Tag: Selling

Tackling money laundering

Anti-Money-Laundering

To improve New Zealand’s ability to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing, the Government has made law changes that affect various businesses and professions.

 

Each year about $1.35 billion from the proceeds of fraud and illegal drugs is laundered through everyday New Zealand businesses. These law changes – put in place practical measures to protect businesses and make it harder for criminals to profit from and fund illegal activity. They’ll also safeguard and help New Zealand live up to our reputation as being one of the least corrupt countries and a good place to do business.

 

The law will come into effect in stages for different sectors to give businesses time to prepare for the changes. From 1 January 2019, real estate agents will have to comply with the AML/CFT Act when representing a client who’s either selling or buying real estate.

 

 

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Auction Gala success for Queenstown

Queenstown-Property-Auction-Harcourts

Harcourts Queenstown are celebrating after a successful Auction Gala! We had nine superb properties go to auction on Thursday 18 October, with six selling under the hammer.

We’re sure our vendors will agree there are huge benefits of taking a property to auction, take a look at our list of benefits below.

 

The benefits of selling at auction:

  • It can increase the sale price

Competitive bidding can drive up the sale price of your property on auction day.

 

  • It’s quick!

If you’re looking to release equity for another investment – an auction is the ideal sales platform. The marketing surrounding the auction and the set date gives a sense of urgency that often leads to multiple bidders.

 

  • True market value

Though people have an idea what they should pay for the property, there is no chance of you losing out on a sale because the property wasn’t priced to meet the market. The property will sell to the highest bidder for the highest price they’re prepared to pay.

 

If you’re thinking of selling, contact your trusted Harcourts agent for more information about the auction process.

 

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Harcourts scoop Most Trusted award for sixth year in a row

Harcourts-Most-Trusted-Real-Estate-Brand

Reader’s Digest has announced its Most Trusted brands for 2018, and Harcourts, New Zealand’s largest real estate brand has come out on top. Meaning that for the sixth consecutive year, New Zealanders have voted Harcourts their Most Trusted real estate brand and making Harcourts the only real estate brand to have held this honour for this continuation.

 

Harcourts CEO Chris Kennedy says the support and faith New Zealanders continue to put into the company is humbling.

 

“To be named the Most Trusted real estate brand for six years in a row is an incredible achievement. We are not only proud of our teams across the entire country, but we want to thank those New Zealanders who have worked with us and voted us number one.”

 

“We take the trust New Zealanders place in us very seriously. After all, making the decision to buy or sell a property is often one of the biggest, most important financial decisions all of us will make. You want to know that the sales consultants you are working with have knowledge, experience, honesty and integrity.”

 

The challenge for the company is to keep finding new ways to deliver exceptional customer service. “That is absolutely always at the core of everything we do. We are constantly looking at ways to improve our clients’ experience with us,” he says.

 

“To ensure Harcourts is living up to this goal of offering clients a premium service, the company will, in 2018, launch a client experience project. This will allow every customer the opportunity to rate their experience with our company and our people, in a transparent way that can be measured. It’s an exciting innovation which will allow Harcourts to continue to grow our people and constantly evolve our service to clients.”

“You hear it said a lot, that no relationship can work without trust. Trust is something you can’t put a price on. That is why this title of Most Trusted is so important to us.”

 

Harcourts will receive this prestigious award on 30 May alongside other elite Kiwi brands such as Whittakers.

 

Thank you, New Zealand.

 

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Client login makes selling easier

Harcourts-Client-Login

Paving the way, Harcourts use of technology allows for an easier and more informative selling experience for clients. One of our many technological improvements, client login, is a portal which gives clients 24 hour access to everything they need to know about what is happening with the sale of their property. This tool allows exclusive clients to remain up-to-date with the latest information on their listing.

“We appreciated that our clients wanted to hear about their property’s progress on the go and that it’s not always convenient for clients to meet face-to-face, and that’s what this portal is able to provide”, says Jason Wills, Harcourts Chief Information Officer.

Once registered, the agent then enables access to areas of the portal that will interest the client; allowing access to a range of data, documents and statistics on their listed properties.
The tool houses the marketing plan and calendar, marketing reports and feedback about a property. In addition to this, all of the documents relating to the property are held here, and the client can see how their property is performing on the various real estate portals where their property is marketed. They can receive reminders and alerts for events such as auctions or meetings and when a new document has been uploaded.

Selling property has never been easier, Harcourts tools allow for a stress-free approach to real estate. Thinking of selling? Contact us here for a complimentary market appraisal of your property.

