Latest real estate news, views & reports

We have been enjoying some fantastic weather the past two weeks now the wind has dropped off and that is evidenced by the numbers I see frolicking in the water near my home. Kids are enjoying the last days of their summer holidays before they head back to school and I suspect most parents will be willing that time to pass quickly!

We have seen a nice lift in the market with good levels of attendance at open homes and a high level of interest in the first home and investors’ market.

Our auction rooms have fired into action again and it’s great to see properties receiving multiple offers on them and a good number of buyers registering for auctions. So, we are off to a steady start here at EVES.

If we can assist you with anything property - be it wanting to sell, to buy, to rent or to have your investment property managed, please call into any one of our 10 offices throughout the region.

Predicting what the real estate market is going to do this year is always crystal ball stuff but there are definitely a number of factors that contribute to the state of the market. 

Reports out of the Auckland market show property prices on the increase again and strengthening. Tauranga generally follows that trend and I see no reason at the moment why that won’t continue to be the case. 

There is plenty of visitor interest coming into the region and strong sales activity over the holiday period shows that people are still craving the Bay of Plenty lifestyle. 

Combine that with the continued strength with exciting projects happening within our region and it is easy to get excited about the year ahead.

It is certainly full steam ahead at EVES so to keep up to date with what is happening, check out eves.co.nz, our Facebook page, through Instagram or even better - talk to any one of the EVES team.

It was interesting to read the article in the New Zealand Herald on who actually owns residential property in New Zealand. Around 1/3 of all residential property is owned by owner occupiers - people who live in the property they have purchased. Another 13% is owned by people who have two homes – so this would include those who have a holiday home or one investment property. A further 6% are owned by people who have three properties, therefore you can make the assumption that some people in this group are planning for their retirement by investing in property.

There are great opportunities for increasing your wealth through property. Two popular ways of doing this are:

1.  Improve the value of your current property. Upgrade, add an extra bedroom or living, modify and invest in your own property for greater value.

2.  Use the equity in the property you own to purchase a second property as an investment reducing the mortgage over a few years, allow for capital gain with the view of then using the equity to purchase more properties and increase wealth.

If you would like to discuss these options, please feel free to call any one of our experienced salespeople. They deal in property, they work with people who can assist you and they can get you on your way to greater wealth through property ownership.

The start of a new decade, the hopes and aspirations for a wonderful year ahead and plenty of New Year resolutions have been set…and hopefully haven’t been broken just yet!

We all look back on 2019 and feel the pain for the people of Christchurch and those affected by the events of White Island, their families and friends and pray that this year will be a better one for them, for the country and for all of us. We move forward though, not forgetting but full of optimism for a better year, a better decade and we hold onto hope for our beautiful country.

The signs are strong for another great year in real estate – low interest rates, low unemployment, increased numbers into the region, short supply of property and strong buyers. I am pretty sure that there will have been many New Year’s resolutions made around real estate so if that is the case and we can assist you through the selling or buying process then we would be delighted to assist. We wish you a great year ahead and look forward to working with you this year. 

If you are a visitor to the Bay of Plenty then a very warm welcome to our patch of paradise and may your stay be a happy one. Enjoy all the area has to offer and stay safe!

It has been another strong year in real estate and I am fortunate to work with a group of professionals who are committed to make the selling and buying process a good one for those they deal with. Property values have increased in our regions, sales numbers remain strong and the economy is looking good going forward. 

I want to take this time to acknowledge all those people who have chosen to do business with us this year! Your loyalty and support are much appreciated as are the referrals we have had from many sources. Thank you to you all.

Christmas means different things for different people and on behalf of all of us at EVES, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2020. Remember to look after those nearest and dearest to you and take the time to think of those less fortunate or who may no longer be with you.

It is always a proud moment for us when presenting a cheque to Liam Brett-Kelly and the TECT Rescue Helicopter team. The fantastic work Liam and his team does is quite overwhelming.  

The rescue helicopter can literally be airborne in 10 minutes, with a crew of three on board including a trauma trained medic.  The situations these people attend are often in isolated areas or a distance from the nearest hospital. Time is absolutely of the essence to get the patient Into care to increase the chances of survival and recovery. The sooner treatment begins, the higher the chance of survival.

The White Island eruption this week was a prime example where these guys end up, assisting those people badly burnt, seriously injured and often unable to help themselves.

Our EVES team members, from management through to admin and salespeople respect the work this committed group of people do and contribute to this worthy cause. The company matches whatever is contributed dollar for dollar. It is a long standing commitment we have made to assist our community, to bring people home safely and it is probably typical of how we feel as a company to giving back and paying things forward.

Have a fantastic weekend and please, stay safe.

So many things have happened in the New Zealand property market over 2019 – plans for capital gains tax were scrapped, tax breaks cancelled for investors, cuts to the OCR and legislation passed to create healthier homes.

In the Tauranga area, the median value of homes is up 4.7% on last year to $670,000 but growth has been slower in the last quarter with values up just 0.7%. 

Sales volumes in Tauranga are down compared to the same period last year, but the good news is that investors are returning to the market after being virtually shut out for the last two years. 

Investors with a small portfolio of two or three properties took out 16.23% of new mortgages in the last quarter -  up 0.68% from the same time last year. Its great to see that first home buyers continue to be the most common buyer, accounting for 24.53% of new mortgages over the last quarter. 

Tauranga’s top performing suburbs are Gate Pa, Maungatapu, Parkvale, Poike, Tauriko and Welcome Bay - all up between 6% and 8% over the last 12 months. With the exception of Tauriko, the appeal of these suburbs lies in their relatively affordable price points - all have median values below $650,000 (Tauriko’s median value is $1.33 million), attracting both first home buyers and investors.

I’m pleased to report that our company continues to dominate the Tauranga market which should give anybody who is thinking of selling confidence that when they list with us, they will achieve exceptional results.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

Source: One Roof Property Report, December 2019

When I review the constant flow of data that comes across my desk I’m heartened by the continued growth and confidence in the Bay of Plenty. 

The Bay continues to perform well against other centres and that vibrancy can be seen in new subdivisions, the number of building consents, retail and commercial developments and the job market. And if you need any more proof that our area is growing then simply try to drive anywhere at peak times. 

What does that mean for you? It means that you too can take heart and have confidence if you are thinking of buying or selling right now.

The next decision you may face is, “Who can I trust to look after me?” Rest assured that our people are trained and tuned to the current market conditions and what’s working best for our clients and customers. They will guide you through the processes relevant to your situation so that you can achieve what’s important to you.

So when you want to know for sure that you are in good hands, call any one of our EVES salespeople and let them show you how they will take care of you.

There has been great activity in the real estate world in the past few months and it is interesting to see the first home buyers and investors re-entering the market.  We attribute this to a number of things:

1. Interest rates are as low as I ever recall and that excites people, particularly investors who are receiving a higher yield than they are in interest from banks

2. There is a good supply of property for sale in both markets – first home and investors

3. Investors have seen their wealth grow through increasing values of property giving them more equity to borrow against for further investment.

The OCR is rumoured to change (at time of writing this there has been no announcement) which will further fuel buyers into action.  The only area of concern is with the banks.  They are taking a much more cautious approach as far as security on lending goes and rightly so if history is anything to go by.

All in all, a busy time for everyone leading into Christmas.

There are just seven weeks to go until Christmas, in case you need reminding! 

If you are thinking of making a move, there is still time to sell your current property and be in your new home before Christmas. 

There are plenty of opportunities to buy larger homes, homes with pools, smaller homes – whatever it is that you need - in this week’s EVES Property.  

And the market is still strong. We have buyers desperate to be in their new home by Christmas. 

Sell while the sun is shining, your gardens are looking fantastic and buy while interest rates are low and there is good stock available to choose from. 

Then all you need to do is get on and enjoy Christmas and the summer in your new home with family and friends. 

As market leaders, EVES are always ensuring we do things better for our clients – and recently we launched brand new Facebook Property Campaigns, one of the most effective digital tools available for marketing properties. 

Through our new listing-integrated platform, and powered by our innovation partner Listing Logic, these campaigns will ensure maximum exposure of properties - to the right audiences. Combining unique machine learning intelligence and Facebook’s targeting to ensure our Vendors properties are put in front of more qualified and engaged buyers, all in a highly cost-effective model, and with real time reporting!

When compared to standard Facebook advertising, EVES integrated campaigns produce far superior results. Early testing shows our incredible click through rates will ensure more traffic is being driven to your property listing and our low cost per click/action ensure the most effective use of your investment.

EVES also have a number of other exceptional digital tools to promote properties, including Google Display Network advertising, bespoke property websites, premium promotion across property listing websites, video and pre-roll advertising options. All designed to promote your property to more buyers.

So if you are looking to sell and want the best digital tools included in your property marketing, talk to EVES today.

The haul from Queen’s birthday through to Christmas feels so long, particularly given we go through the winter period but thank goodness, right in the middle of those six months comes Labour Weekend. 

At the time of writing this I have no clue as to what the weather is going to do, what the rugby results are nor do I know what activities are on this weekend. What I do know is that the break is always welcome and there is plenty to do in the Bay for all age groups. That is why we see our motels, backpackers and book-a-bach homes full and why we see more cars than normal on our roads.

