Real estate runs in the blood of the Lochore family who have opened Ray White Lochore’s Birkenhead this week.
Paul Lochore has worked in the real estate industry for 58 years, following in his parents’ footsteps who opened their Wellington real estate business in 1950.
Paul took over the family business in 1968 and moved it from Wellington to the North Shore in 1977 and has been running a successful business with the help of his family ever since.
Now semi-retired, Mr Lochore’s son Michael Lochore, daughter Barbara Lochore-Gemmell, and son in-law Chris Gemmell all have a hand in running the business.
Michael has worked in the family business for 27 years and is an associate of the Real Estate Institute of NZ.
Manager of the property management division, Michael has extensive experience in the area and is fully up to date with new legislations and compliance.
Chris runs the sales team and has worked for Lochore’s for the last 22 years.
Also an associate of REINZ and an award winning agent, he has had a 30 year career in property initially starting as a registered property valuer and working in property portfolio management before making the change to real estate 22 years ago.
Barbara, general manager at Ray White Lochore’s Birkenhead, said after operating in the Birkenhead real estate industry for 44 years, the team had extensive local knowledge of the area and residential real estate values.
“We have an unrivalled depth of knowledge and experience that we can offer clients on their property journey,” she said.
“All our sales team have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the industry as do the property managers, forming a sound knowledge base for our cadets and PAs.
“Our family business has been a dominant player being involved in most of the townhouse and apartment developments in the area for the last 20-30 years .
“We specialise in investments, property management, residential sales, and project marketing.”
Being a family business, Barbara said joining Ray White was an obvious decision.
“Alignment of family based values formed the basis of good synergy,” she said.
“We liked their relationship based approach that displayed respect between members and corporate with an open forum for sharing of information and articulating exciting future plans for the brand.
“Marketing, systems and support were a big motivator in our choice including the business mentoring and training for ourselves, salespeople, property managers and administrators.
“We have missed being part of a collaborative environment and are looking forward to being actively involved in the substantial Ray White family.”
Over the next 12 months, Barbara said the business hoped to refresh its brand and build on the strength and reach of Ray White to assist in recruiting more salespeople to add to the existing team.
Ray White New Zealand Chief Agency Officer Treena Drinnan said she was extremely proud to welcome the Lochore’s and their team to the Ray White family.
“A family-owned and managed business with a proven track record on the North Shore, they fit the Ray White family culture perfectly,” Ms Drinnan said.
“They are well known and respected with a long standing history of serving their local communities’ real estate needs.
“We can expect this to continue to the highest standard with the same family values and friendly faces with the backing and support of the Ray White brand.
“Coupled together, this makes for a formidable team and we are excited to see the business’ success continue and their presence thrive in the local Birkenhead community and surrounding areas with Ray White.
“As Ray White’s presence on the North Shore continues with momentum, Ray White Lochore’s Birkenhead is a valued addition to the family.”