Terri Fellows returns to Harcourts Pakenham as co-owner

When Terri Fellows first walked through the doors of Harcourts Pakenham in 2010, she was in her early twenties, hoping someone would give her an opportunity. She had no real estate experience or established client base, but that first chance would set her on a career path that would eventually lead to business ownership and back to where it all began.

Sixteen years later, Terri is returning to Harcourts Pakenham as a co-owner, bringing the experience and business she has built along the way into a new joint venture with the established local agency.

Her journey began when Harcourts Pakenham Managing Director Peter Blackwood offered her a reception role. After moving into property management, she progressed into sales. Terri went on to become one of the area's leading agents, ranked No. 1 in Pakenham for many years and later achieving No. 2 and No. 3 rankings across the Barry Plant network.

Behind those achievements were years of hard work and determination.

“My success certainly didn't happen overnight. There were years when I'd start work at 5am and wouldn't finish until 11pm or midnight. I spent countless hours in the office, door knocking, letterbox dropping and walking the streets, doing everything I could to build relationships and really understand my local community,” Terri said.

In 2020, while pregnant with her first daughter, Brooklyn, Terri began thinking about what she wanted the next stage of her life to look like. She loved real estate but wanted greater flexibility to enjoy motherhood without giving up her professional ambitions.

In 2021, with a newborn at home, she took the leap into business ownership and established Fellows Real Estate. Her vision was to create a boutique agency built around personalised service and genuine client relationships, while allowing more time for family.

The business grew faster than she had anticipated. Before long, Terri and her colleague Tahnee Morgan were juggling sales, property management, administration, accounts and the increasing demands of running an independent agency.

“Initially, everything was going to plan. I was doing what I loved, building my own business and enjoying precious time with my family,” Terri said.

“But as the business grew, so did the workload. Tahnee and I often felt like we were doing the work of ten people between us.”

Now a mother of two daughters, Brooklyn and Madison, Terri wanted to keep growing the business while creating more time for her family. The solution came through relationships that had endured throughout her career.

Harcourts Pakenham Director Tain had remained in touch over the years, taking a genuine interest in Terri's career and family. The opportunity to work alongside Tain, Peter and Stuart eventually emerged as a natural next step, allowing Terri and Tahnee to combine what they had built with the support, systems and resources of Harcourts Pakenham.

“Peter and Tain played such a big part in shaping the agent and businesswoman I am today. The relationships have always mattered to me, and coming back to work alongside people who genuinely care about their staff, their families and their clients just felt right,” she said.

Peter Blackwood, Managing Director of Harcourts Pakenham, said it was fantastic to welcome Terri back in a new capacity.

“We've seen her grow from the early stages of her real estate career into an accomplished agent and business owner, and we're proud to be part of her next chapter.

“This joint venture brings together people who know and respect one another, with a shared commitment to our clients and the local community. It gives Terri the opportunity to build on what she's achieved, backed by the broader team and resources of Harcourts Pakenham.”

For Terri, the move is also about redefining what success looks like. She remains ambitious and committed to her clients, but becoming a mum has changed how she measures achievement.

“I've worked incredibly hard to get to where I am, and my passion for real estate hasn't changed. But becoming a mum has given me a different perspective on what success really means.

“I want to continue growing, achieving and providing my clients with the service they deserve, but I also want to be present for my girls. Having people around me who understand both sides of my life means more than they probably realise.”

That personal perspective informs her approach to real estate. As a local mum, homeowner, property investor and business owner, Terri understands how significant property decisions can be for people at different stages of life.

Much of Team Fellows' business now comes through repeat clients and referrals, reflecting the trust built over many years.

“People have supported me since the beginning of my career, and that loyalty is something I'll never take for granted,” she said.

“Our clients will continue to receive the personalised service and attention to detail they know us for, now with the support of a much larger team, advanced technology and the wider Harcourts network behind us.”

Terri also credits Tahnee, her trusted professional partner of almost a decade, as an important part of the journey.

“Tahnee and I are honestly like sisters. Outside of work, our families are family too. We've supported each other through so many personal and professional milestones and built a brand that we're both immensely proud of.”

Harcourts Victoria CEO Adam Fiteni said the joint venture demonstrated the value of combining entrepreneurial experience with the strength of an established network.

“Terri has built a business around personal service, strong local relationships and a clear understanding of what matters to her clients. We're pleased to welcome her back to Harcourts and support the next stage of that journey.

“Strong local businesses are built by people who understand their communities. Bringing that experience together with the systems, people and resources of the Harcourts network creates an opportunity for the business and its clients to benefit.”

Terri and Tahnee have also supported local sporting clubs, families, community events and childhood cancer research across Cardinia, Casey and Gippsland, a commitment they look forward to continuing through Harcourts Pakenham.

Now raising two daughters, Brooklyn and Madison, with her partner Ethan, Terri wanted to keep growing the business while creating more time for her family.

Terri hopes her journey will encourage other women, particularly those balancing career ambitions with family life, to believe they can build a business and define success on their own terms.

“If my journey can inspire even one young woman to believe in herself and follow her dreams, that means more to me than any award or recognition ever could,” she said.

For Terri, the return is both a professional milestone and a deeply personal one.

“This isn't just about joining another real estate business. It's about coming home to where my career began, bringing everything I've learnt along the way and being part of something really special.”