2021 Property and Construction Industry Honours: Real Estate Agent of the Year

2021 Property and Construction Industry Honours

Real Estate Agent of the Year

 

Honouree: Sarah Liu

Reason for recognition: A senior luxury property sales consultant whose commission-generating transactions exceeded NZ$250,000,000 in 2021

 

Sarah Liu is a senior luxury property sales consultant at Bayleys. With more than 20 years of experience in finance and business, a diligent approach and an unwavering focus on her clients’ interests, Sarah has become a core member of the Bayleys Remuera team and the Bayleys agent with the highest total transaction value.

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Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in international finance, a master’s degree in economics and a postgraduate diploma in business administration. Combined with her experience as a banking manager and her deep understanding of New Zealand’s local market, these qualifications give her direct insight into the financial and other challenges facing homebuyers and investors, enabling her to offer clients the most informed purchasing advice.

 

A regular on the luxury property sales leaderboard

 

You may not know Sarah, but you will almost certainly recognise the luxury homes she has sold.

 

The home Hollywood action star Jason Statham rented while filming The Meg in New Zealand was successfully sold by Sarah in 2020. Located on Rawene Avenue in Westmere, this luxury residence is one of New Zealand’s most remarkable homes. It has welcomed other distinguished visitors, including Prince Albert of Monaco, and has served as a venue for celebrity events. Ultimately, through Sarah’s efforts, the property sold for NZ$17,680,000 to an Asian artist with distinctive tastes.

 

Among the top 10 luxury homes sold in 2021, Sarah sold both the third-ranked property, for NZ$15,600,000, and the seventh-ranked property, for NZ$11,028,000. Both homes are in Remuera, one of Auckland’s traditionally affluent suburbs and the community Sarah focuses on serving. For many of her clients, her in-depth knowledge of the neighbourhood is an invaluable asset. A staunch supporter of her community, Sarah continues to volunteer and contribute to a range of charitable causes despite her busy schedule, giving back to and strengthening the community.

 

Having served so many high-net-worth clients and achieved so much over the years, Sarah sums up the secret of her success in a principle that sounds simple but is difficult to uphold consistently: be professional and attentive, and put clients first in everything.

 

Staying true to her purpose, with consistently high service standards

 

20 years ago, Sarah Liu left her managerial position at a major Chinese bank and moved to New Zealand as an investor migrant.

 

Because she “enjoys viewing luxury homes” and “friends often make introductions for her”, luxury property advertisements have been an almost constant presence in her social media feed.

 

It is widely recognised that the luxury property sales market has barriers to entry, and that transactions are particularly difficult and complex. Even with her extensive network of investor migrants, Sarah still had to overcome numerous challenges before she could see a clear path forward:

 

The first is the high price of luxury homes. Sarah knows that although luxury homebuyers have substantial financial resources, they are reluctant to tie up large amounts of cash in property. They have a keen eye for the market, and price negotiations take considerable time. Bargaining between buyers and sellers typically involves several rounds, requiring luxury property consultants to have resilience and exceptional negotiating skills to address the issues effectively and secure a deal.

 

The size of these transactions also affects how difficult and time-consuming it is to obtain a loan. Sarah notes that banks scrutinise such loans more rigorously and proceed very cautiously because they do not want to take on excessive risk. Insurers are also more cautious when providing cover for luxury homes they have never insured before. Sarah has therefore undertaken numerous relevant courses and training programmes to further strengthen her expertise and provide clients with comprehensive, high-quality service.

 

Indeed, every complication in a luxury property transaction tests an agent’s service capabilities and judgement. Sarah believes in “providing thorough service, paying attention to detail and working efficiently, while striving for the best possible outcome for clients”. Providing professional, attentive service has always been the goal she works towards.