Up for the Challenge

It has been 15 years since Todd Murray first donned a Harcourts tie and began marketing properties across West Auckland. For the born and raised ‘Westie’, bricklayer and rugby enthusiast, the real estate environment was vastly different back in 2009. For a start, it was possible to secure a real estate licence in just one week, which is exactly what Todd achieved. 

Despite not realising it was a fully 100% commission position until the end of his first month, Todd nevertheless managed to enjoy quick success in the business. He went on to achieve excellent sales for several years before the opportunity to buy the newly defined Harcourts Northwest Realty franchise arose in 2017, when he was aged 36.

“I was looking beyond sales for something that would provide more tangible value,” he recalls.

Admitting to perhaps being ‘a little naive’ in the early days, without much business acumen, Todd now looks back proudly. 

“It was a tough market, but probably the best time to start,” he reflects, “as opposed to launching in buoyant times when you don’t really know how hard things may get.” 

He says it took him three years to transition fully out of sales and into full-time management of his franchise team, which now includes a property management division too. Todd had been the top performing salesperson as well as the business owner, but his business partner Diego Traglia was happy to take up the baton on sales, making Todd’s shift to day-to-day management of the overall business much quicker and easier. He says that having his wife Taryn as a full-time salesperson has helped keep him grounded on that aspect of the business as well.

Support when needed

“Leadership from Harcourts has been totally supportive,” says Todd. 

“The experience that the Harcourts corporate team provides has been a major part of our success. I know I like to row my own boat a lot of the time, but it’s so important to understand that the support is always there when needed.

“Harcourts offer us so much, which is a standout for every Harcourts franchisee. We are able to pick and choose what resources and training we require,” he explains. 

“The flexibility and depth of resources they provide is amazing. It’s simply a case of me and our operations manager working out what our needs are and when we need those resources.”

Having such a strong presence for the familiar Harcourts brand in the local market is highly advantageous, he says. It also helps that his region has one of the fastest growing property markets in the country.

Have you got what it takes?

Asked to describe his approach to the franchise, Todd is quick to state he’s not an overly analytical person and never resorts to micro-management. 

“You’ve got to be honest with yourself about what skills you do possess, and which ones you don’t,” he explains. “It can be a tough market, and the ability to adapt to any new challenges in the market is also very important.”

Success as a franchisor is all about investing in good people and being totally adaptable to any market fluctuations, Todd says. “A passion for supporting your local community is vital too.” Harcourts Northwest Realty assists several charities and is a long-term sponsor of Massey Rugby – a club Todd has been associated with for many years. Through ‘Gumboot Fridays’ and various events they’ve helped raise thousands of dollars.

Rewarding and satisfying

Reflecting on the past seven years as a Harcourts franchise owner, Todd says making the switch from sales consultant to business owner was a major step, but one that has exceeded his expectations. Considering the economic storms since, they avoided making any staff redundant, which he says demonstrates the resilience of the Harcourts business model.

Todd’s advice to any potential franchisees is to first consider their ‘why’. “Because enthusiasm will only take you a certain distance,” he says. “Consider the structure of the business and the size of the operation you want to create. Have you got the right staff in the right places, and the right amount of infrastructure to process the volume of work generated? 

“The admin, management and financial teams must also be heavily mentally invested.”  

Perfect timing

Are you a seasoned real estate sales professional keen to invest in your own business? Perhaps you are a successful entrepreneur with a reasonable amount of equity? If you’re 100% focused on securing a solid future in this industry, a Harcourts franchise could be what you’re looking for. There are numerous business opportunities available, including existing franchises and new greenfields locations. 

Investment starts from $200,000.

“We have a full support structure to wrap around newcomers,” says Harcourts Network Development Manager Aaron Davis. “Harcourts has all the know-how to help you succeed. The career path is there waiting, and the point of entry is easier than you might think.”  

See this advertorial on page 31 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 33 Issue 3

Contact details for Harcourts

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