Raising the Bar - QLD Property

George Sourris - Empire Legal

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.

  1. 10/31/2025

    Thomas Metos: the 5 star formula every small business should adopt

    In episode 15 of Raising the Bar, George unpacks how Thomas Metos from Metos Electrical Contracting (MEC) shifted from wiring industrial sites (think Coca-Cola) to residential electrical, niched down into smoke alarms and built a reputation on relationships, and turned picking up the phone into a superpower ☎️ From a business degree to running MEC full-time, Thomas has become the go-to for smoke alarm compliance in Brisbane - and he’s backed by 300+ Google reviews with a 5-star average ⭐ We cover: - Career & credibility: how a business grad became a residential electrician in Brisbane, the systems behind 300+ Google reviews (5 star average), relationship building that actually lasts, and practical cold-call tips that don’t feel gross 🤝 - Smoke alarms in QLD: current Queensland smoke alarm laws (photoelectric, interconnected, bedrooms/hallways/each level), what’s coming for owner-occupiers by 01 Jan 2027, compliance certificates for sales, typical lifespan and a rough budget guide🧯 - Work-life balance: the “health, wealth, relationships” framework, routines that keep you sharp and simple habits sole traders can copy to stay successful without burning out 💡 If you’re a Brisbane homeowner, sales agent or property professional, this is your playbook for Queensland smoke alarm compliance, residential electrical done right and reviews that compound over time 😎 Contact Thomas: https://www.facebook.com/p/Metos-Electrical-Contracting-100063083537467/ Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/  More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/  Check out our blogs: https://blog.empirelegal.com.au  Website: https://empirelegal.com.au Support the show

    52 min
  2. 10/13/2025

    John Cassimatis: longevity, leadership and lessons from 25+ years in property

    John Cassimatis: longevity, leadership and lessons from 25+ years in property On 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+ years in the QLD property game 🏡   From humble beginnings to leading two high performing offices with 30+ staff, John’s built his career the same way great deals get done: do the right thing, do it consistently and play the long game ✅   We cover: Longevity without burnout: why reputation, consistency and values-based selling keep you in the Brisbane real estate market for decades, plus how coaching and goal-setting sharpen the edge 🔥 Systems that scale (incl. Form 2 done right): how Belle Coorparoo and West End invested in people and process to make Form 2 Seller’s Disclosure and admin genuinely smooth - collaborative ops, proactive planning and zero drama for vendors and buyers 😎 Culture, partners and area specialisation: choosing the right business partner, hiring for fit, “fewer, better people,” and the Belle model of becoming the area specialist to win trust and market share 🤝   John shows what trust, longevity and genuine leadership look like in the QLD property market 🎯 Contact John: https://www.belleproperty.com/west-end/john-cassimatis Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/ More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/ Check out our blogs: https://blog.empirelegal.com.au Website: https://empirelegal.com.au Support the show

    35 min
  3. 10/06/2025

    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-performing Bayside real estate agent in just four years 🚀  We go over what actually moves the needle in the Queensland property market - from 4am letterbox drops to suburb records in Wynnum/Manly, and why trust still wins over tactics 🤝 We cover: - Mindset and consistency “action, traction, attraction”: the 4am starts, 250 homes a day, and the shift from chase to attraction in Brisbane’s Bayside real estate 🧠 - Relationships over ego: being genuinely helpful, building long-term trust across all price points, and knowing when to say no so clients get a better result 📈 - Team, family and brand: working with McGrath, mentorship at home, smart video marketing, and the move from co-agent to no.1 performer in Manly while keeping deals simple and client-first 🤜🤛 If you care about doing real estate the right way, this one’s for you 🫵 Contact Alec: https://www.mcgrath.com.au/agents/alec-mcewan-a1V5g0000007kZJEAY Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/ More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/ Check out our blogs: https://blog.empirelegal.com.au Website: https://empirelegal.com.au Support the show

    49 min

About

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.