After a partnership of 15 years, Stephen Reiffer and Paul Conti have restructured real estate agency Time Conti Sheffield into three separate businesses to allow for more specialised service and interests.
After a partnership of 15 years, Stephen Reiffer and Paul Conti have restructured real estate agency Time Conti Sheffield into three separate businesses to allow for more specialised service and interests.
Under the amicable split, from July 1 Time Conti Sheffield became Sheffield Estates, Time Conti and Conti Consult.
Sheffield Estates specialises in property management and will operate in the premises jointly owned by the Reiffer and Conti families under Stephen Reiffer and Paula Nicoletto.
Time Conti will focus on project marketing and city living properties under the ownership of Amy Conti, while Conti Consult will specialise in property and real estate practice consulting, and will play a senior advisory role to Time Conti.
Mr Reiffer and Mr Conti still retain joint interest in World Holiday Ownership Pty Ltd and Property IQ Pty Ltd.
Mr Reiffer said the split was first seriously considered in November last year, and was the result of different directions the directors wanted to take.
“It was a case of not always being able to do all things and do them well,” Mr Reiffer said.
“There were personalities heading in different directions, and I have always really enjoyed management.
“Management is far more than going out and collecting rent – it is a better and far more technical industry because of the Residential Tenancy Act.”
He said Sheffield Estates was one of the larger management companies in Western Australia, managing mainly residential premises, with a quarter of the business managed in the commercial sphere.
“I really like the nature of personal involvement and personal relationships,” Mr Reiffer said.
“Big companies don’t care, but when dealing with individual land owners, the properties might be of huge importance to them.
“People do not generally spend enough time on choosing a property manager, the person who is going to look after their investment.
“You have to be suited, have knowledge of an area, and have backup. We are looking to lift our profile, and retain long-term clients. We have had one client who has used our services for 25 years.”
Mr Reiffer said the business would spend more time on advertising and marketing to capture a greater portion of the market.
Mr Conti said his daughter, Amy, had been with Time Conti Sheffield for 13 years, and the restructure was a great opportunity for her to become more involved in the family business.
“I was given the business by my father when I was 33, and Amy is 33 now, so it was quite timely,” he told WA Business News.
“Time Conti will focus on projects and general sales, particularly in relation to urban renewal and inner-city developments. Conti Consult will run as a property consulting firm, run courses for the public with general information about the real estate industry, and do real estate agency practice consulting.
“This goes to show that once you have a thought in your head, you can make it eventuate.”