What I do want to say to you though, is be more careful than ever when you are swimming, driving or just enjoying all we have to offer here. Enjoy this mini break in the lead up to Christmas and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Oh, and if you are looking for a property, it would be remiss of me not to point out the number of homes that are open for inspection this weekend with EVES.

Have a great weekend!

There is no doubt that we are in a bubble of frantic buying and selling of property right now. We are seeing good properties come to the market, we have plenty of cash buyers in the auction room looking to buy the right property and we have numerous buyers still needing to arrange finance or with houses to sell, who are keen to pop a contract on a property they have chosen.  

Last week saw 70% of the properties in the auction room sell to cash buyers and further conditional offers came after the auction on some of the remaining properties. A property we priced two weeks ago had a flurry of activity and ended up selling to an ecstatic purchaser for considerably more than the asking price because of the stiff competition wanting to own the property. And there are certainly more multiple offers on properties now in the spring than we have seen for some time.

If you want some assistance to either buy or sell your property, talk to the people who know how to market them to achieve the absolute best result! Talk to EVES today!

As we finish the last round of the pool play of the Rugby World Cup, without doubt the absolute highlight for me has been the host team Japan’s performance. Every time they get onto that field, they give their heart and soul and thus far have come out with the win! They study the competition, they strategise, formulate a game plan and implement it. Where there needs to be some changes to the plan - in other words they did not predict something the opposition has thrown at them, they amend their plan and get up and go again!  

This approach is so true in everything we do in real estate. When listing a property, we look at what competition is on the market, we think about the target audience, we tailor-make a marketing plan, we look at and allow for market conditions and implement the plan. If something unforeseen happens, or we have had a change in the market then we amend the plan and get up and go again.

Bravo Japan! We are proud that one of our own is head coach and it will be interesting to see what happens in the next round.

Enjoy the spectacle everyone.

Results speak for themselves and those who understand the EVES auction process understand the big picture and recognise that auctions are a very effective method of sale. 

Over 70% of our owners who employ this method of sale enjoy the celebrations of a successful sale within a 90 day period. Don’t be misled into thinking that all this happens under the hammer at the auction and don’t be misled or misinformed that when a property doesn’t sell at auction that the auction is a failure. 

The reality is that the calling of an auction is simply to allow cash, unconditional buyers and owners the first opportunity to work together and those wanting builders’ reports, LIM reports and valuations etc. have to wait to see if the property is still available after the auction is called. 

When a property hasn’t received a bid at auction there is often a lot of behind the scenes interest and activity that comes to a head very quickly with buyers who see it before the auction. We call these buyers conditional buyers so talk to your favourite EVES salesperson about the benefits of auctions, they are a very effective method of sale.

Buckle in, this Rugby World Cup is already something special. The first time the cup has been held in Asia and the All Blacks looking for an unprecedented three victories in a row after a strong start against our old foes, the Springboks.

The All Blacks have a very structured approach, rather than luck, to every game and they will look to analyse every oppositions’ strengths and weaknesses and come up with a plan to counter or take advantage of these.

At EVES we also have a structured approach where we like to understand our vendors individual needs and what the features or benefits of the property are. We then work together with our vendors to tailor a solution that will maximise the sale price of their property allowing them to move on to their next venture.

We leave no stone unturned to find the very best buyer for our vendors. Call your EVES salesperson today if you would like to understand more about how we take luck and hassle out of the selling of your home.

Go the AB’s.

Found that dream property you're desparate to buy but nervous about the auction coming up? 

Buyers can have a fear of auctions for a variety of reasons; some feel the process is stressful, others have a fear of paying too much and some are afraid of being tricked into paying more than they want to. 

Overcoming this fear is simple when you understand how an auction is conducted and how to go about bidding. 

Vendors will set a confidential reserve price which is a figure at which the Auctioneer is authorised to sell the property - unless this price is reached during the auction the property cannot be sold without further consultation with the vendor. 

Buying at auction can be stress-free when buyers bid with a three figure strategy which is predetermined prior to attending the auction:

• the first is a price you would like to pay for the property;
• the second is a price you would still be happy to pay; and
• the third is a walk away price. 

As long as you don’t exceed your walk away price, the fear of buying at auction is eliminated. 

EVES has a comprehensive buying at auction video outlining how to buy at auction in depth so contact your favourite EVES salesperson and they will provide this for you.

Close to everywhere, Hamilton has become a hub for business and job opportunities. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and close to rivers and lakes, the Hamilton area has become a town for everyone - offering a wide variety of family friendly activities, great schools, parks and walks, sports arenas, clubs and more. As part of the Golden Triangle represented by regional growth in Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga, many find moving to Hamilton a great option.

Our friends over at Crown Relocations have put together 5 top reasons why you should move to Hamilton - read it here https://www.crownrelo.co.nz/5-reasons-to-move-to-hamilton/

The city burst with intermediate aged kids this week when thousands arrived for the annual Anchor AIMS Games hosted in and around Tauranga. The event is estimated to have brought around $3 million into our local economy.

From small beginnings in 2004 - when there were 14 sports and only 760 competitors from 17 schools - to this year where 11,500 athletes from more than 365 schools from all around New Zealand and the Pacific competed in 23 sports. This year also marked the third time that para-athletes were included in the games with 20 disabled students attending the event.

I saw first hand the families enjoying the many facilities around the region - from the movie theatres to the hot pools, to ten pin bowling and in fact I would venture to suggest that most of the local entertainment facilities were well patronised.  

This event is absolutely amazing and the organisation and logistics are phenomenal. Congratulations to all involved and thank you for keeping this amazing sporting event in our region through your hard work and organisation.  

Many of the EVES families competed and enjoyed the experience. Long may it last.

First home buyers are back in the market in droves. Interest rates are low, confidence is high and employment rates are strong so the platform is perfect for first home ownership. 

A number of lenders are allowing qualified buyers into homes with less than 20% deposit and first home buyers are capitalising on this to get into their new abode. It is a pleasure to see. For those of us who are lucky enough to already own our own home, we all still remember our first. 

We know this journey can be daunting, there are so many things to consider when buying your first house; location, price, type of home, local schools, transport and amenities, type of street, number of bedrooms, the list goes on. Then there is securing a loan, doing due diligence and the auction process to understand. 

The dreams and hopes of owning your first home can be realised now. Seek advice from your preferred lender and then come and see us at EVES and let us assist you into your first home.

We are increasingly seeing signs of typical spring activity in the market. While July and August listing and selling activity has been solid throughout our EVES branches we are increasingly fielding requests for appraisals and responding to general buyer enquiry right across the market.

We are seeing excellent auction clearance rates in our EVES Auction room. While the pre-auction and under the hammer activity has reduced, we are picking up the sales process in the two weeks post auction; successfully selling and still achieving a success rate of over 70% when listing a property for auction with EVES. 

The median house prices for the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, Papamoa) are showing on average 5% growth year on year when compared to this time last year. This is reflective of demand still outpacing supply as people continue to view the Bay of Plenty as a viable option to either relocate to or invest in.

Contact your favourite EVES salesperson or branch today if you are thinking of selling in the near future or just want an update on what’s happening in your area and most importantly, enjoy the last few moments of winter as we look forward to some warmer weather through spring!

Everyone is talking about what the latest decrease in the OCR means to them. For banks it has meant that they have been able to offer lower lending rates, which for many purchasers means that their level of affordability just got better (subject to bank criteria). The reality is that the Bay of Plenty real estate market has been and still is very strong. Certainly, sellers need to be much more aware of the conditions because some price ranges are experiencing more buyer activity than others and most buyers require more guidance in the decision making process. But that’s what we do.

As a seller it’s important that you understand what’s happening in terms of how buyers are shopping, what they are buying, what stops them from making offers, what is the best way to attract them to your front door and how your agent can coach both parties to a mutually successful outcome. That means the match between you as the seller, the salesperson and agency you entrust your property with is even more critical. 

At EVES we invest heavily in time, energy and money in research and resources that provide our customers with a very tangible edge when they want to sell their property. We do that with 50 years of experience behind us, great systems, vast networks, employing high quality multimedia marketing mixes and great people who believe in good old fashioned listening to our customers.

Thinking of selling? Call EVES. 

Exceptional. Every day.

There is often confusion among buyers and sellers regarding the difference between market value and Rateable Value (formerly known as Government Valuation) or RV. RV is a valuation that is reviewed every three years and is derived from statistical data which then determines the value of your property that our rates are based on for the forthcoming period.

Owners and buyers basing their buying and selling decisions on the RV should exercise caution due to a variety of reasons. Firstly, market conditions and influences can fluctuate on a regular basis depending on the ever changing economic situations. RVs are often out of date before they are confirmed after objections have been reviewed. Secondly, statistical data doesn’t always reflect on the ground influences of value i.e. two properties selling in the same street may not be comparable when one may have been renovated and another not. Prudent buyers and sellers should survey the market and carefully consider recent sales in the area and make their own investigations and judgements on value.

Market value is determined by the conclusion of the negotiation process between a willing buyer and a willing seller reaching agreement on value. EVES can assist you with this information.

Being exceptional, every day, was the theme of the inaugural EVES Conference held in Tauranga last week. 200 of our salespeople, personal assistants, property managers and our management teams from three different regions got together to enjoy one of the industry’s best, Tom Panos and an extremely inspiring, entertaining and motivational Lisa O’Neill delivering their “exceptional best”. 

