Agent Spotlight – Vaughan Copping, Director, Perth Property Management

For Vaughan Copping, real estate offered more than a career – it was a chance to build something sustainable for his family while following a passion for business. 

That drive has taken him from engineering into commercial property management, where he was named Commercial Property Manager of the Year at the 2025 National Awards for Excellence (NAFE).

We caught up with Vaughan to talk about his journey, what drew him to commercial property and what he would say to those thinking about a career in real estate.

How did you get started in real estate?

My wife Kristy and I started Perth Property Management in 2014. At the time I was working as an engineer in mining, helping in the background and supporting the business wherever I could. I worked two jobs so we could scale the business and something sustainable.

The day my son was born in 2020 was also the day I left my old profession and went into real estate full time. 

For me, real estate offered flexibility and the chance to be both a parent and a provider. It’s given me the ability to support my family and still be present every day. And it helps that I love what I do.

What stood out to you about commercial property management?

I moved into commercial when some of our residential clients asked us to manage their commercial properties. At first, I learned the ropes to see if it was something I wanted to do, and I quickly fell in love with it.

I’d previously completed my MBA, so I had a strong grounding in business. A lot of those principles applied directly to commercial property management, and I enjoyed working with both business owners and investors. I haven’t looked back.

Kristy and I also started Selling Perth Property to service our existing clients when they decide to sell. While we believe real estate is a strong investment class and don’t encourage selling, sometimes clients have to, and we want to be there to support them when they do. 

I brought on a former staff member with residential property management experience but no commercial background, and over the last 12 months I’ve been training her and exposing her to commercial property management fundamentals. She’s picked it up really well and it’s been incredibly rewarding to help her develop in the commercial industry.

What’s the biggest challenge in managing commercial properties compared to residential?

Your tenants are business owners, so you need to understand business to support them properly. If a tenant’s business struggles, a good property manager can step in and help, which benefits both the tenant and the owner. 

Understanding the commercial market requires a different approach, as reporting isn’t as extensive as it is in the residential market. Building networks and working closely with valuers is key. REIWA’s quarterly Commercial Property Updates are so valuable, adding another layer of consistent information to support the industry.

You recently won the Commercial Property Manager of the Year Award - how did it feel to be recognised?

Honestly, I was shocked. I had no expectations and was just grateful to be in the room.

To be recognised nationally was incredible, and I think it shows the strength of WA’s agents with five WA agents taking home awards on the night. We punch well above our weight, and that raises standards across the industry.

You and your wife are national champions – what's the secret to your success?

There’s no silver bullet. Kristy is amazing at what she does, and we’re both aligned in wanting to build a business we can be proud of. From the start we focused on creating a good culture, caring for our staff and clients, and representing them to the best of our ability.

We’ve always worked hard to make our clients happy, and over time that consistency has been recognised. What we’re most proud of though is taking people from outside the industry, training them up and giving them the tools to build a successful career.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in real estate?

Real estate offers a lot of flexibility and rewards if you’re willing to put in the work. For commercial – be curious, do a lot of self-learning and align yourself with an agency that can give you the tools and support to succeed.

Mentorship is also really important. Some of the most rewarding parts of my career have been mentoring others and helping them see that their skills are transferable. Having someone experienced to learn from makes a huge difference.

I’d also say, use your Institute to your advantage. We couldn’t have done what we’ve done without REIWA. The training has helped us bring people from outside the industry and give them solid foundations, and the advocacy outcomes REIWA has fought for and won have been invaluable for agents across WA. The people who do really well are the ones who listen and make the most of REIWA's services.