Collect the Data!

In business, I think it is crucial to find out the facts about what our clients value and what they want and expect in their dealings with us, rather than simply taking a guess at it. Making assumptions runs the risk of not meeting their needs and expectations, creating unsatisfied clients and ultimately threatens the success and longevity of our business.

With this in mind, at the beginning of May over 30,000 members of the public were surveyed by Harcourts about their past interactions with the real estate industry. We received a lot of valuable information from this survey, confirming to us just what our clients think is significant when deciding to buy or sell property. The findings from the survey revealed that having a personal connection with the sales consultant and the office through past contact or referral was an overriding factor when deciding whom to work with. Communication was critical with 74% saying they would use the real estate consultant again, and yet nearly 50% hadn’t heard from them since!  

Other interesting survey results highlighted that the use of the Internet in buying and selling property is a vital part of the process with 87% saying the internet was their first and most important source of information.

But the overriding message was simply to tell the truth and do what you say you will! Exactly what we all look for when dealing with any service provider.

Everything has changed, and yet really, nothing has!

New Zealand Market Update

For the third month in a row Harcourts New Zealand statistics demonstrate a market with a reduced level of new listings coming to the market and a significantly higher number of written sales being recorded than the same month last year.

The comparative increase in buyer demand and activity is particularly noticeable in those areas hardest hit by the slowdown we experienced last year, with an average increase in the volume of written sales in May 2009 of nearly 40% when compared to May 2008, including 43% lifts in Harcourts’ Northern and Christchurch regions and a 76% increase in Harcourts’ Central region.

The marked improvement in the volume of written sales in May when compared with the same month the previous year follows the trend reported in March 2009 (30.4% increase on March 2008) and April 2009 (44% increase on April 2008).

In terms of listings, the figures we report show that across the country there were fewer new listings last month than in May 2009 and that the average written sale price in all but one region (Northern) was down on May 2008.

In our view attractive lending rates, positive immigration statistics and some positive rumblings internationally have all contributed to the increased activity from buyers.  Of equal stimulus to the domestic property market is that most sellers are now fully conversant with the realities of the current market and are entering negotiations with realistic expectations.

Predicting what may or may not occur over coming months in the New Zealand real estate market is a favourite national pastime, and always attracts a lot of comment when views are publicised.

As far as Harcourts is concerned, given the fundamentals that are in play and driving our market right now, we see no reason for today’s solid real estate market not to continue.

As long as sellers understand the market conditions and have realistic expectations they can expect to achieve good results.  Equally, buyers who do their homework and enter negotiations positively and with realistic expectations too can also look forward to securing their next property at today’s attractive levels.

Harcourts Academy achieves NZ industry first

The latest release from the Academy.

In a New Zealand real estate industry first, Harcourts has been approved to provide salesperson certification courses in association with the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Industry Training Organisation (REINZ ITO).

In addition approval has also been given to Harcourts, New Zealand’s largest real estate group, to facilitate on-the-job training sessions for Harcourts sales consultants who are working towards their National Certificate in Real Estate.

Head of the Harcourts Academy Irene Green says being approved to work in partnership with the REINZ ITO is fantastic endorsement of the calibre of Harcourts’ courses and its training team.  

“Formed some 20 years ago the Harcourts Academy has a long standing reputation for providing high-quality training and has been operating as a Registered Training Organisation in Australia since 2004. It’s fantastic we now have approval to assist our people in New Zealand to achieve their real estate qualifications too.” she said.

 

The Chasers War on Everything

I like to think I am reasonably relaxed and enjoy a joke as much as anyone – even the risky ones that have you cringing, but are still funny.  I also think we let political correctness over rule common sense at times.

Some of The Chaser’s pranks have been great – the APEC meeting in Sydney where they drove straight through security was very funny – dangerous, but funny. They really do push the envelope at times. This last one however, around the Make a Wish Foundation, is quite simply a disgrace. How anyone can see humour in this skit just amazes me. Kevin Rudd said they should all hang their heads in shame – I totally agree.

What I think was even more disgraceful though was the completely insincere apology given by, I think, the producer last night. Making excuses, saying they always annoy someone, that’s their humour, just isn’t good enough. The vast majority of the public, over 75% according to the Courier Mail poll, thought there was nothing funny about this skit, and that in fact it was offensive. That isn’t annoying a few people. 