What an event! I looked on very proudly as our teams were engaged, inspired and excited by the delivery of great information, plenty of pearls of wisdom and lots of ‘take home’ ideas to improve and grow their businesses and their personal lives.

Over my many years in the industry I have heard any number of speakers and what never ceases to amaze, is that there is always something to be gained by attending these conferences and trainings and there are always different and better ways of doing things. Professional and personal growth never stops thankfully!  

Have a great week and remember – be your exceptional self, every day!

Plenty of trends have come and gone since we opened our doors in 1969, but our dedication to market-leading real estate hasn’t changed a bit. That’s why we’re still here. And will be for the next 50 years.

Over the years, EVES has witnessed first hand the Bay of Plenty region’s rapid expansion, seeing former rural boundaries become suburbs, and some suburbs become small townships. 

As a company, EVES has grown along with the region, from 1969 when Alwyn Coxhead and Max Eves opened the first office on Cameron Road, to today, with 12 real estate sales offices and seven property management teams serving communities not just in the Bay of Plenty but also in Northland and the Waikato.

What hasn’t changed throughout the years is the personal relationships that our EVES salespeople build with every single person they come across. It is through these relationships that EVES salespeople build trust with people and their families - we really get to know you in order to understand your needs. 

Being the longest serving real estate business in the Bay makes EVES exceptionally best placed to help you buy and sell property. Being in the market for such a long time gives us an advantage as our salespeople really know this region like no other, meaning they can really seek out the best solutions for you.

We are constantly assessing where our buyers are coming from and it is no surprise to see that 30% of our enquiry is still coming from the Auckland market. Our research shows there is a significant amount of interest in what is happening to property in the Bay of Plenty, with many people from out of town looking at relocating. So again, no surprise, we make sure properties listed with our company get in front of that market.

This year, once again, we are going to be at the Auckland Home Show with our special EVES Property publication and we would suggest that if you are thinking of selling, you should speak to one of our salespeople about showcasing your property in this excellent publication.  

Over 45,000 people visit the home show and we have experienced how popular the Bay of Plenty is to many Aucklanders, as they collect this magazine and ask questions about employment and lifestyle.

Our very experienced managers will be there to support the properties in the magazine and further promote our region as a great place to live, work and play.

If you’ve heard the old cliché of ‘if you snooze you lose’ - it’s a time of the year when this can become reality if you are thinking of selling. Whilst many are thinking let’s wait until spring when things get a bit brighter, buyers are still active in the market place which has clearly been witnessed in our auction room over recent weeks. 

The reasons that we buy and sell real estate are not governed by the time of the year, they are governed by our changing personal needs and circumstances along with all the things that happen in life. Your buyer may just be in search of your home as you read this article. 

More importantly, the best way to force those buyers to act is by utilising the auction method of sale where the benefits are stacked in favour of both buyers and sellers. In the current market buyers have limited choices but still need somewhere to live which enhances the opportunity of creating a competitive bidding environment on auction day. Waiting until spring provides buyers more options therefore creating more competition for you as the property owner.

Over the last year in particular, there have been many changes to the regulations imposed on rental properties that have become law. These regulations include working smoke alarms or detectors, with new ones required to have long life batteries or be hard wired into the home, along with rules around where they are placed. From 1 July, landlords must also have insulated their rental homes in the ceiling and under the floor and be prepared to provide a certificate of insulation.

Our Property Managers have worked hard to keep our landlords informed of all regulations, giving plenty of warning to ensure obligations are met. And there are more to come with Healthy Homes commitments due to take effect in 2021.

If you own an investment property make sure you talk to our Property Management team about managing the property to help protect you and your investment.  And if you are thinking of buying an investment property, talk to our salespeople to ensure it complies with current regulations.

Stay warm and dry out there!

The days are certainly getting colder and we know that these will continue for some time yet, however, it does not seem to have deterred active buyers in the market place still out looking at and purchasing property. The market is still strong!  

Winter is a great time to buy. It can reveal many things about homes that buyers typically would not see due to the forgiving spring and summer months. Cold weather, moisture and wind will test the ability of the home to insulate and for warmth, something you want to know about if you are going to buy and something you need to remember if you are selling. Visiting a home during a rainy period can uncover issues around drainage on sections as well. Winter also tests the amount of natural light a property is receiving.

Remember, if you are selling, a warm home is exceptionally appealing on a cold winter’s day and buyers will feel instantly comfortable out of the cold. Make your home light and bright and welcoming.

Speak to any of our salespeople about how you can get your property sold and in to a new home before summer comes.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

When most open homes are only 30 minutes long, you need to know what to do in order to make sure that you make the most of your visit. 

Leading up to the open home:

• Browse the EVES website and make a list of all of the open homes in the area you would like to visit. 

• Ask around. People are always happy to let you know about their experiences and what they’ve learned from buying homes in the past.

• Check out the open home checklist at Settled.govt.nz for anything else that you might not have thought of.

On the way to the property:

• Take in the sights of the neighbourhood. What are the other homes in the street like? Are there schools and shops nearby that could make life easier?

• Check out the driveway. Are you happy to have a shared driveway?

When you’re at the property:

Aside from the number of rooms and the size of the backyard that first grabbed your attention, there are other things that you need to check out.

• Make sure you ask the salesperson questions about the home such as whether there is double glazing, or if the house is insulated. When it’s potentially the biggest purchase of your life, no question is a bad one.

• Check for the obvious signs that there could be something wrong – mold, peeling paint, stained carpet, and ceilings.

• How much storage is there? Some houses have minimal in-built cupboards

• Look for light switches and powerpoints. Are there enough?

• Imagine how your furniture will look and how it may fit into the rooms.

• Use your senses. Can you hear any sounds? Is it overly warm or cold? Are there any smells? 

On your way out:

What’s your gut feeling about the home? Do you need to see it again or have you struck it off your list?

If you’ve fallen head over heels then you should book a private viewing with the agent, then it might be time to start some serious due diligence and call a professional to inspect it properly.

Browse our open homes:

Check out our open homes in the Bay of Plenty this weekend: HERE

Not what it normally does at this time of the year that’s for sure!  

There are more properties for sale right now than we have seen for some time – in fact I believe stock is up by around 8% compared to the same time last year. Furthermore, there are buyers out there looking to buy now and the open homes are busy. This goes against previous years where we have seen a ‘hibernation’ mentality take place – sellers decide winter is not the time to move, buyers snuggle down and start their hunt in the spring. It is a really pleasant change and great to see property moving.

Our auction results are out for the last financial year as well. Of the 873 properties we took to auction in the Tauranga/Mount/Papamoa area, 8 out of 10 sold within the auction marketing period! That is 8 owners out of every 10 who came to the market, moved on with their lives. That is a great result and it reinforces why this method of marketing is so popular when run properly and when the salespeople are skilled enough to get the best results for their sellers.

Have a great week, stay warm on the shortest day and remember when buying or selling, call EVES first!

We are in a really interesting period of time in real estate with regard to print versus digital media, with people challenging “where do people actually search for property?” At EVES, we are able to measure where our enquiry comes from through unique codes in our marketing – enabling us to continually use the most targeted and effective methods for selling our clients property.

Print media still has a strong presence in our marketing plans and that is deliberate. Although we understand that one of the first places potential buyers go when looking for a home is online, we still see many target markets that still favour print, and we know that when you combine both print and digital marketing in a cohesive campaign, it boosts the effectiveness of both!

You just have to look around in cafés to see the number of people browsing through a copy of our very own EVES Property Magazine –  It has to be one of the most read publications in a café! By combining our effective print, digital and social channels all in one campaign, we ensure you reach any and all possible buyers for your property. 

If you want marketing that works, speak to us at EVES today about how we can provide a solution for you.

The annual Australasian Real Estate Conference (AREC) was held last weekend on the Gold Coast. It’s always a great way for me to measure how we stack up as a company against other top performers in the industry and I’d have to say we are exceptional at real estate! 

It was fantastic to witness some of the best salespeople the industry speak and what insights they have to offer. There were also entrepreneurs from other industries who had strong messages that relate to everything we do.

As a company we invest in our people, in technology and marketing and we continue to make advances in the way we do things, whilst at all times keeping in mind our objective which is to list properties, market them well to achieve the best possible price in the market place at that time. I am immensely proud of our team and their commitment to do just that!

We may have lost our beautiful sunny days and this weekend we are officially into winter, but it is great to see the real estate market is still strong.  

I attribute this to a number of factors - low interest rates (remember 1982 and interest rates of 26%?) and plenty of confidence in the economy, particularly in employment certainly play a major role in adding to the strength of the real estate market. 

We are seeing plenty of new stock in and good sales occurring. We have 18% of the sales going to first home buyers, up from 12% and we are seeing good action through the auction process.

We still offer fantastic free marketing campaigns and we have a group of dedicated professionals who are able to guide you through the buying and selling process.

Stay warm and remember if you are needing anything real estate pop in or call one of our nine EVES offices throughout the Bay of Plenty.

Did you know, that all agents, regardless of real estate company, all have access to the same information sources?

So don’t be fooled if a non-EVES sales agent tells you you’ll get more if you list your home with them.

