6 | T T Richard Loader 100 years of real estate services Barfoot & Thompson’s Peter Thompson – “we’re now expanding within the golden triangle of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.” Barfoot & Thompson - Auckland: 100th Anniversary REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT WYNNWILLIAMS.CO.NZ Congratulations on your hundy... we ’ r e s u r e Cha r l e s ’ l e tt e r i s i n the ma i l When Val Barfoot arrived in New Zealand from England in 1923, full of hope and promise after serving in the First World War, the first thing he came across was a little land agency in Newmarket that was not particularly successful, but was for sale. For the princely sum of £75 Val purchased the agency and set in motion a business that would eventually become Barfoot & Thompson, the largest privately owned real estate agency in the Southern Hemisphere. The family spirit of the business was established early with Val’s older brother joining the business and eventually both brothers’ wives became involved. Val’s wife Christine became the first lady in New Zealand to receive her Salesperson’s Certificate. Because of the many boats arriving from off-shore with immigrants looking for accommodation, the firm became involved in property management very early in its history. A Property Management store was set up and in 1934 Maurice Thompson was invited to join the company and became the ‘go-to’ person, closing the deals on sales and property leases. When the Second World War came along Maurice served overseas in the New Zealand Army, but the Barfoot Brothers made him a promise that they would make him a partner upon his return, and in the 1950, true to their word, the business became Barfoot & Thompson. Now celebrating 100 years providing the full suite of real estate services, Barfoot & Thompson continues to be proudly family owned and operated and led by third generation family members Peter Thompson, Managing Director, and Stephen Barfoot, Director. T T to page 8 “We continue to be predominantly an Auckland and Northland company, with eighty branches from Pukekohe through to Whangarei and Kerikeri, but we’re now expanding within the golden triangle of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga,” says Peter. “We own half of Lodge Real Estate in Hamilton, and that’s the number one real estate agency in Hamilton. “We already have a property management division in Tauranga, and we’re in the process of advertising for a sales division there. “Opening Tauranga is a big step in this market, but we believe there is also a big opportunity for us. We have grown through a steady period, but not over committed at any one time. “Opening Tauranga is a big step in this market, but we believe there is also a big opportunity for us. We have grown through a steady period, but not over committed at any one time.”
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