If they are prepared to push the envelope, be controversial, that’s fine, but at least have the courage and integrity to admit that they simply went too far, they read it wrong, it wasn’t funny and apologise for the anger and pain that they have caused so many.

Harcourts Foundation – First Round of Grants!

Exciting press release just sent out!

The Harcourts Foundation has just approved 12 applications for funding to a combined total of $53,340 from charities around Australia.  

The Harcourts Foundation was set up in August last year, with the aim of providing financial support that helps, grows and enriches local communities, and today has already received over $250,000 in donations from Harcourts people and offices across Australia and New Zealand.

According to Managing Director of Harcourts International, Mike Green, two months after $71,000 was donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bush Fire Appeal, an additional 12 applications from charities and organisations around Australia have been approved.

He said that four charities in Queensland were set to receive a combined total of $27,200, four charities in South Australia would receive a total of $14,000, while two charities in Western Australia would receive a combined total of $6,140 and two charities in Victoria would receive a combined total of $6,000.

“The generosity and spirit of Harcourts’ people will benefit a number of charities and organisations around Australia that do extremely valuable and necessary work in their local community,”he said.

Together with the funds donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bush Fire Appeal and $15,000 that has been donated to seven charities in New Zealand, The Harcourts Foundation has donated a total of $140,000 to 20 charities in its first nine months of operation. 

“I am delighted to see The Harcourts Foundation continuing to grow, due to the enthusiasm and willingness of our people to share a helping hand with vital organisations in the local community and become a fundamental and significant part of what the name ‘Harcourts’ stands for, creating a very special legacy.”

Congratulations Team Harcourts!

A huge highlight of Conference for me every year is, without a doubt, the black tie National Awards dinner in both Australia and New Zealand. After working hard during the year, it provides the opportunity for us all to celebrate our successes and those of our team.

This year, though, there was even more reason to celebrate our individual and team  achievements. The world economy has, over the last year, gone through enormous change and uncertainty. It has affected every part of the world and indeed, every industry in a different way. The real estate market has been enormously challenging, with significant falls in overall volume, up to 60% in some areas.

I am incredibly proud of the entire Harcourts team for their courage, hard work and faith in a time of change and challenge.  The true professionals shine in times like these, and that was certainly the case for Team Harcourts. Our top consultants, Alison Aitken in New Zealand and Jim Ryan in Australia are simply inspirational. The many other consultants, business owners and managers, auctioneers, property managers and office administrators that we recognised, are all outstanding individuals – extraordinary people we should all be incredibly proud of.

We were also delighted to welcome two new inductees to the Harcourts Hall of Fame. Brian King from Harcourts Hamilton City, in New Zealand was the first for 2009, and then in Australia, we welcomed Lance Walsh from Harcourts Ultimate Realty in Redcliffe. Both  are outstanding members of Team Harcourts that have contributed enormously to the overall success and development of the Group over many years.

My personal congratulations to everyone we recognised – to achieve in this organisation is outstanding, over this past year, truly extraordinary!

Brazil starting point for Harcourts South America!

Harcourts has just signed an exclusive deal with Global Franchise Consultants in Brazil to promote and launch the Harcourts brand into South America, according to Harcourts’ International Franchise Development Manager Aaron Hodson.

Mr Hodson said that an initial focus will be expanding into Brazil, quickly followed by growth into other South American countries. “Brazil was the obvious choice for the launch of Harcourts into South America. It is a stable economy which has a relatively new real estate industry, and one of the top three internet provider services in the world, which will support our Harcourts systems wonderfully,” he said.

According to Mr Hodson, Global Franchise Consultants has been responsible for the launch of over sixty high profile franchise groups into South America, and Harcourts International will be the first international real estate group, and the first Australasian brand, launched by Global Franchise in South America. Mr Hodson said that interest for Harcourts in South America had “soared” following the organisation’s successful launch into South Africa last year.

“This is an exciting step for the Harcourts Group given the strength of the South American economy and real estate market,” Mr Hodson said.

Harcourts is Australasia’s fastest growing real estate organisation, with offices in all states and the Northern Territory, New Zealand, Fiji, Indonesia and Singapore. Last year, it expanded its operations into Zambia, China, and South Africa., with a total of over 600 offices internationally.