The 5 factors you must ignore when determining a price:

1. Historic price of this home

• What you paid for it 20 years ago, 10 years ago, 6 months ago, last week has no bearing on your market value today

2. What you have spent on your next home

• Will not determine what the value of your current home is - the market does that

3. Your emotional connection to this house

• The memories you’ve formed here, the emotional connections you have to your home, your personal favourite aspects are important and valuable to you. 
• This is called emotional value - not market value

4. The rateable value

• Is simply a mechanism for local councils to calculate your contribution to the running costs of your suburb and city
• Rateable value is not market value

5. Recovering costs of repairs and maintenance

• You’ve done some renovations, you’ve kept up with the maintenance, great! 
• These actual costs may not add value unless you are adding on bedrooms or upgrading bathrooms and kitchens. 

The ONLY 3 factors that will set the price for your home are:

1. What are the recent sale prices for similar homes in this suburb and neighbouring suburbs?
2. What is your home competing against in the market at this point in time?
3. What is the current supply and demand for homes with the same number of bedrooms as yours?

Interested in a valuation for your home? Reach out to your favourite EVES agent or your nearest EVES office.

Statistics from Realestate.co.nz and REINZ last month just reinforce that it is a great time to sell.  

Sales were up from the previous month on the Mount side and slightly down on the Tauranga side. The number of days to sell a property are also trending down. This fits in with the fact that the number of properties for sale is lower this month than in April.

People get this ‘thing’ about not selling in autumn and winter and yet some of our very best results are during that time.  

The auction room continues to fly along after slowing a little during April. Last week saw an incredibly good sale where the vendor originally marketed her property privately, had no interest and so listed with EVES. She ended up selling for over $100k more in the auction room than she had been advertising her home privately for. 

Once again this just proves that good marketing and a process that maximises opportunities equals great results!  

Give us a call to discuss any and all of your property needs.

Last week we held our annual awards evening celebrating the achievements of our salespeople, managers, administrators and all of those people behind the scenes who assist our people to be their best. It was a fantastic night of glitz and glamour and a real celebration of the hard work and commitment of this group of professionals.  

Overall salesperson of the year for the 6th year in a row was Danielle Hayes, EVES Mount. The EVES Mount team won top office for 2018/2019. This is always fiercely contested between a number of our branches. Rookie of the Year, for her first full year in real estate, was Dynasty Holtz from EVES Katikati. There were plenty more winners to celebrate.

There were new milestones made during the year for many salespeople and they too were well recognised. All in all a great night of celebration and a great opportunity to once again thank all of you for your ongoing support of our business.

Some advisers are saying first home buyers shouldn’t consider a property going to auction however this means you could potentially miss out on purchasing the home of your dreams.  

Whilst it is understandable that completing your due diligence requirements can be an expensive process, there is actually no need to outlay this expenditure prior to the auction being called if you don’t have a surplus of funds to do so. You only have to do this if you wish to participate and secure the property at auction. 

Remembering that the calling of an auction is only to give cash unconditional buyers the first opportunity to work with the owner and secure the property. 

As we see first home buyer activity increasing in the current market we are also seeing less investor activity which means there is increased possibility of your preferred home still being available after the auction is called.  

There is clearly an increased number of first home buyers presenting offers conditional upon satisfaction of their due diligence in the auction room immediately after auction and achieving their goals.

Talk to your EVES Salesperson and view our video on first home buyers and auctions.

It is interesting to note that the number of properties coming to the market this month have increased in comparison to the normal trend during the autumn months. 

As a rule of thumb, people withhold coming to the market during autumn because their home is not as picturesque as it is in the spring and summer and because the weather is cooling down. 

But not this month. Numbers are significantly up giving buyers a great selection of homes to choose from.  

I myself have come to the market and I find the experience from “the other side” really interesting and have a new appreciation for what a seller goes through to get their home market ready. 

I appreciate the high level of service my salesperson is giving me and take comfort knowing that our EVES people know what is important to our sellers in terms of market feedback and consideration during what is a reasonably stressful process.  

Enjoy the selection of great properties we have on offer and have a fantastic week.

1. You may not know the current market

• We’ve seen clients underselling their own property in a buoyant market
• You may risk not selling your property if you haven’t priced it for the current conditions
• The longer it takes to sell, the more pressure you will feel to reduce your asking price

2. You don’t know where to spend your marketing budget

• Every dollar you spend on marketing hurts, so your budget may be smaller than what you need to get exposure to potential buyers
• Good marketing packages (like the one we provide for FREE here at EVES) increases the number of potential buyers exposed to your property, which drives up demand, which drives up your price

3. You won’t have a pool of buyers

• Your marketing budget is all you have to attract buyers
• Whereas, agents in large companies like EVES have huge numbers of potential buyers in your category, browsing one home after another to find one that suits

4. Buyers may withhold their feedback (both negative and positive)

• Buyers are happy to point out shortcomings or poor presentation to a salesperson, but not to you, because they don’t want to hurt your feelings
• Therefore you don’t get that chance to take corrective action which might increase your sell price

5. Your emotional involvement may inhibit the negotiation

• You are scared of losing a buyer so this reduces your negotiation power and may cause you to settle for a lower price
• It feels like the buyer trying to knock off $1000 is a personal insult to the memories you’ve formed in this home, and the choices you’ve made to decorate and maintain its appearance

6. The buyer thinks the commission you’ve saved is all theirs!

• You can’t add the commission onto the value. The value is the value. The buyer thinks that fee should be deducted off the price anyway

So why not leave the selling of your home to your EVES sales professional?

1. We know the current market
2. We know where to spend the marketing budget
3. We have a pool of buyers
4. We use buyer feedback to increase the value of your property
5. We are negotiation professionals
6. Our commission is our reward for a job well done

If you are thinking of selling your home, reach out to your favourite EVES agent or your nearest EVES office.

A long and pleasant summer has been and gone and another financial year is complete.

The Whangarei real estate market has experienced a number of record months particularly with the median sale price on a gradual climb over the past year. The city median peaked at $482,000 in February 2019, up from $405,000 in February 2018.

First home buyers are a big part of our market. Most are looking in the $350,000 to $400,000 bracket to meet the Kiwisaver/Homestart threshold but many have resources to buy in the higher price brackets.

The Anti Money Laundering (AML) legislation is creating some extra paperwork and we have put systems in place to ensure our clients have met their obligations under the Act without any undue stress. It takes a bit of time but will become a normal part of the sales process. We have all this information available and our sales people are happy to take you through the process. So call the EVES team today.

Whangarei has enjoyed a wonderful summer and projects like the Hundertwasser Art Centre are well underway, creating a vibrant inner city and an attraction that will bring more visitors to experience the local environment. And there are dozens of world class beaches and holiday destinations within the district This is a great area to live - the real estate is affordable, and there is plenty going on to attract new people to the area.

Easter is looking like it will be a fantastic weekend weather wise in the sunny Bay of Plenty. Thousands will flock here for the weekend and of course with ANZAC Day thrown in on Thursday, chances are people will be here for the week.  

It is always an exciting place to be over Easter and into the School Holidays. The annual Jazz Festival is on over the weekend so make sure you get down to The Strand and to the Historic Village on 17th Avenue. 

There are also tons of activities on around the area for kids including canvas painting classes, swimming and surfing for those prepared to brave the slightly cooler waters.  

And of course there are people who are thinking of moving to this wonderful piece of terra firma and they will be out and about looking for their perfect home.  

Whatever Easter means to you, have a fabulous weekend, enjoy friends and family and reflect on our very good fortune living in this beautiful country.

You already know that photos make a huge contribution to the price you’ll get for your home, right?

In over 40 years selling homes here at EVES, we ensure our photographers know not to make these 5 common mistakes:

Mistake #1: Ignoring the ideal buyer for the home before we start taking photos

• Is it a young couple? An older couple? A small family? A large family?
• Making a selection has a huge impact on the photos taken

Mistake #2: Not featuring your ideal buyer in 1 or 2 photos

• For example, if your home is best suited to a retired couple, we could assist you to arrange for people who match that description to pose in photos at sunset clinking 2 glasses of wine together.  
• For another example, if your home best suits a family, feature kids in the pool or playing in the yard. People in photos always attract more attention

Mistake #3: Not staging the home for the target market

• Houses with furnishings that don’t match the target market are less attractive to the target audience
• We can sell your home quicker and for more money by making suggestions on the furniture and placement of that furniture with your target market
• Did you know we can arrange the short term hire of the right furnishings from home furnishing specialists for the photo shoot (and open homes)?

Mistake #4: Taking photos of empty rooms

• Photos of empty rooms make the house feel much smaller. They lack ambiance and warmth
• Potential buyers will be wondering “will my bed and dresser fit in here?”, “will our couch fit over there?”
• If we can show them example layouts in the photos, these questions don’t occur to them

Mistake #5: Featuring your pets in the photos

• One third of people have their own cat, but two-thirds don’t care for them
• One third have their own dog, but two-thirds do not
• We don’t want any potential buyers turned away by any concern about animals having resided in the property along with their human owners

Example of the difference great photos can make

“Recently, we listed a home that had had a fire. It had been rebuilt and refurbished and was therefore like new.  It was empty of furniture. We had it appraised and decided to spend $1600 on hiring furniture via House Couture for the photos. The photos made such an impact that we think it added over $50k on to the sale price because of the feel of the home and the interest it created, simply because the buyers could visualise themselves in the property” - Karen Worley, EVES Realty

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This is yet another example of EVES people maximising the value of your home by paying real attention to detail that appeals to the market.

If you are thinking of selling your home, reach out to your favourite EVES agent or your nearest EVES office>.

