, and still had to buy and sell property just like everyone else. Luke quickly realised that while there were many other advocates trading in Victoria, there were none dedicated solely to the emergency services industry. For him, it was a no brainer – but it was also important to give back to the local community that in turn had always been so supportive of his own ventures.
One of the major things to note about using a property advisor like ESPA is that it comes at no cost to the home buyer or seller. When acting on behalf of a client, ESPA receives a fee from the real estate agent. Of this fee, 20% is then donated by the team at ESPA onto an industry charity of their client’s choice. When discussing this unusual methodology with The Police Association of Victoria during a recent interview, ESPA founder Luke believes that the power of community has always been one of the founding pillars of his success.
“I think it’s hugely important to see that money flows back into the industry which I serve. I’ve got a long track record of working with the emergency services community for over twenty three years. They’ve always looked after me, so I’m here to look after them.”
While Luke is also looking to host an annual fundraising Kokoda Track event in the future, he’s also noticed a pattern when it comes to the charities that his clients regularly opt to donate to – Blue Ribbon and Legacy.
“While there are endless notable causes that my clients could select, it goes without saying that Blue Ribbon and Legacy have proven to be particularly close to the hearts of emergency service workers. The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation commemorates the memory of members of the Victoria Police who have died in the line of duty, while providing ongoing support to their families and community based projects within Victoria. As Emergency Services Property Advisors work closely with members of The Police Association Victoria, the connection to the police community runs deep. Similarly, Legacy Australia has long been a pillar of support for the families of Australian veterans, many of whom have also given their lives to serve and protect our country for the safety of us all.”
Needless to say, Luke and the entire team believe in the power of community. ESPA provides property advisor services to Police, Fire, Ambulance and S.E.S personnel and their families – both current and retired – right across Victoria. If you are looking to potentially buy or sell property in the future, please get in touch today to discuss how we can turn your real estate dreams into reality or call Luke directly on 0414 757 705.