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MKR winning house for sale

My-Kitchen-Rules-Winner-Chris-Wright

A memorable piece of New Zealand TV history has hit the market, this enchanting Stone Street residence provided a faultless setting for winners Chris and Bex’s ‘Instant Restaurant’, Aspiring Fare. While most would think the extraordinary mountain and lake views would captivate the cooks, their dishes were testament to the charm the interior also holds. The generous kitchen, with granite work tops, provided an inspiring space for the duo’s ambitious menu, prompting judge Manu to call for more of the ‘perfect’ liver parfait.

The character rich home was carefully chosen for its hosting possibilities and uninterrupted views. With intimate dining spots peppered amongst the regal design, the separate dining area provides a grander space for feasts, entertaining and holding a full TVNZ film crew.

With the close proximity to the beautiful town of Wanaka and both cast and crew proclaiming their love for the ‘Fortress on the Hill’, it is no wonder why My Kitchen Rules winner and Harcourts agent, Chris Wright is proudly bringing this home to the market.

For more information on this exclusive listing click here.

My-Kitchen-Rules-Winner-Wanaka

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Understanding the upcoming bright line test changes

bright-line-test-nz

Revenue Minister Stuart Nash confirmed that the election “promise” to extend the bright line test from 2 years ownership to 5 years will be enacted, effective for properties acquired after the date of Royal Assent. The intended purpose of extending the bright line test is to ‘dampen property speculation’ and make homes more affordable. The extension means that profits from residential investment properties which are bought and sold within five years will generally be taxable.

Current exemptions from the bright line test will remain. They include the sale of an owner-occupier’s main home, inherited property, or the transfer of property in a relationship settlement.

The extension to the bright line test will apply to residential investment properties purchased from the date on which the bill receives the Royal Assent, which is expected in March. Nash adds that the passage of the bill will also enable the Tax Working Group to factor the change into any consideration of a comprehensive capital gains tax.

Auckland Property Investors Association president Andrew Bruce has previously said that the changes will impact on property speculators rather than long-term investors. “The majority of property investors are in it for the longer than five years and are unlikely to feel massive levels of pain with the extension of the bright line test.

See more information on the bill, click here.

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Apple recognises Harcourts custom apps across global web network

New Zealand Real Estate group Harcourts, has been selected from a world-wide category to be the first real estate company to be featured across Apple’s global web network with a case study showing how they have used Apple’s iOS technology to transform their business.

In recognition of their innovation and use of the iPad and iPhone to enhance client experience and drive greater efficiency for their business, Apple has produced a video and business case study about Harcourts’ work – an accolade reserved only for companies developing the most cutting edge business solutions using Apple technology.

Harcourts is the first company from the Australasian region, and the first real estate group world-wide, to be selected by Apple for this recognition.

Harcourts New Zealand CEO Hayden Duncan, says the custom suite of apps developed by Harcourts, is transforming the way they do business.

“By nature real estate is a mobile business. Agents are on the road, meeting clients, inspecting properties and showing homes.

“The power of Apple iOS inspired us to develop a suite of apps for our global network of sales consultants that would provide them with a full range of marketing, research and technological tools while they’re on the move. The apps save our consultants hundreds of hours per year by streamlining tasks and they help us deliver a great client experience.

“Take e-Campaign for iPad, for example. From the comfort of your living room, a sales consultant can help you build your ideal marketing campaign; displaying real-time market data from your local neighbourhood, visually showcasing the complete range of marketing options available, and booking everything into an online calendar so you know exactly what to expect every step of the way.

“Information is all stored digitally so there’s no need for paper forms or folders or for data re-entry back at the office, which means we can deliver a timely, professional, and consistent level of service,” says Mr Duncan.

Harcourts was selected above several other global real estate companies because they showed how Apple technology has enabled them to become game-changers in their industry.

“The integration of our apps both with third-party real estate data sources and the company intranet is key to our success. This means sales consultants have access to an unprecedented level of information from wherever they are providing a distinct competitive advantage,” explains Mr Duncan.

Mr Duncan says Harcourts’ focus is firmly on the future and innovation is at the forefront of everything they do.

“Client expectations are changing and it’s essential that we change with them. Technology is helping us to be more agile and responsive to our clients’ needs, delivering faster and more effective communication, and providing a seamless client experience overall.”

“Being able to launch our apps across multiple devices in multiple countries and integrate to our intranet is one of the key reasons we chose iOS as our platform.”

 

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Harcourts is NZ's Most Trusted Real Estate Brand (Reader's Digest, 2012-16).

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