Last week we saw 45 stores and eateries, including the likes of retail giant H&M and an Event Cinema complex, have their grand opening at Tauranga Crossing. The anticipation from local shoppers had been high in the lead up to the big day for this $150 million development.

Prior to this in December last year, Stage One of the new Bayfair development opened with the final stage to be opened later in 2019. Once completed, this will have cost around $115 million.

These new developments wouldn’t be possible or profitable if we didn’t have the fifth largest and fastest growing local economy in the country. 

It’s fantastic to see that developers and investors can see value like us locals do, and are continuing to look to Tauranga as a great place to invest. This increases the number of jobs and puts money back in to our local economy.

It’s great that there is the foresight to complete these projects now so that we are set up for years to come.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the potential introduction of capital gains tax across KiwiSaver, property investment and so forth and then yesterday I arrived home to my tax bill in the mail. 

My husband waved it at me and grunted and my reply was, “well, you’ve got to earn it to pay it!” And then I reflected on property investment and the fact people are saying that if capital gains tax is introduced then property investment is no longer attractive.

The counter to that is “well, you’ve got to earn the profit to pay the tax.” 

I think back to what I paid for my first home in 1986 - $26,500, what the value of that same property is now and I realise that property is actually one of the best and safest investments available. 

Before you think about increasing your KiwiSaver as has been allowed this week, think about leveraging off your existing property to buy an investment. I assure you, you won’t regret it.

At EVES, we are proud of our sponsorship of many sporting individuals and teams and in supporting them their success becomes our success. 

This is most definitely the case when EVES Greerton Cricket team represents Northern Districts at the National Club Champs in Auckland this week. 

The EVES Greerton team has competed all summer to win the right to compete in a round robin competition to determine the national club champion for the 2018 – 2019 season. We wish them well and will be following with interest.

The market is still strong with good numbers of buyers coming through open homes.  We are still seeing a large number of retirees selling in Auckland and moving down to the Bay of Plenty where their dollars go so much further. 

If you are thinking of selling we need to be talking to you now.  

Call any of our EVES offices and speak with any one of our EVES salespeople.   

I see them everywhere, in their lycra on their e-bikes, in and on the water – everywhere. 

Which is exactly why Tauranga is the perfect city to hold an Active Seniors and Retirees Expo. 

This year’s expo is on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March – open from 10am until 3pm, and is being held at Trustpower Baypark Stadium.

There you will find over 50 exhibits, including retirement village insights, travel offers, clubs to join and there will even be wine tasting. The best part? It’s free! 

If you are going to come down, make sure you come and see the team from EVES, we are on Stand 31.

If you visit our stand, don’t forget to test out your putting skills and if you manage to get a hole in one, there’s a chance to win a luxury hamper! 

We will have some great housing solutions for you, as well as an exclusive offer to help you with your next move that will only be available if you attend the expo. 

Just quietly, I am looking forward to going. I hope to see you there.  

In 33 years in the real estate industry I have seen a lot. There have been a lot of changes but none as great as the new AML (Anti-Money Laundering) policy imposed on our industry by the Department of Internal Affairs from 1 January, 2019.  

For those people selling property, the questions salespeople have to ask now can most certainly feel personal and invasive. Having to ask questions of the vendors’ wealth and how they paid for their property (where a property is in a trust) is a really uncomfortable situation for salespeople as well. 

However, two months down the track and upon reflection, it would have been far easier had there been more education available to all parties. This is what we are trying to do now. 

We have created an excellent video, to prepare you for the questions that may be asked of you and what evidence you may have to provide.

More often than not, it’s more straight forward than it seems – it’s just knowing what and why.

If you are considering selling, view the video at eves.co.nz/AML or get in touch with one of our salespeople so you’re well informed when it comes time to list your property. 

Auctions are designed to flush out any cash buyers for a property - this is the ultimate for a vendor selling their home - to get a cash unconditional sale at a level acceptable to allow them to move on with their lives.  

During the auction process, conditional buyers will view the property as well – these are people with things to arrange like finance, or they have a home to sell themselves. Immediately after a property is passed in at auction those buyers identified as potential conditional purchasers for the property are dealt with. On average, over 20% of the properties we take to auction go under contract within 14 days of the property being passed in.

Auctions are still the strongest method of selling residential property and our passionate EVES auction department and our salespeople do auctions really, really well. 

If you are considering selling give us a call and let us talk you through this method - it works!  

Wow! The government possibly did not expect the reaction and back lash to the announcement of a pretty general capital gains tax being imposed on one of New Zealander’s favourite investments - property! Or maybe they did. 

It seems that this is a topic very dear to our hearts, particularly in the case of Baby Boomers who recognised years ago the Superannuation was not going to “cut the mustard” when retirement time came. Many have planned for retirement by investing in a rental property which gets paid off with taxed income and rent returns. Many invest into Kiwi Saver in the belief that the medium risk investment will show a profit when it is time to retire. In other words many New Zealanders are trying to be fiscally responsible. 

The reaction to the announcement was huge; property in particular has always been seen as a “safe” option for investment and literally hundreds of thousands of us own maybe one or two properties that we will cash up and reinvest the funds so we can continue to live a moderate lifestyle. It’s not about getting rich. It’s about enriching our retirement years. 

Maybe more questions need to be asked about how CGT will affect us all. 

Watch this space!

The local economy continues to benefit from out of towners travelling here not just for tourism but for work. 3000 vacancies were advertised last week for pickers required for the upcoming kiwifruit season. Friends recently told me they started coming here to pick fruit and having loved the area and the people so much, they decided to move here. All these factors help our economy to flourish as do the numerous cruise ships and tourists coming to visit.

Further signs of our flourishing economy would have to be the number of commercial buildings either currently under construction or where building permits have been applied for through the council.

On the housing front, the number of homes sold across the city was up 22% on January 2018 and prices remained steady moving up 3.3% on the previous year. All of these things are showing a good, solid market and a good option for those people thinking of buying or upgrading their home.  

If we can assist with either of these, make sure you call into any one of our eight offices throughout the Bay of Plenty.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

At the time of writing this, it looks like the amazing firefighters have finally got the fires in the Tasman area under control. The brave men and women have fought for days and nights on end. The evacuation of homes close to the fires has meant our defence force is also involved. They’ve taken an all-out, all hands on deck approach which hopefully means the fires will stay under control. 

It must be heart breaking watching everything you have ever worked for, and no doubt still owe money for, put at risk. The absolute grief on the faces of those who have lost their homes, their personal possessions and their memories makes me value and appreciate my own home and my belongings all the more.

Your home is your castle. It’s a special place and important to you and your family. It is, in most cases, your largest investment. At EVES we know all these things. That’s why we treat every sales transaction with professionalism, care and concern. 

If you are thinking of selling, let us help you with the process. We get it!

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

At the time of writing this, I have not seen the figures for new properties coming to the market in January, but I suspect that they will be low. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws that came in to effect on 1 January force a greater level of due diligence by the real estate provider, slowing the listing process right down.

Initial reactions to this have been varied and in hindsight I would love to have seen more promotion around these new laws however as we are becoming more accustomed to the expectations on us from the Department of Internal Affairs, and as home owners also become more informed the process is getting a little easier.

We are exceptionally lucky as a company to have a dedicated Compliance Manager, looking after our, and your, interests! EVES will be working hard to keep everyone safe from litigation and we have just recorded a great video, explaining the process of listing your home for sale and the information you may need to provide your real estate agent.  

If you are thinking of selling, contact any one of our EVES people and check out our video at eves.co.nz/AML.  

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

Late last year Tauranga City Council released new rateable values to home owners. Rateable Value is calculated taking three things into consideration – the Capital Value (CV) based on comparable sales in your area, Land Value (LV) based on the sales of bare land in your area and the value of improvements (CV – LV). Rates are charged on the Rateable Value (RV – this used to be known as GV or Government Valuation).  

The council are very clear that the revaluation process is not done to provide values for property owners - for marketing, sales or any other purposes. It is done primarily for rating purposes and the Council are required to do this by law. Market Value, the price you could expect for your property if you were to sell it today, is based on several different factors: supply and demand of your type of property in your location, interest rates and the economy in general. Obviously physical factors such as presentation, appeal etc. are also taken into consideration in working at market value.

Sellers and buyers often confuse the two! They are very separate and should be treated as such.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

By now most people have returned to work - our camping grounds have cleared a little and the roads are busier on the way to and from work.

It has been another outstanding period for the Bay with concerts, international and regional cricket, horse racing and copious amount of water and sports activities.

The region has benefitted from the millions of dollars that comes with all of these activities being held over this period. The real estate market has started strongly as well.

In this week’s EVES Property, you will see the new properties that are now on the market.

We get a sense that 2019 will be another strong year, with plenty of buoyancy in the property market. Visitor interest and activity remains constant. 

To stay up to date with what is happening in our ever changing market, check out our blog at eves.co.nz, follow us on Facebook or call one of our EVES salespeople.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

Property laundering, where criminals purchase property in order to “clean” dirty money has been on top of the political agenda to address for a number of years now and as of January 1, 2019 the real estate fraternity is tasked with playing its part in reducing this criminal activity.

This means for you as a seller, or where a real estate agent is employed to act as a buyer’s agent, there is certain information required by the Department of Internal Affairs that the agent has to ask for. 

