2020 Property and Construction Honours — Regional Real Estate Agency of the Year

Featured business: Barfoot & Thompson

Reason for selection: With nearly a century of experience in property services, the company knows all the distinctive features of Auckland and Northland.

In 1923, a young British man named Val . Barfoot started his business by buying a run-down land agency in Newmarket for just £75. Maurice Thompson joined in 1934, and in 1940 the company adopted the name Barfoot & Thompson, which it retains today.

Today, Barfoot & Thompson has grown into New Zealand's largest privately owned real estate company, with 75 branches and more than 2400 staff across Auckland and Northland. From witnessing the completion of the Auckland Harbour Bridge in 1959 to launching New Zealand's first fully interactive property website in 2001, Barfoot & Thompson has become part of Auckland's history over nearly a century of change. The company remains owned and run by the founding Barfoot and Thompson families, continuing its tradition of innovation in real estate.

Focused, professional and dedicated

Every day, 1/3 of Auckland's home sales are through Barfoot.&. Thompson. From local amenities to shops, schools and recreation, Barfoot . & Thompson's sales specialists are committed to providing clients with comprehensive information and advice tailored to their needs, helping them find their ideal home. Barfoot.&. Thompson offers comprehensive sales and letting services covering residential, commercial, rural and farm properties, as well as specialist apartment property management and large-scale development teams.

Outstanding achievements

Speaking about the highlights of 2020 for Barfoot.&. Thompson, Managing Director Peter. Thompson told YIJU New Zealand: “The Auckland market has experienced five consecutive months of sustained growth in both prices and sales volumes. The market is now as busy as it was at the peak of the last major buying cycle (2013–2016). In November, we sold 1,551 homes at an average price of NZ$1,055,971 and a median price of NZ$974,000. Previously, only in March of 2015 had we sold 1500 homes in a single month. At the start of this year, homes priced at NZ$1,000,000 accounted for about a third of our total sales, but over the past two months they have accounted for almost half.

“We have also sold more than 100 homes priced above NZ$2,000,000 for the second consecutive month. Strong prices have encouraged more properties onto the market, giving buyers more choice. In November, we recorded 2335 new listings, our highest-ever figure. At month-end, we had 4043 properties available, the highest number in 17 months.”

An award-winning record

Barfoot & Thompson has always set its sights on being the best real estate agency. Its commitment to outstanding client service and helping clients achieve their dreams has earned it numerous industry awards coveted by its peers. In the recently announced 2020 REINZ Awards for Excellence, presented by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), Barfoot & Thompson was once again named “Large Agency of the Year 2020”, marking the 9th time REINZ has presented the company with this award. Peter Thompson said: “Winning Large Agency of the Year for 9 consecutive years is an outstanding achievement. Only the collective efforts of our people have made this seemingly impossible feat a reality.

“As a family business with a history spanning nearly 100 years, our continued success is closely tied to our company values and our commitment to people, family, diversity and community.” The Pukekohe branch also won the residential sales award for “Large Office of the Year 2020 — Sales Volume (Large. O f fic e. of. th e. Year.-. Volume)”, while the Stonefields branch won the residential property management award for “Small Office of the Year”.