| 93 PROPERTY Century 21 Rural & Residential Tree change proves golden opportunity Sue Russell With a team of four like-minded professionals, including a top-notch office manager, Barbara says the business has slowly built up. SEPTIC TANK SERVICING Professional Advice by Registered Drainlayer • Also includes Drain Unblocking LOOS & SHOWERS 4 U Portable Toilet & Shower Hire • Construction Sites • Parties • Weddings • Holidays DOMESTIC WATER DELIVERIES Filling and Cleaning of Water Tanks – 12000L Capacity Ph. Barry 0800 822 826 or Office 07 824 5537 www.xsservices.co.nz | admin@xsservices.co.nz Residential | Rural | Commercial | Industrial | Air Conditioning Proudly Supporting Century 21 Michael Garrick 07 828 2121 or 021 708 129 mike@onparelectrical.co.nz www.onparelectrical.co.nz For Barbara Craig, co-owner of Century 21 – Huntly with Ian Pepper), the journey in a long career selling real-estate is to have progressively moved from Auckland City to a boutique sized business in a smaller yet rapidly growing well placed town situated between Auckland and Hamilton. That’s been a deliberate decision for a number of reasons. When the opportunity seven years ago presented itself by way of an invitation to buy the existing Century 21 business in Huntly, and with a sense that there was a large amount of untapped potential Barbara and Ian joined forces and bought the company. And with a team of four like-minded professionals, including a top-notch office manager, Barbara says the business has slowly built up. “We have over 30% of the market share and one of the reasons we’re in this position is that we pick up the phone most every time it rings and Ian and I, well we’re always at work.” In fact, Barbara says that key to selling real-estate successfully is an unwavering work ethic. “People notice when you work hard. The best advice I was given when I first started was from Steve Koerber, now Ray White Remuera, was to understand your success depends upon always working hard and being prepared to put in the ground/foot-work. He personally delivered pamphlets into letterboxes frequently in Remuera’s Northern Slopes. It’s about people remembering the name when it comes time for them to sell their home. Name recognition is vital.” Barbara says Huntly is a great town to buy and sell real-estate in. Split by the Waikato River, the town has a wide array of home offerings; from first-home buyers, people looking for investment rental properties, to established suburbs and new subdivisions, there is a niche here with homes looking out over two lakes. Recalling coming out of covid lockdown the first time Barbara says the real-estate market “just took off”. “Everybody wanted to buy a house. So many people were returning from overseas given the pandemic. We had Aucklanders buying property using zoom meetings, taking up the opportunity to buy a home or homes at a time when there was a sense of uncertainty.” Century 21 Huntly and Te Awamutu, each independently owned and operated have teamed up to launch a Special Campaign in both towns where any vendor who lists and sells their Waikato residential or lifestyle property with them before 13th March 2022, will go in the draw to receive their full commission + GST back. Terms and Conditions apply. “We first discussed the idea late July and we took it to the market mid-September. I’m so pleased that Century 21 Te Awamutu came on board and could see what an amazing offer/ opportunity this was for home owners.” The prize will be drawn on 4 April 2022 and the winner will have 5 working days to claim the prize or it will be redrawn. Barbara says one of the reason’s she was drawn to become a real-estate agent was the sheer excitement she becomes a part of, particularly when selling a home to those first entering the property market. “There’s nothing like the feeling of excitement first-home owners experience. It’s such a big moment for them and I get a real buzz just being part of helping make that happen.” Like many regions around New Zealand, Barbara says there’s an increasing shortage of supply of homes on the market to sell, creating a catch 22 situation. “We have so many people who want to buy and very few right now who want to sell. If home-owners would sell when they want to rather than holding back as they are now, then there would probably be enough real-estate for others to buy, keeping the whole sector ticking over.” Asked what qualities are important in a real-estate Agent Barbara says it comes down to some pretty simple factors. An ability to really listen, to respect that people have their own right reasons for liking or not liking a property. “Most especially relax and don’t be pushy. Be proactive and especially give clients great objective opinions when asked for.”
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