Guy Smith, the 413 person I’ve met on my quest to have lunch with 500 strangers, knows property from every possible angle.

Almost two decades ago, Guy entered the industry as a sales agent; then spent a decade as a valuer; and then, five years ago, became a buyer’s agent. Along the way, he completed a master’s degree in property.

Guy works with a mix of owner-occupiers and investors, who want to buy in Brisbane. 

The key to being a good buyer’s agent, he says, is to have practical experience, have intimate knowledge of your focus market, focus on quality properties (while rejecting the average), pay close attention to the client’s needs and provide helpful advice.

A lot of money is at stake when you buy a property, so, understandably, some clients are nervous. Guy can relate – years ago, when he was much less experienced, he also questioned the wisdom of investing in property. But once he educated himself, he realised that if you’re able to purchase a quality property and hold it for the long-term, you can build tremendous wealth, despite the market corrections that happen from time to time.

Guy grew up on a farm in New Zealand, before travelling to Sydney as a young adult for what was supposed to be a one-year working holiday. He’s been in Australia ever since, although he’s spent most of that time in Queensland.

Outside of work, Guy is a keen runner, which is why he happened to be in Sydney. The day before our lunch, he’d taken part in the City2Surf, completing the famous 14km run in just 65 minutes.