Please click here for CEO Comments that are now posted for January 20, 2012

Past comments are filed here under Previous Comments.

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The Ray White Group is proud to announce the opening of its new Sunnynook office on the North Shore of Auckland. Business owner, Tony Scheirlinck, said that the new office at Sunnynook is the only real estate agency in the area that will serve the local suburbs of Sunnynook, Forrest Hill and Totaravale. He said “The growth in these locations gives us confidence that our new office will continue to grow the existing market share which has been established by our sales team. The diverse range of property in the area makes it attractive for buyers who are looking for property at each end of the buying spectrum.  He went on to say “We have several properties which fit into the first home buyers category, right through to family homes and high-end property also.”

The team consists of 10 licensee salespeople, with the business also providing services in property management.

Graeme Fraser, Auckland Performance Manager for Ray White New Zealand, said “The new Sunnynook office is a natural progression for Ray White on the North Shore. The company market share throughout the region has grown during the past 12 months and we see, with Tony’s guidance in the Sunnynook office, further market share growth in this region.”

For further information regarding Ray White Sunnynook please contact Tony Scheirlinck on 0272 465 890 or rwsunnynook.co.nz.

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2011 has been a year of spectacular growth for the Ray White Group. We have welcomed a new office every 10 working days; culminating in 20 new businesses joining and starting up across the country. We have also effectively had 10 new business owners purchase existing Ray White offices.

Our Group stands at 131 offices with just over 1,180 salespeople, 220 property managers and 145 administrators. This year our sales turnover increased by 12%, which saw us transact $3.895 billion in property sales. Our property management portfolio has grown beyond 14,000 and our market share, particularly in the last quarter, has shown good growth across many of the areas we trade.

The number of sales that will occur within the industry will be 58,000 for the year and will be in line with 2010. The amount of property that has been marketed for sale has dropped by 10% during the year. This has effectively resulted in lower days on market and price increases across most centres throughout New Zealand. Productivity levels for our top 20 businesses increased by 23.8%. There was one interest rate reduction of .5% in March. The official cash interest rate has remained at 2.5% during 2011 and is expected to remain at the same level throughout 2012.

During the year we remained committed to the three pillars of our business growth, being marketing, personal skills and growth. Our marketing platform has seen us redesign our online presence and we have applied a number of superior applications which sees us continue to lead the industry.  Personal websites were also introduced during the year.  We have rebranded our marketing through the media to present further enhanced property presentation. This is now fully integrated with all publishers.

The growth of the company has been evident with the number of new offices that have joined and there have also been several high profile salespeople join Ray White from other companies.

Within this year’s Christmas message we make reference to the significant events that occurred in 2011 throughout New Zealand. To our people and their communities who have been affected by these events, we pay tribute to you.

Our Group will finish the 2011 year in very good shape. The industry continues to polarise.  The significant reinvestment that is required to be a leader in this market is our commitment. 2012 will be a year of continued growth as we enable our plan for genuine leadership.

On behalf of the Ray White corporate team and the White Family, we wish all of our members and their families a relaxed Christmas break and look forward to a successful 2012.

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The real estate market continues to show improved signs for all sectors within property sales on the strength of the continued low Official Cash Rate of 2.5%, steady immigration numbers coming toNew Zealand linked with the recent election that saw the National Party return to government with an increased majority.

Prices have continued to firm, particularly across Auckland where the average sale price has lifted during the past two months and is now $475,000 which is a lift since the beginning of the year of just under 4%. The numbers of sales also across Auckland have remained consistent during the past three months to be just below 2,000 per month and we expect this trend to continue throughout the final months of 2011 and during the first quarter of 2012.  What has been of interest is the increasing amount of property that has been marketed by auction, which is at a record high of 26.4%. Across New Zealand the sales numbers have also remained just above 5,000 per month and the average sale price has increased from $340,000 at the beginning of 2011 to $359,000 in October 2011.

It is now forecast that the Official Cash Rate will remain at 2.5% at least until September 2012. This will continue to give confidence to first home buyers and investors and this in turn will keep the market remaining active in the second and third home buyer areas.

The recent capital valuations received by property owners throughout Auckland are a definite reflection of the continued activity that has occurred in certain areas of Auckland and also those properties within the $500,000 to $1 million price bracket.

The outlook for property prices over the next period remains strong; with lower days on market and an active buyer pool this should continue to drive sales across all markets.

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The REINZ Property Press Auckland Superstars Breakfast was held at the Ellerslie Event Centre on Tuesday morning, featuring Rohan Thompson from Ray White Royal Oak.  Rohan is currently number 2 for Ray White.  Other speakers included Craig Smith from LJ Hooker Titirangi, Blair Haddow from Bayleys Real Estate, Matty Ma from Harcourts Albany and Sherran Vause of Crockers Property Management.

After the opening address, the questions turned to the use of technology within the business of a high performing agent. Rohan Thompson commented that technology is an increasingly important piece to the success of marketing and communicating in real estate, but there still needs to be a high face-to-face rate linked with telephone communication. Within his business Rohan has two personal assistants who look after much of the email enquiry, which frees him up to offer a greater personal service. Craig Smith from LJ Hooker Titirangi talked about reputation and technology. He made the observation that salespeople are being Googled before they meet face-to-face with potential clients and their reputation can be predetermined from whatever the search results offer.

The panel’s questions moved onto providing service. Matty Ma from Harcourts Albany spoke about her continued persistence of being able to deliver immediate service to her clients and customers. Where possible she will meet customers within a 10 minute time frame if they want to look at property. Rohan Thompson said the cornerstone to his service was ringing his vendors’ everyday to keep them up to date before they need to be kept up to date.

There were over 250 attendees from within the industry and Ray White would like to congratulate Rohan Thompson on his outstanding presentation at the Superstars Breakfast.

