So meet Leon Gouzenfiter. Devoted husband. Proud father of three. Director of our Bentleigh office, and a lover of sports (if not salad).

Why does he race to be home at 10:15am every Wednesday? Is he the only man in Melbourne to own a cat that ages backwards? And what, if anything, does a former tennis champion have to do with it?

Leon’s waking up. So let’s find out!

 

6:34am

I roll over. My eyelids, heavy with sleep, start to open.

In front of them, a blurry face takes shape. My wife, Jess? Nope.

Wait! Is that a beard – and a bald head?

Jolting awake, I realise I’m face-to-face with none other than Andre Agassi.

The former tennis pro stares, wide-eyed, back at me from the cover of his autobiography, Open. It’s been sitting on my bedside table for weeks, unread. (I’ve just been too busy!)

Breathing a satisfied, relieved sigh, I smile. And fall back into a pleasant doze.

 

7:00am

Down the hall, the girls’ Gro Clock has made its morning metamorphosis.

The night’s blue clock face has changed to the morning’s yellow. And, judging by the rapidly approaching feet already padding down the hallway, I’ve got about six seconds until…

 

7:01am

They’re on me!

Jostling, jumping, climbing onto their half-asleep (yet elated) parents are Abigail, almost seven, and Zara, five. They’re here to tell me it’s time to get up – I’m on breakfast duty.

 

7:08am

After gently rousing our 11-month-old son, Blake (he’s a fantastic sleeper), I’m thrust into the mid-morning maelstrom.

Unstacking the dishwasher. Making brekkie. Feeding Kacee, the cat (and picking up an affectionate, yet mildly painful, clawing in the process). All while trying to funnel a quick coffee into myself to turn my brain on.

Yep – just a regular morning in the Gouzenfiter household!

 

 

8:05am

Shower, shave, suit. I’m no fashion guru – I’ll leave that title to Jeremy “Socks that match the shoes, not the tie” Rosens – but today I’m looking sharp.

The tie matches the cufflinks. The socks match the suit.

It’s show time.

 

 

8:59am

Outside the school gates, I hold Abi’s hand until it’s time for her to join her classmates inside. I chat to the other parents for a while – I’ve sold homes for a few of them – then I’m behind the wheel, office-bound.

The day doesn’t start when I’m in the office, though.

My emails, WhatsApp and text messages are like a 24/7 hotline. Even before the wheels turn and the rubber meets the road, I’m already on the phone.

 

 

10:01am

The first hour of the day has whizzed by in a blur of calls, emails and meetings.

Then, after a quick glance at the clock, I’m racing home – for an urgent appointment.

 

10:13am

I roll into the driveway. Just in time!

Unlocking the door, I head down the hallway – already knowing exactly where they’ll be.

There, by the big clock in the living room, Jess and Blake are waiting for me with the camera. Waiting for what’s become a Gouzenfiter family ritual to get started.

Let me explain.

 

 

10:15am

Ever since Abi was born, we’ve had a tradition. For the first year of each of our kids’ lives, Jess and I take a picture with them. In front of the clock. Every week, on the exact day – and at the exact time – they were born.

Blake was born on a Wednesday at 10:15pm. (For logistical reasons, that became 10.15am.) Now, every week, it’s in my calendar.

Today, we smile and snap the picture.

How it all started is a long story. But it’s the highlight of my week. Seeing the kids change, week in week out – and looking back at the photo albums we had professionally made for Zara and Abi – is priceless.

One last look at our little guy, and I’m out the door.

 

10:52am

Back at the office, on the phone. Today, it’s a mix of both the proactive (calling potential vendors, arranging appraisals) and the reactive (‘putting out fires!’).

 

12:39pm

After a busy morning, I’ve worked up an appetite.

But I’m not one for a lavish lunch, or anything too fancy (despite Bentleigh’s brilliant bites). I guess I’m what you’d call a… fussy eater. Whatever the opposite of a foodie is, I’m it!

I tend to only eat stuff I’m accustomed to. In the morning, that’s a homemade cereal (grains, oats, berries, honey, yoghurt) Jess makes. At lunchtime, it’s whatever I can get my hands on as quickly as possible – almost always on the go.

Today, it’s a chicken schnitzel wrap with cheese and mayo. No salad. (See what I mean?)

 

2:22pm

One open home and a couple of appraisals later, I’m in my car.

I’m a ‘car guy’.