In the most simple of cases, minimum requirement is proof of identity and a utility bill such as a power account with the owners address on it. In more complex ownership, such as where a property is held in a trust, more documentation is required. 

Once we have the information the process is very straightforward – we do what we are employed to do and that is to sell your property.

For more on the Anti-Money Laundering Act or AML, contact your local EVES salesperson or view the information on our website.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

For most of us the festive season is over and we are back working and catching up with our colleagues’ adventures over the Christmas and New Year period.

In the world of real estate we have already seen people have made New Year resolutions, resolutions that involve selling to buy again, trading either up or down in size of home, depending on their family situation. We have also seen a huge amount of enquiry from outside of the region for those people who love the Bay so much they now want to invest here.

Looking at the stock available, the numbers are down. It is that old supply and demand thing – the less stock, the more viewers, the greater the competition and the higher the sale price. So if you are asking the question “is now the right time to sell” the statistics give you the answer - yes it is! We still have our free marketing packages on offer so don’t wait – get in now. All of our teams back on deck to assist you.

Keep enjoying these beautiful summer days but make sure you cover up - that sun is fierce!

2019 has arrived and with this comes new opportunities. If your New Year’s resolution involved a property investment then you will enjoy this bumper edition of EVES Property.

Right across Tauranga and the Mount at this time we welcome visitors from around New Zealand (and the world) to our beautiful city. Many, like you, will enjoy their time here so much they will want to plan for a return. Why not talk to one of our EVES agents today with regard to the property market here. You never know your luck!

Our market continues to grow and the region benefits hugely by attracting new businesses, new families and great opportunities. All the ingredients are there for an exciting and prosperous 2019 for our region. As a proudly locally owned and operated business we are looking forward to continuing to help locals get great property results.

Wishing you good health, happiness, and success in the coming year and always. Happy New Year and may your property dreams come true.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

We have witnessed a New Zealand property market in 2018 which is best described as a return to ‘normal’ following a couple of boom years. As much as the commentators have attempted to find fault, market conditions continue to remain positive. We have seen consistent interest this year in our property market across all sectors and locations again reflecting the desirability of the Bay of Plenty.

REINZ figures released last week illustrated this with the number of properties sold in the Bay of Plenty increasing by over 17% on the same month last year with an increase in the median house price by 3.5%.

At EVES, November saw a good number of listings coming to the market with many great success stories and as we head to the end of the year, this month has seen much of the same. We’re so glad to have seen so many happy sellers and buyers end the year on such a high. 

At this time of the year we would like to wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas. Thank you for your business over the last 12 months and I hope you can enjoy some quality time with family and friends during this most wonderful time of the year.

We remain ‘open for business’ over the festive season so if we can help with your next property transaction give your local EVES salesperson a call and they will be happy to help you out.

Merry Christmas.

Supporting our community is a very important part of our business. One of our favourite times of the year is the annual presentation to the Trustpower/TECT Rescue Helicopter.

Every member of the EVES team – that’s salespeople, marketing, finance, administrators and personal assistants - has the opportunity to contribute on a regular basis through their pay and then the company rounds this into a sizeable cheque.

Those that can, head out to the Ian Pain Memorial Hangar at Tauranga Hospital to enjoy a morning tea with Pilot Manager Liam Brettkelly (see below).

The cost of operating our local rescue helicopter is huge and without community support would not be able to remain operational on a 24/7, 365 days a year basis.

You don’t have to go far to hear a story about how the helicopter has saved the life of someone close to them.

Our community is very fortunate to have the major support of Trustpower and TECT and we are proud to see our EVES name alongside the other like minded businesses who also contribute

The real estate market in the Bay shows plenty of positive signs as we head toward Christmas. The latest NZ Property Report released by Realestate.co.nz indicates that while there may not be the same heat in our market as was felt last year, the market is more stable and ‘normal’. That’s good news for buyers and sellers.

The report went on to show that new property on the market for November was 874 across the Bay of Plenty at the time of the report’s release, with a total of 1,682 residential dwellings for sale.

Further good news is the further relaxing of the LVR by the Reserve Bank for both first home buyers and investors which could allow both groups more room to move while continuing to promote overall stability. This comes into effect in January 2019.

This news, along with our own very strong sales results, shows that our wide range of product offerings and sound understanding of market conditions is continuing to work in favour of our customers. We welcome every opportunity to help you achieve the goals that are important to you – whether you’re looking to sell or purchase property.

Talk to us today about what’s happening in your market.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

Many of the main banks have dropped their one and two year rates to under 4% for a home loan which would once have been inconceivable.

This, together with low returns on other types of investments, a hint that the LVR may be relaxed and the continuing housing shortage are all contributing to on going demand from investors and steady demand from home buyers, for good property.

What does this mean for you if you are wanting to sell and achieve a premium price?

What it means is you will need a salesperson who listens to what you need, who understands your situation and who can make the right recommendations and has the right resources and network to provide you with the best results.

So, if you are thinking of selling now, talk to us right now!

If you are thinking about selling in the January, February, March period, then you need to talk to us right now too, so that you can learn how to take advantage of the many secret benefits ‘hidden’ within this time of the year.

Success favours the prepared. Call EVES today.

Some buyers have a perception that securing a property prior to auction means they will get it cheaper by eliminating other buyers.  Quite often this can be the opposite given the property is fresh to the market and the reaction from buyers looking for that type of home can inflate the initial perceived value. 

Options for owners in receipt of early pre-auction offers is to give all buyers expressing interest equal opportunity to purchase their home by bringing their auction forward or calling for offers from all parties expressing interest. 

When an owner brings an auction forward it is transparent and you can monitor your competition’s actions and take comfort that you may only pay a minimal amount more than what another buyer is prepared to pay. 

Outside of the auction arena there is a risk of paying significantly more than what someone else is prepared to and your purchase price may end up in excess of market value. 

Some buyers have also been known to act prematurely and purchase a property pre-auction without completing effective due diligence which can also have some serious and costly long term consequences. 

It’s wise to exercise caution when buying prior to auction.

When I review the constant flow of data that comes across my desk I’m heartened by the continued growth and confidence in the Bay of Plenty.

The Bay continues to perform well against other centres and that vibrancy can be seen in new subdivisions, the number of building consents, retail and commercial developments and the job market. And if you need any more proof that our area is growing then simply try to drive anywhere at peak times.

What does that mean for you? It means that you too can take heart and have confidence if you are thinking of buying or selling right now.

The next decision you may face is, “Who can I trust to look after me?” Rest assured that our people are trained and tuned to the current market conditions and what’s working best for our clients and customers. They will guide you through the processes relevant to your situation so that you can achieve what’s important to you.

So when you want to know for sure that you are in good hands, call any one of our EVES consultants and let them show you how they will take care of you.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

One thing is constant in the Tauranga, Mount and Papamoa real estate market and that is change. Every week at EVES, we experience something new that makes you rethink market conditions and what really is the best way to assist our vendors to maximise the value of their real estate assets.

We are very fortunate that when you take a look across the EVES sales team you will notice a very good blend of experienced, well established and acknowledged real estate professionals. This blends nicely with some fantastic new entrants to the industry, making their mark and building excellent reputations. Typically they have come from successful backgrounds with high levels of people contact and good communication skills. To support this, they receive EVES intensive training and continued support.

All these aspects are critically important so that we remain current and adaptable. When an EVES salesperson makes a recommendation to you in regards one of your most valuable assets then this advice is relevant.

The outcome of this? Every week EVES salespeople receive steady buyer enquiry from within the region and increasingly from newcomers to the region. With the right mix of recommendations, skills and personality we will bring to your door the very best buyers in the current market.

EVES. Exceptional. Every Day.

The run up to Christmas is always a great time to put your property on the market, because many people like to have secured their new home before the Christmas break, knowing they have a fresh start to the new year ahead.

That means that if you are thinking of selling, now is the time to act.

Well within the median number of days to sell and still with time to prepare and launch onto the market properly with an agency that is a recognised expert in doing that; giving you the peace of mind that comes from being in safe hands so that you can achieve those goals that are important to you and your family and to achieve a premium price.

With motivated buyer demand strong, interest rates low and clever marketing and first class management of our campaigns, auction clearance rates remain high, so why not put that to work for your advantage?

Let us show you the ‘secrets’ to how to sell well in today’s market so that you can enjoy Christmas. Eight weeks to go, call any one of our EVES salespeople now.

When you are unable to attend an auction there’s no need to run the risk of missing out on your dream home. We can assist by accepting your bids via telephone so you are still in touch with the live auction, but first you must register your interest by signing our telephone bidding authority which will in turn be approved by the owner of the property.

Ask your agent to send you our ‘buying at auction by telephone’ video which will give you some tips on how to be the successful purchaser by phone. Having a pre-determined bidding strategy will go a long way to overcoming the disadvantage of not being able to attend the auction to see what your competitors are doing. You will be able to participate in the auction in the same manner as being in attendance by staggering your clear instructions to your agent which will then allow them to participate on your behalf in a timely manner whilst keeping you informed of what is happening during proceedings.

If the auction goes past what you are prepared to pay you’ve lost nothing, but being secretive about your bidding strategy may lose you the opportunity to purchase.

At EVES, we are passionate about harnessing the power of marketing to achieve the best possible outcome. We go further to find the right buyer for your property, not just the first buyer.

We take pride in our ability to factor in the many variables of selling a property; we know each property, vendor and purchase is unique. By reaching more people we can create more competition and greatly increase the chances of getting a better price for you.

