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An established Newcastle-based agent has opened the doors to a new office in the harbourside city.
Principal and licensee Matt Barnes decided to open Richardson & Wrench Newcastle City when he realised there was a gap in the local market “for a more personalised, streamlined and hands-on approach to engaging with, and delivering results for, clients”.
His office launch comes in spite of the COVID-19 crisis and recession, with the Newcastle region becoming a popular location for remote workers in search of affordability, Mr Barnes has noted, having observed that the number of highly engaged buyers has increased significantly since July.
Mr Barnes said that with COVID-19 shifting living and working patterns, the real estate industry is just as “ripe” for a move to non-traditional real estate models.
“Not only are home-based or remote meetings with vendors and buyers on the rise, as more people take advantage of greater job flexibility, but innovation and agility through AI and proptech solutions are in demand and increasing,” he outlined.
According to Richardson & Wrench, the “innovative” model under which Mr Barnes is now working will allow him to direct and operate the business without the risks and fixed costs associated with traditional office models.
At the same time, he will reportedly have the full support services of Richardson & Wrench’s sales administration, marketing and social media team.
Despite this, Mr Barnes does believe that “the need for personal client service will never go away”.
Stating that Richardson & Wrench’s business model “was the best solution for helping meet both worlds”, the principal said it will enable him to give greater attention to clients “in Newcastle’s changing market”.
“In addition, being supported by a brand with highly professional marketing and best-in-market technology will give me autonomy in how I shape and grow my business, with relatively low risk, and tailor a customer-centric service to the local market,” he added.
Weighing in on the addition of the Newcastle City offering, Richardson & Wrench’s managing director, Andrew Cocks, said the network is pleased to welcome Mr Barnes into the fold as it continues its expansion into the Newcastle and Hunter region, noting the area as “an area set for increased growth”.
Richardson & Wrench previously opened a Charlestown office in March of this year.
“Newcastle has always been attractive to Sydney-based professionals and young families, but the acceleration of the trend to remote working has put it even higher on the purchase list for those looking for a sea or tree change,” Mr Cocks continued.
“I look forward to seeing the strong results that will no doubt be achieved by Matt in this changing market.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Ormsby
Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.
