Flying high in Wigram A new Harcourts franchise will be opening in Wigram later this year, a first in the history of the brand. At the helm will be Sarah and Hamish McLeod, who already operate Harcourts Grenadier Halswell.
T
his area of Christchurch is becoming very popular. There are newer properties and a growing infrastructure. The expansion makes sense,” Sarah explains.
www.grenadier.harcourts.co.nz
Landing in Wigram.
NEW OFFICE OPENING LATE 2021. Grenadier Real Estate Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Athol McCully and Cecilia Xiao Athol and Cecilia are experienced Business Brokers as a part of New Zealand’s largest team of NAI Harcourts Business Brokers. If you are seeking to buy or sell a business contact Athol or Cecilia.
Athol 0274 338 052 Cecilia 021 0256 3311 Grenadier Real Estate Ltd MREINZ. Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Hamish &Sarah
Business Owners of Harcourts Grenadier Halswell & Wigram
Q: What happens to existing staff when a business sells? A: To ensure any business continues smoothly after sale, we generally
recommend that the Purchaser takes on existing staff when taking over the business. One category of employees, known as Vulnerable Employees (which includes cleaning and catering staff) are legally protected at sale time – the Purchaser generally takes them over, irrespective of what is decided for other staff. We prefer Vendors to be “upfront” with their staff when taking a business to the market, and to tell staff that the business is for sale. Vendors may be apprehensive at the possibility of losing staff, but, in reality, the Purchaser usually needs staff to stay on, so the risk of job loss is quite low. After reaching agreement to buy, the Purchaser may wish to speak to staff, and offer contracts for ongoing employment. These contracts normally offer pay rates at or above the level the Vendor has been paying. So, for both Vendors and staff, well-established procedures ensure that the transaction from Vendor to Purchaser is as smooth as possible. Metropol 5 August, 2021 21
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Hamish and Sarah became owners of Harcourts Halswell in 2017, in partnership with the Grenadier Franchise. There are 26 salespeople connected to it and it’s envisaged the new branch will have a similar number, including high profile agent Lin Ma, who will bring her team. “We want to expand what we have achieved at our Halswell branch. The most important thing to us is achieving the best results for our clients. It’s never about money, it is always about doing it once and doing it right.” Auction has become a popular method of sale in Christchurch, as sellers can be sure to get the true market value of their home, and buyers can be sure they’re negotiating on the same terms as all other interested buyers. Their achievements at the current branch speak for themselves, so it will be exciting to see this office grow. For the Halswell office, phone 03 322 1197, Sarah McLeod on 021 928 767, Hamish McLeod on 027 555 7047 or email sarah.mcleod@harcourts.co.nz
