It takes a special environment to keep producing some of Victoria’s top-selling agents year after year.

Three agents from Barry Plant Manningham recently joined the ranks of the state’s Top 50 Agents.

The list by Real Estate Business, an industry publication, is based on settled residential sales across 2021, and the agents are ranked on the number of properties settled, total dollar value and average sale price of the properties sold.

Coming in at No. 9 was agency director Theo Politis who had 82 sales totalling more than $109 million.

The industry veteran, who notched an average sales price of $1.34 million, is a high-achieving agent in Park Orchards, Templestowe and surrounding suburbs in the city’s east and outer-east.

Joining him in the Top 50 was fellow director and auctioneer Mark Di Giulio, who had 88 listings secured and sales valued at nearly $70 million at an average $1.172 million.

Agency director Michael Steenhuis, who has nine years’ experience in real estate, notched 60 sales for a total of $63.7 million. His property sales had an average price of $1.062 million.

In 2019, the Real Estate Business Dealmakers’ list included Mr Politis and Mr Di Giulio in the Top 10. It is a ranking list of elite agents who set peak performance standards and excel in terms of volumes and year-on-year growth.

The keys to success range from having a strong work ethic and high individual performance, to being part of an experienced team and a nurturing environment, Barry Plant Manningham managing director Spiro Drossos said.

“We aim for a culture where agents can thrive and grow to their full potential,” Mr Drossos said.

“To be the best, we need to provide leadership and guidance, and be able to pivot quickly and adapt to changing markets like in a pandemic.”

He nominated good systems and training, high levels of customer service, and being surrounded by like-minded individuals as important facets of success.

“We are proud of their accomplishments, and these agents work hard and have a high level of performance,” Mr Drossos said.

The Barry Plant Eastern Group network, which has four offices, also won the Barry Plant Top Office of the Year (Large) award, for the thirteenth time, this year.

The year 2021 was a challenging one for real estate agents with lockdowns and disruptions, Mr Politis said.

“I am proud of being part of a team and a professional network of experienced agents,” he said.

“We have quality agents, keep recruiting top agents and have a lot of cross referral to service clients.”

The agency’s system of matching underbidders and other buyers with properties is essential to its top performance.

Trust, professionalism and service are among the key ingredients for Mark Di Giulio’s success.

“I aim to be consistent, improve and get better every year, and half of my business is through referrals,” Mr Di Giulio said.

“COVID has transformed the market, and as people want information and to make decisions quickly, we are seeing the rise of digital platforms to aid the selling process.”

In challenging times, people turn to a trusted family brand like Barry Plant which has been around for over 40 years, Mr Di Giulio noted.

“If we do the right thing by our clients with speedy service and professionalism, they will come back to us,” he added.