It's not the regular career trajectory one might expect.
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Lisa Howell has gone from helping kindy students in reading and writing at Glenbrook Public for a decade, to very recently styling homes and sticking 'For sale' signs on properties in the region.
Mrs Howell, 49, said she took a role at Jim Aitken and Partners at Glenbrook earlier this year making the career change leap to "finally follow a long-time calling". She completed her real estate agent training, as well as a course in home styling and design, in 2019. She covers from Glenbrook to Claremont Meadows.
The career change was sparked by "an addiction" to real estate websites and some success in home flipping.
"I've bought and sold a couple of times. I styled a home with a girlfriend and it sold on the first day for $36,000 above what we wanted.
"I'm trying to educate vendors in the value of property styling to get the best result in the quickest time with the sale of their place. I have trained in property styling and would like to marry the two jobs.
"It's about turning your home into a marketable product ... how you live and how you sell are very different."
Mrs Howell has been donating to one of her chosen childrens' charity, Stewart House since 1992 and plans to continue donating - about $100 for each home she sells.
"I was a kindy teacher for 28 years and I didn't want to sacrifice what I believed in ... I also really liked how Jim, very quietly, does a lot of charity work.
"I'm using both jobs to fund that by giving a percentage of commission to them when I reach my targets."
Mrs Howell has already made her first sale.
"I'm hoping some of the parents who I have had so much to do with over the years think of me if they are looking to sell."