Leading into summer has always been a great time for buying and selling property in the Bay. As the weather warms we always see a lift in the market, as people begin to think about a move to a new home to take advantage of summer in our beautiful region.

To help you make the most of this lift in the market, we have designed an exceptional marketing campaign so that your property can get the best and most exposure possible. We’ve created a multi-channel campaign that can profile your property to a wide audience with the ability to easily add-on and upsize your campaign to increase your presence in the market. And when you list with EVES, it’s free.

Give your favourite EVES agent a call today to find out more.

Our salespeople know that it’s invaluable to communicate to as wide a group as possible in regards to any particular property being marketed by them. This is to maximise the opportunity for your salesperson to find the best possible buyer for your property.

Successful real estate professionals have a wide network of friends, colleagues, referrers and influencers. This is also invaluable when it comes to letting people know what’s happening in the world of real estate.

At EVES we have very busy salespeople who also take time to play an active role in their community. This may be through involvement with their children’s school, a sports team, cultural activity or through belonging to an interest group, service club, charity or church. There is a very long list of these sorts of possibilities and across our EVES teams this makes us very well connected. 

EVES leading profile in the region is not taken for granted and is not just a result of the significant number of properties sold by our teams but also due to the major part our people play in the wider community.

Talk to EVES today about what’s happening in your market.

EVES. Exceptional Every Day.

The median sale price for Tauranga was $574,000 by comparison to $560,000 for the previous year. For the same month, in the Mount/Papamoa was $665,000 compared with $671,000 the previous year. Year on year, then no real swing up or down in terms of price.

The number of sales in Tauranga was 141 by comparison to 137 in the previous August. Mount/Papamoa was 96 by comparison to 104 last year. So, no real change in volume either.

The median number of days to sell appears to be holding with Tauranga at 43 days by comparison to 42 last year. The same trend can be seen at the Mount and Papamoa with 46 days and last August at 43.

However, what is significant is that from August 2015 to now the median number of days to sell is getting longer which means sellers have to pay particular attention to their marketing campaign and method of sale if time is a pressure for them.

The total number of properties on the market in Tauranga is like September last year. The Mount/Papamoa it is somewhat lower making this a great time for sellers in both areas to capitalise on the opportunity.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

Some buyers have a fear of auctions for a variety of reasons. Some feel the process is stressful while others have a fear of paying too much and some are afraid of being tricked into paying more than they want to.

Overcoming this fear is simple when you understand how an auction is conducted and how to go about bidding.

Vendors will set a confidential reserve price which is a figure at which the Auctioneer is authorised to sell the property and unless this price is reached during the auction the property cannot be sold without further consultation with the vendor.

Buying at auction is easy when buyers bid with a three figure strategy which is predetermined prior to attending the auction.

The first is a price you would like to pay for the property, the second is a price you would still be happy to pay and the third is a walk away price.

As long as you don’t exceed your walk away price, the fear of buying at auction is eliminated.

EVES has a comprehensive buying at auction video outlining how to buy at auction in depth so contact your favourite EVES salesperson and they will provide this for you.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day

Our region continues to enjoy good buyer inquiry right across our price ranges. In some areas a lack of new listings to the market has created increased demand, especially at the top end of the market.

Mount Maunganui property values continue to climb as the oceanside suburb edges nearer to the $1 million mark.

Data released by NZME’s OneRoof show the median value of Mount Maunganui property reached $890,600 as of July 31 this year.

The value is a surge of more than $70,000 from the previous year, making Mount Maunganui the Bay of Plenty’s most expensive place to purchase property.

The same data pinpoints Merivale as Tauranga’s most affordable suburb with a median value of $446,600.

The Tauranga market experienced a small slowdown over the winter, yet it is still ticking along nicely, with sales actually better than this time last year.

While first home buyers, although active, are taking longer to transact due to financing constraints and options currently in the marketplace.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, talk to EVES today.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

With a slight increase in the supply of residential property to the market of 0.8% by comparison to the same period in the previous year and a slight decrease in the average asking price of 5.1% by comparison to the previous month (source: Realestate.co.nz monthly property report), these stats would suggest we are in a balanced period between willing buyer and willing selling.

However, in conversations with many of our expert teams, they tell me they have many buyers who are frustrated because in certain price ranges there simply isn’t enough property to look at with the features they need in their next property.

Interest rates remain at some of the lowest rates ever. The region’s GDP continues to track ahead of the whole country at 3.9% vs NZ 2.7% (Source: Infometrics quarterly monitor for Tauranga City).

So, is this a good time to sell?

I believe that if you need to be sold before Christmas, you should want to take advantage of the sun’s magic on people’s moods.

Also remember that many buyers will want to be in their new property before Christmas.

So then, the answer is yes. Now is the perfect time to call your local EVES agent.

EVES - Exceptional. Every day.

The recently released Quarterly Economic Monitor – June 2018 completed by Priority One announces some very interesting results.

• GDP growth was 3.9% vs NZ 2.7%.  Tauranga’s economy has been growing above the national average for 20 consecutive quarters, with the upturn broad based across all indicators of spending and investment.

• The commercial construction industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with non-residential consents 98% higher vs NZ 10%, however, residential consents dropped by 15%. Which could mean existing property will have less new builds to compete against in the near future.

• And even though the housing market quietened, it still showed some growth in sales at 0.5%.

• Spending indicators were strong, indicating households are confident in their employment and financial position. Retail trade activity increased 5.0% vs NZ 4.4%.

• Unemployment remains very low at 4.1% vs NZ 4.5%.

• Both domestic car and commercial vehicle registrations increased over the year, climbing 3.9% and 4.1% respectively.

• Traffic flows into and around the city increased 3.9% over the year.

Overall the city is strong and now is a great time to talk to anyone of our exceptional EVES people to take advantage of the pre spring and spring market opportunities.

EVES. Exceptional Every Day.

Buying at auction is not a daunting experience when you are educated in the process and follow a bidding strategy.

Vendor bidding is one aspect that scares some people and the myth that vendor bids are used to push the price up is still a perception in the market that is misleading and incorrect.

Some buyers feel that vendor bids create a situation where they are bidding against themselves which is also incorrect.

Property owners will always set a reserve price where they are comfortable to sell their property at and vendor bids are only used to assist a buyer into a position where the auction is paused and negotiations continue between the highest bidder and the seller.

At an EVES auction, vendor bids are used if there is only one bidder participating in the auction below the vendor’s reserve and will be to a level where the owners are prepared to continue discussions.

These bids are only exercised by the Auctioneer and are clearly announced.

Once negotiations are completed any amendments to the bidding will be announced and the auction will be resumed until sold or if agreement on price is not reached the auction will be closed.

With the weather of late being less than ideal, we can’t blame you for looking forward to spring because we are too.

In spring, the landscape changes – lambs, blooming flowers, blossoming trees and the temperature rises. So too does buyer activity in the real estate market.

Spring has always been a good time to sell. Although spring can bring out more homes for sale for you to compete with, it can also mean more buyers. Traditionally we see a rise in potential homebuyers during this season than other months of the year, which means there is the potential get more offers than any other time.

We also find that buyers are wanting to be in their new home before Christmas, meaning that they need to be out and about viewing property and purchasing well before summer starts. So there is also potential for your house to be on the market for a much shorter time than it would be throughout other seasons.

To ensure that your property is on their must-see list, you need to market it well. After all, you can’t sell a secret. You need to make sure that you have enlisted the right agent equipped with just the right marketing options for you and your property.

EVES can help. Talk to us today about selling your property in spring.

When you look at a real estate company from the outside you could be forgiven for thinking that we all look the same. Take a peek ‘under the bonnet’ and the opposite is true.

We all know that anyone can do it for less and fee discounters will always be in our market. However, all vendors deserve value for money whatever the level of fee is. They deserve the best nett result.

Cheaper fees do not equal the best nett result for you. The best nett result comes from a combination of many things your EVES agent will do for you. The best nett result comes from good advice to prepare your home prior to going on the market. The best nett result comes from great marketing to showcase your home to as wide an audience as possible. The best nett result comes from exceptional service levels so you understand, every step of the way, what is happening in the market and what this means to you and your home.

You need someone you can rely on and trust, someone who will give you the best advice, someone who has the know how and the connections and who has access to exceptional systems and support. This is priceless.

Select your agent wisely. Talk to EVES today.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

In real estate it’s important to take the time to accept that the world is changing. Process improvement is an ongoing positive challenge for us at EVES. The enhancements and developments provided via IT and business systems continue to provide many advantages to our sellers and buyers in our business.

In our continuing commitment to provide our clients and customers with the very best ways to achieve their goals, we are naturally very focused on this plus delivering exceptional service through our people. This also offers up business growth opportunities in our changing world.

As we continuously provide our agents with improved tools to offer you better service, we have also exposed the EVES brand to the regions. 

With all the good work our people have been doing we have been attracting attention. We are very proud of our people and are always looking for exceptional people to join our family. It is with great pleasure we announce that major offices in Hamilton and Whangarei have rebranded as EVES.

This gives our brand wider recognition and opportunities to provide our great service to benefit even more sellers and buyers.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

The property market is still going strong and there are many people in Auckland and the North looking to relocate to the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions where properties are considered better value and lifestyle is a priority. 

