Raising the Bar - QLD Property
Raising the Bar: Storytelling Excellence in Queensland Property
🎙️ Hosted by George Sourris, Legal Practice Director at Empire Legal
Welcome to Raising the Bar, the podcast where we spotlight the stories, people, and practices elevating Queensland’s property industry. In each episode, host George Sourris sits down with standout professionals - from agents and developers to legal experts and innovators, to uncover the moments, mindsets, and milestones that define excellence.
Because our industry deserves better.
Whether you're a real estate agent, property professional, or just passionate about the Queensland market, join us as we raise the bar - one story at a time.
Episodes
13 episodes
Shane Lawson: from police force to the go-to pool safety guy across QLD and northern NSW
On episode 13 of Raising the Bar, we sit down with Shane Lawson from North Coast Pool Inspections. From 24 years in the police force to the go to pool safety guy for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Northern NSW, Shane joins us to talk pools, proce...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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38:15
John Cassimatis: longevity, leadership and lessons from 25+ years in property
John Cassimatis: longevity, leadership and lessons from 25+ years in propertyOn episode 12 of Raising the Bar, we sit down with John Cassimatis from Belle Property Coorparoo and West End, a Brisbane real estate veteran with 25+ yea...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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34:57
Alex McEwan: from spanners to sold signs - his fast rise in QLD Bayside real estate
From spanners to sold signs: Alec McEwan’s fast rise in QLD Bayside real estate 🪧In episode 11 of Raising the Bar, George sits down with Alec McEwan from McGrath Wynnum/Manly to unpack how a mechanic from Midas Tingalpa became a top-per...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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49:07
Sachin Nair: from badge to brokerage - his top relationship and rapid growth hacks
From badge to brokerage: his top relationship and rapid growth hacks with Sachin Nair 👮👉🏦In episode 10 of Raising the Bar, we sit down with Sachin Nair, co-founder of Fincode Loanmarket and former Queensland Police officer, to unpack ho...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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40:31
Ethan Petrie: from $100k to $2.4m in only 3 years
Ethan Petrie from Ray White West End - From $100k to $2.4m: The Ethan Petrie Playbook.This week on ep 09 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Ethan Petrie from Ray White West End.Ethan’s one of Que...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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40:33
Suzana Wade: why picking the wrong property manager could cost you thousands
In ep 08 of Raising the Bar, we sit down with Suzana Wade from Locate Property, a seasoned property manager who knows the ins and outs of the rental market. Suzana shares practical advice for tenants on what landlords really look fo...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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31:42
Anthony Bartzis: building and pest industry secrets revealed
Our guest for ep 07 is Anthony Bartzis, founder of Southern Cross Building Inspections and a qualified architect, builder and property developer.In this ep, we unpack what’s actually covered in a building and pest inspection, what gets m...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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50:45
Vass Stammes: splitter blocks, town planning traps and smarter due diligence
Our ep 06 guest is Vass Stammes - the founder of VMS Town Planning and the creator of PropCheck.From working on major projects like West Village, to helping everyday mum and dad developers split a block in Brisbane, Vass knows the ins a...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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39:28
Ric Medlin: the ultimate buyer's agent guide to smooth property settlements
Our guest for episode 05 is Ric Medlin from The Home Buyer Helper, an experienced buyer’s agent who knows Brisbane’s south side inside out, especially the Wynnum/Manly property market.Ric explains the ultimate buyer’s agent guide to smo...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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41:45
Kosma Comino: the auction strategy that can add six figures to your sale price
Episode 04 of Raising the Bar is live. 🎙️George sits down with auction specialist Kosma Comino to chat all things auctions - the process, the risks, and the rewards. 🏡They cover why auctions are on the rise in QLD, the power of pr...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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29:00
Kosma Comino: from earning $250/week to becoming a suburb attraction agent
Episode 03 of Raising the Bar is live! 🎙️George chats with Kosma Comino, once a young mechanic earning $250 a week, now one of Brisbane’s most recognised suburb specialists. 🔧➡️🏡Kosma is a partner at LJ Hooker Property Partners (M...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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32:10
Michael Bacon: how he turned an age disadvantage into an advantage!
Our second guest is prestige real estate agent Michael Bacon.Starting as the youngest team member in his office, Michael used his early experience to his advantage. From selling studio apartments to high-end prestige homes, he shares in...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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52:02
Joanne Sourris: one woman, a solo law firm and three kids
Our first guest? George’s mum, Joanne Sourris. She built her own law firm while raising the guy behind Empire Legal (plus two more kids) so yep, she’s got stories. In this warm, honest and slightly iconic episode, George...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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38:04