New Zealand Update

As we move through to the conclusion of 2021 and into 2022, we have every reason to look forward with anticipation and optimism to a fantastic year ahead. The challenges of 2021 are well known as we have lived through the restrictions of the pandemic and the personal and business adjustments this has required. There is no question the drive and determination exhibited across our team has led to exceptional results for our clients and created massive momentum to flow through into the new year and the more flexible environment we expect to be in place. Keys to success for Harcourts have always revolved around our commitment to creating outstanding client experiences, providing professional growth opportunities for our team members, and our internationally recognised expertise in auction marketing. These keys to success have never been more critical than they have in 2021 and will remain so in the year ahead. We wish everyone a fantastic festive season with family and friends, and a year ahead filled with all you wish and work for.

Harcourts Supports Whale Tales Community Art Trail

In January, Whale Tales hits Auckland offering locals and visitors the chance to participate in a 12-week free public art trail, thanks to a partnership between World Wildlife Fund (WWF) NZ, Wild in Art and Harcourts New Zealand. The trail will feature 80 1.8m whale tail sculptures designed by well-known and emerging Kiwi artists/studios dotted throughout streets, parks and open spaces. There will also be 80 smaller tails decorated by students and a virtual learning programme. “It’s been a difficult year of pandemic for many, so we are keen to enable a free event that will lift up spirits for a majority of Aucklanders and visitors to the region this summer,” says Harcourts NZ Managing Director Bryan Thomson. “Many of our Harcourts business owners across Auckland have donated a small whale tale to local community groups or schools to decorate and display in public places, so the rest of the city can enjoy the event as well.” “After the art trail is finished, our award-winning auction team will auction off the large tails to raise funds for WWF New Zealand, particularly for their critical work in protecting and restoring our Hauraki Gulf Bryde's Whale colony.”

Bryan

Thomson

Managing Director, Harcourts New Zealand bryan.thomson@harcourts.net

Celebrating Milestones

Congratulations to Anne Hosford and Kate Kellett both from Regent Realty and both with 25 years of service, and Carol Smith from Harcourts Grenadier with 30 years of service!

Property Management Update

With much of the country in one level of lockdown or another over the past few months, you could be forgiven for thinking that our property managers around the country wouldn’t be busy, but that isn’t the case. With the exception of level four restrictions, our property managers are out and about getting the job done. We've had to navigate changing guidelines and restrictions, but Harcourts property managers are nothing if not adaptable. Our technology enables us to be mobile, operate from our homes safely and still deliver the best possible experience for our landlords. Throughout the restrictions, we have been delivering online training to our property managers and business development managers that would have ordinarily been delivered in person, and we’ve proven that we can engage with each other exhibiting the same level of enthusiasm. Aaron Davis recently joined our business development club meeting and presented ‘Change your Words and Change your Business’ with a focus on social messaging. Our Marlborough office is doing this so well with their social posts on their Superstar Tenants of the Month. In November, our Property Management Leadership Conference was moved online so no one missed out on the much-anticipated content. There was a big focus on growth and development, leadership and technology during the event which featured internal and external speakers, including our International Award winning Business Development Manager, Lynne Cawthorn. We are looking forward to 2022 and anticipating that we will be operating with fewer restrictions than at the end of 2021. Our highly anticipated and well attended Property Management Activate events are held in February in Christchurch, Wellington, Central and Auckland, and these events kick off our year in Property Management.

Superstar Profile Kay Lucas

Residential Sales Consultant Harcourts Dunedin

1. Why did you decide to join Harcourts? Chris Kennedy’s nag nag nagging – I think it was nearly 10 years of persistence! Having been used to working with a manager and business owner that was charismatic as well as ethical and determined to always do the right thing at all times, it made sense to work for Chris when my first boss decided to retire. 2. What is your favourite thing about being a Harcourts team member? The people and the brand. Knowing you can reach out to anyone in the brand and they will help and give the same consistent service. Throughout the lockdowns, the contact from other salespeople, managers and business owners throughout New Zealand has been very important for my sanity, and just reiterates the Harcourts value of ‘people first’. 3. What do you enjoy most about being in the real estate industry? I love the job, especially the deal!! We are so fortunate that we get to change people’s lives. It’s very humbling... you get a phone call and they give you a key and off you go!! What a great job. 4. What is your most memorable career moment to date? I had an auction 3-4 years ago that was a referral through a lawyer to sell an older lady’s family home that she had inherited. She didn’t want to sell it as her father had built it, but financially she had to. So we decided to auction it in our showrooms. The RV was $640,000 and we sold it for $1,642,000. Her words to me with tears streaming down her face were, she walked in a pauper and she walked out a millionaire. That’s when you know you have done a good job and really made a difference to a person’s life! 5. What advice would you offer to people new to the industry? My best advice to new people is to listen, work hard and grab every opportunity to go with/work alongside an experienced agent. Two phrases that are well used in real estate are, ‘Success leaves clues’ and ‘Rip off and duplicate!’ 6. What activities have led to your success? Mainly hard work – lots of phone calls and networking and priding myself on never leaving a stone unturned.

7. What is your secret to maintaining a strong relationship with clients? A phone call every day to my owners so they know I am working hard for them and not afraid to change things to get a different outcome. They all know if I didn’t sell them today, I will go out and sell them tomorrow. And buyers too are contacted every day once under contract, through to settlement, and beyond. I believe ‘communication is key’, so no nasty surprises... for anyone! 8. How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd? I’m not sure if I have distinguished myself from the crowd. I just believe that hopefully I’m known for being hard working and will get the job done, but at all times always doing what is best for my clients and customers. 9. What do you do with your time off? Time off was always about overseas travel – without my phone. Not sure at the moment, but these last two years have proven how important having good friends really is, and how enjoyable it is spending time with them.

Harcourts National Auction Manager Aaron Davis and Sales Consultant Matt Gilmour helped change 95-year-old Rose’s life with a great result at auction.

Auctions

All across the country and despite varying levels of restrictions, auction marketing is running hot and changing people’s lives! The success rate throughout the regions ranges from 84% to 100% under the hammer and brought forward auctions have nearly doubled. Technology is king with a growing number of our auctioneers embracing livestreaming and really adding value to the transaction.