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Please click here for CEO Comments that are now posted for November 25, 2011

Past comments are filed here under Previous Comments.

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Wellington City Real Estate Ltd has this week joined Australasia’s largest real estate group, Ray White. The office located in Taranaki Street is an award winning office under the leadership of business owner Vicki Collins.

In making the change to Ray White, Vicki said “The Ray White Group provides industry leading technology and gives us the ability to be able to communicate successfully with our community. Our office has a team approach to our real estate success and in our considerations of partnering with Ray White; we made the decision that in offering the finest service to our clients that we would also offer Australasia’s leading real estate brand.”

Wellington City Real Estate Ltd has a sales team of 14. The team have consistently been awarded for their high quality service and this is reflected in the number of sales they  achieve throughout the marketplace.

Carey Smith, Chief Executive of Ray White New Zealand, said that in welcoming Vicki that her team approach to real estate was certainly a successful model. “There is a good mixture of youth, enthusiasm and experience which now makes up the dynamic team for Ray White in Wellington City.” He also said that Vicki’s leadership and drive for success is widely recognised and that transfers to her business as she sets the highest standards for her office.

 Ray White Wellington City provides services in residential sales, property management and commercial leasing. Their office website provides information on their current listings, properties available for rent, investment properties and information on preparing your home for sale and details of the Wellington City area.

For further information please contact Vicki Collins on 0275 389 574  or visit their website at rwwellingtoncity.co.nz.

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The Ray White Group in Auckland comprises 50 offices with just over 900 sales members. Last night awards were held for the Auckland region, which is identified in two zones being the City-Side and North Shore. Also during the evening the new Elite and Premier members were recognised for their outstanding sales results for the calendar year to date.

Graeme Fraser, Auckland Business Performance Manager, presented the City-Side zone awards. In his address he made comment about the growth of the Group on the city side, particularly the top offices which include City Apartments, Ponsonby, Remuera, Royal Oak and Central Auckland Commercial. These businesses have lifted their market share consistently during the year, with the top business on the city-side, being City Apartments, having a market share in excess of 40% for the first time ever. He also recognised Bruce Whillans from Central Auckland Commercial as being the number one salesperson for sales turnover; Marie Raos from Howick as the leading salesperson for business growth; and Damian Piggin and Daniel Horrobin from City Apartments for auction marketing.

Carey Smith presenting Lesley Hawes NZ 2012 Elite Member

Corinna Mansell, National Business Performance Manager, presented the North Shore awards. The top business in the categories of sales turnover and business growth was Pinehill; Whangaparaoa were the leading marketing office.  Individually Darryn Laskey was recognised as the top salesperson for property sales and he was also recognised as number one in business growth.

Carey Smith, Chief Executive of Ray White New Zealand, in his address spoke about the relevance of individual licensee salespeople. “There is a strong belief within the Ray White Group that the salesperson is the one who becomes the choice of the vendor.”  He said that the Group is ensuring our salespeople are well profiled, have outstanding marketing material and also have industry leading technology.

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Bryce Earwaker, Simon Damerell and Gower Buchanan have teamed up to open up an additional Ray White office in Pt Chevalier. The office is located at 336 Pt Chevalier Road and will form part of their agency business through their longstanding market leading office in Ponsonby.

Bryce Earwaker said “When the opportunity for Ray White Pt Chevalier became available we had no hesitation in opening an office in the Pt Chevalier market. In many respects Pt Chevalier, Westmere and Ponsonby are similar markets but with local communities and their own characteristics. Buyers looking to purchase in Pt Chevalier and surrounding suburbs are attracted to the area by the strong sense of community and also the closeness of Pt Chevalier to the central city of Auckland.”

With an average sale price of just over $550,000 the area has a consistent turnover of property.  Business Development Manager for Damerell Earwaker Realty, Gower Buchanan, said that buyers in the area are increasingly coming from properties marketed in surrounding suburbs. “We see the new office at Pt Chevalier to be a great opportunity for both our sales team and their vendors to source buyers from a wider field given we have an office in Ponsonby.”

Simon Damerell, agent licensee for Damerell Earwaker Realty, said he saw the two locations working together exceptionally well.  “We have a team of Pt Chev specialists who will be able to add real value to the sales process while also having the broad reach of our company resources and that also of the Ray White Group.”

Carey Smith, Chief Executive of Ray White New Zealand, said “Ray White is thrilled to be back in the Pt Chevalier market, particularly through the Damerell Earwaker Realty. They are not only one of the leading offices in Ray White but they are also market leaders in many of the trade areas surrounding Pt Chevalier.  Their understanding of marketing and of the sales process is second to none and this will benefit vendors who entrust Ray White with their property through the new Pt Chevalier office.”

Information regarding the Pt Chevalier office can be found on their agency website being rwptchevalier.co.nz.

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During the last three weeks Ray White has been in the process of making subtle changes to the presentation of their media.

The first point of difference is the repositioning of the Ray White logo to the top of the page and the reduction of the amount of gutter used in each property advertisement. This in turn has allowed the photo content of each property to increase and gives higher definition in each of the display advertisements between properties. This has enabled the advertising text to now be clearer and gives more free text for the salesperson to describe the property’s benefits. The overall impact of the new advertising layout has been well received by vendors and also, more importantly, buyers.

 Leading Ray White salesperson Steen Nielsen made the comment that the advertising has definitely brought a greater response since we have increased the photo content. He went on to say that vendors have been very pleased with the media presentation of their property and this adds value to the marketing of each property.

The subtle media changes have also been integrated across the Ray White national website and the 133 local websites. The recent introduction of Walk Score and Neighbourhood Comments have also been well received, as it is a further application which enhances the rich content that Ray White provides for those considering purchasing real estate across New Zealand.

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