We all grow up dreaming of things we’d love to own. For some, it’s a house on the shores of Mallorca. For others, it’s a boat, or a swimming pool.

For me, it was an Audi RS6 Avant. Or, as I sometimes call it, my ‘mobile office’.

Today, I have half an hour between appointments. I pull over to the side of the road, whip out my iPad and phone, and start dialling.

 

 

3:46pm

I turn into the driveway at home and walk Abi back in, hearing about what she’s learnt at school after picking her up. Her day’s done.

Mine isn’t!

 

4:02pm

After a quick turnaround, it’s back out for the afternoon’s round of appraisals, appointments and opens.

 

 

5:49pm

Back in the RS6, I’m heading to the MSAC (Melbourne Sports Centres) in Albert Park for another weekly ritual – social basketball.

And to be honest, I’m a little nervy. We won our first four games of the season, but – despite the superb start – lost last week. So tonight, anything could happen.

I glance at my watch, and my heart lurches. The game’s at 6pm. The last appointment overran, and I’m cutting it tight…

 

6:02pm

One hurried park, two minutes in the changing room, and three gulps of Powerade later, I’m on the court.

I take my place among the rest of my team, “The Average Joes”, as the ball goes up.

We’re on.

 

 

6:25pm

It’s early into the second half, and we’re down 33-28.

Receiving a pass from the right, I shrug off the attention of an opponent. Dribbling all the way to the cusp of the three-point line, I shoot…

… and the ball rebounds to the opposition. They run up the other end and score.

 

6:41pm

Down to the wire. 86 seconds to go, and the game is a finely poised 51-49. To them.

Like lightning, I seize on an errant pass, snatching the ball out of the air. Driving into the opponent’s half, I draw one, two, three players to me. Dribbling, ducking, dodging, dipping, I force my way to the baseline, and throw a no-look pass to the three-point line’s edge.

Standing there is our star man – and Sales Consultant from my office – Leor Bar.

Cool and composed, he shoots.

He scores.

We win the game 52-51. Take that, Purple Cobras!

 

 

7:13pm

Back home for a bite to eat, and to spend some time with Abi and Zara before they hit the hay.

Blake’s already out for the count. But there’s time to look at the baby monitor, and hear him quietly snoring away, before I’m in the car again.

 

7:35pm

I love evening appointments. I’m not in a rush, and – when I visit homes for appraisals – both owners are generally in. Which makes things easier and more personal.

Plus, there’s something about being out and about at twilight.

Meeting people, meeting homes, and riding through the city I love so deeply.

 

9:17pm

In the living room, watching the Spotify documentary with Jess. Unpacking the day, and what’s on for the rest of the week.

 

9:59pm

TV off, phone in hand. Scrolling through what houses have been sold today, or in the last couple of days. Browsing sales results, looking at who’s bought what from other agencies.

My mind is always ticking over, always wired into the mainframe of Melbourne property.

I love what I do. Being immersed in real estate? It’s not a chore for me. It’s a passion.

And the beauty is, the potential – to earn, to excel – is uncapped.

I made my name as a 24/7 prospector. Because in many ways, what we do is a round-the-clock job. But loving it makes it effortless.

Basically, I’m a massive real estate nerd!

 

11:11pm

Bedtime.

Pyjamas on, I step sleepily across the room to my side of the bed.

Suddenly, a searing jolt of pain courses through my ankle. Ambush!

I look down to see it’s Kacee, from a hidden vantage point under the bed, lashing out playfully.

My grimace becomes a grin. My 14-year-old purebred British Blue, who I bought as a young bachelor, is the ‘Benjamin Button’ of cats. Running around; jumping off walls; lying in wait to claw the unsuspecting directors of local real estate agencies.

Treading gingerly, I climb between the sheets.

 

11:29pm

Eyelids drooping, mind wandering, I take stock of the day – and life.

A family I adore. A career that matches my personality and work ethic to a tee. But most importantly, a balance of both.

A rhythm and routine that allows me to spend time with Jess and the kids. To be a big part of their childhood, while also growing the Gary Peer brand – and my team members’ careers.

And to do something I love, every day.

We’re lucky; we’re blessed; we’re thankful.

I kiss my wife’s cheek.

Goodnight, Jess.

I reach over to turn off the light, catching the soul-searching gaze of Mr Agassi in the process.

Goodnight, Andre.

Click.

 

Enjoyed a day in Leon’s life? Now, step into the shoes of St Kilda Director Jeremy Rosens for Pepsi, podcasts – and poached chicken.