EVES are capitalising on this interest by publishing a special A4 edition of Eves Property Magazine, featuring properties exclusively from the Bay of Plenty and Waikato and showcasing this at our stand at the iconic Auckland Home Show.

The Auckland Home Show will run over five days at the ASB Showgrounds, 5 – 9 September and this magazine gives you the chance to put your property in front of over 47,000 potential buyers!*

We will also be distributing the magazine to EVES agents’ purchaser databases.

This is a great chance to showcase your property to a large, quality audience of buyers. So if you’re looking to sell a property, talk to your local EVES office today.

EVES – Exceptional. Every day.

*Source: Auckland Home Show 2017 Post Show Report

Ever since our beginnings in 1969 we have worked hard to be exceptional.

We know that to be exceptional, you need exceptional people. Our salespeople at EVES are committed to excellence and to making buying or selling property as smooth and easy as possible for our customers. Our salespeople are passionate about real estate, have great local knowledge and a commitment to our communities.

This week, we are very excited to launch EVES new video and brand philosophy – Exceptional. Every day.

This is something that describes us as a business – and what we constantly aim to be. At EVES, every day we work hard to ensure our service, local knowledge, marketing and results for our customers are exceptional.

Every day our agents work hard to understand your goals and aspirations when selling or buying property and they are determined to bring you the best results.

Look out for our new video on Facebook and our website. 

If you are looking to buy or sell property and want to experience exceptional service, marketing, and results - talk to EVES today.

EVES has been operating in the Bay of Plenty property market for more than 30 years and during this time has provided the service of assisting property owners with managing their rentals.

At EVES Rentals we offer a full property management service. This begins with careful and thorough tenant selection, regular routine inspections with good communication to our property owners regarding any maintenance required plus ensuring a market rental is attained. Our stringent tenant screening process combined with our robust rent policy ensures that our landlord’s investment is maximised.  

Landlords and property managers face a myriad of challenges with current legislation requirements, including but not limited to; smoke alarms, insulation, health and safety and council requirements for legal and habitable dwellings. With the prospect of continuing changes to legislation it is important to engage a professional property manager. Our team regularly attend trainings and are kept up to date with the latest information.

In our region EVES has 16 experienced property managers, based in strategic locations successfully managing over 1,500 properties.

When you are considering a property manager for your investment or family home then do come and talk to us so we can show you the EVES advantage.

The longest day has been and gone and spring is nearer than you think. Great I hear you saying, because that’s when I’m intending to sell my property. Good idea?

As an industry insider I can tell you that if you want to achieve a premium price within a short period of time, that idea is the classic mistake sellers make at this time of the year. 

Instead of capitalising on the supposed spring rush what you may find is the exact opposite as others who are also acting on that mistake flood onto the market and the market becomes awash with everyone else trying to achieve the same thing.

So instead of competing with perhaps a handful of properties in the same price range trying to attract a finite number of purchasers, you end up in a crowded market with many more properties all still competing for the same finite number of purchasers, and that adds a lot of unwelcomed stress to the process.

If you are serious about selling and you want to achieve a premium price, call EVES now, select a strong auction campaign and give yourself the very best chance to sell well.

EVES. Great people, great marketing, great results.

If you’ve heard the old cliché of ‘if you snooze you lose’ - it’s a time of the year when this can become reality if you are thinking of selling. Whilst many are thinking let’s wait until spring when things get a bit brighter, buyers are still active in the market place which has clearly been witnessed in our auction room over recent weeks.

The reasons that we buy and sell real estate are not governed by the time of the year, they are governed by our changing personal needs and circumstances along with all the things that happen in life. Your buyer may just be in search of your home as you read this article.

More importantly, the best way to force those buyers to act is by utilising the auction method of sale where the benefits are stacked in favour of both buyers and sellers. In the current market buyers have limited choices but still need somewhere to live which enhances the opportunity of creating a competitive bidding environment on auction day. Waiting until spring provides buyers more options therefore creating more competition for you as the property owner.

EVES. Great people, great marketing, great results.

The days are getting colder and wetter, but that does not mean buyers should be going in to hibernation. There are some benefits to braving the cold to attend open homes and buying during the winter months.

Winter can reveal many details about a property that buyers typically wouldn’t be able to see in the forgiving months of spring and summer. The cold, moisture and wind will test the ability of the home to insulate and keep warm, something that you want to know about if you are going to buy - and something you are far more likely to notice in winter.

Visiting a home during a rainy period can also identify any problems a property may have regarding drainage or leakage. Cloudy winter days can also highlight places in the property that are less likely to get any sunshine.

If you’re looking for a new home, take advantage of winter and start your search today with Eves.

Call any of our offices and speak to the team today.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Busy, successful real estate professionals usually have a wide network of friends, colleagues, referrers and influencers. This is valuable when it comes to letting people know what’s happening in the world of real estate.

It’s also valuable to communicate to as wide a group as possible, in regard to any particular property currently being marketed. All this is to maximise the opportunity for a salesperson to find the best possible buyer for any given property.

At EVES we have some very busy salespeople who take time to play an active role in their community. This may be through involvement with their children’s school, a sports team, cultural activity or through belonging to an interest group, service club, charity or church. There is a very long list of these sorts of possibilities and across our EVES teams we cover almost all those bases.

EVES leading profile in the region is as a result of the significant number of properties sold by our teams, but also definitely due to the major part our people play in the wider community.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Data released by Realestate.co.nz for May showed there were 1,503 residential properties for sale in the Bay of Plenty, up 0.7% on the previous month with an average asking price of $623,896 (a decrease of 7.0% on the previous month).

So what is the market doing? It actually doesn’t matter.

What matters is what you need and what we can do to meet those needs within those market dynamics, because property that is well presented, matched with the right method of sale and a cleverly aimed marketing campaign promoting the benefits of your property’s features, while being managed by a competent salesperson who is supported by many experienced managers, peers and world class resources, will be major factors to achieving the result you want.

So no matter what type of property and no matter what your situation, we have the people, experience, track record and resources to be able to help you achieve a successful result. Call any of our people today to find out how we can do that for you.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

First home buyers that require due diligence to be completed prior to purchasing a home should not eliminate viewing auction properties, it could well be your dream home that fits all the criteria that you are looking for. An auction is just a different method of sale that allows a property owner to work with cash unconditional buyers on auction day, however, should the property not sell, any conditional buyer can immediately come forward with an offer conditional upon your satisfaction of any due diligence requirements you have. 

First home buyers should be aware that there are only a limited number of cash buyers that can bid at auction and there are more conditional buyers in the market than there are cash buyers. Being the first of the conditional buyers to present an offer to a vendor is a very powerful position to be in so being ready to present your conditional offer immediately the auction is closed is a smart move and could secure the home of your dreams.

For more information on this, contact any of our team who are more than happy to spend time with you and guide you through the buying at auction process.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

The iconic building may be gone but the team at EVES Mount aren’t going anywhere. They are currently housed in temporary premises in the Pheonix carpark while a new urban green space development is underway, providing a new space for people to enjoy in downtown Mount Maunganui.

According to Tauranga City Council, the new space will feature grass areas to play and relax, native trees to provide shade and a flexible space for events and activities all year round.

“It will create a greater sense of belonging for our community by encouraging social interaction through a shared space to rest and play. The new space will support the growing visitor and residential population by inviting people to stay longer in the Mount CBD.”

While the new permanent building is being constructed, it will still be business as usual for our Eves Mount office – they are here to help you with all things real estate. So if you are thinking of buying or selling, visit them at their temporary office today in the Pheonix carpark, Downtown Mount Maunganui.

EVES - excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Successful real estate professionals have a wide network of friends, colleagues, referrers and influencers. This is valuable when it comes to letting people know what’s happening in the world of real estate.

It’s also valuable to communicate to as wide a group as possible, with regard to any particular property currently being marketed. All this is to maximise the opportunity for a salesperson to find the best possible buyer for any given property.

At EVES we have some very busy salespeople who take time to play an active role in their community. This may be through involvement with their children’s school, a sports team, cultural activity or through belonging to an interest group, service club, charity or church. There is a very long list of these sorts of possibilities and across our EVES teams we are very well connected. 

EVES leading profile in the region is as a result of the significant number of properties sold by our teams, but also definitely due to the major part our people play in the wider community.

Talk to EVES about what’s happening locally and if its superb real estate services you require, that’s what we do!

EVES held its annual Awards last week and celebrated top performing individuals and offices for the 2017/2018 financial year.

These nights are always so special as the whole group gets together to enjoy each other’s company, share some stories and celebrate outstanding performance. It’s our people that make this Company great and awards night recognises this.

On the night, Danielle Hayes of EVES Mt Maunganui was awarded “Eves Salesperson of the Year” in a close decision over Chris Royal and Crystal Harvey from EVES Cherrywood.

The much sought after “Eves Top Office of the Year” was won by Eves Cherrywood who snatched back the advantage from EVES Mt Maunganui, who were last year’s winners.

“Eves Administrator of the Year” Sandy Steel from Eves Cherrywood is a fine example of the important role that our support staff have.

Nicholas Meloni from Eves The Lakes Office was awarded  “Rothbury Top Referrer.”

“Eves Marketing Campaign of the Year” was awarded to Barbara Sternberg of Eves Bethlehem.

To top the night off “Property Manager of the Year” was taken out by Alisa Cowdrey of Eves Papamoa.