Marlborough

Introducing Anna Drury and Richard Barton

July 18, 2017 by admin

It’s time for the seventh in our series of blog articles for 2017, profiling our Bayleys Marlborough team members. It’s part of our quest to ensure you get to know each of our agents a little better allowing you to make the right choice when you come to sell. This month we’d like you to meet Anna Drury and Richard Barton.

Anna Drury

Anna was a Bayleys Marlborough pioneer in Picton. Four years ago she was living in the picturesque seaside town we all know and love, and decided to approach our team based in Blenheim to find out whether they would like an agent working in the Picton area. With a resounding yes as a response, Anna dived straight in and having sat her Real Estate papers, was working from home (in Waikawa Bay) within three months.

How times, have changed… Anna’s now part of a team of five agents working out of the thriving Bayleys Marlborough High Street Picton office. Anna’s can-do attitude was most definitely a contributing factor in the office’s growth and it’s the same attitude she brings to marketing your property, she’ll work hard to find you the right buyer whilst giving you good, honest, service.

Coming from a background working within the service industry, Anna is most definitely a people person; her empathetic nature means she understands that selling a home can sometimes be daunting, but assures her vendors that they need not be worried about change, and the support she offers throughout the sales process, ensures that very few are!

Anna also comes with a wealth of personal knowledge about what needs to be done before a house is brought to market, she and her husband, Joe, who runs their construction company, are busy renovating their seventh home, so you could say they have an eye for detail when it comes to property.

When Anna’s not marketing property, you’ll find her boating in the Sounds, or enjoying time with friends and a delicious glass of Marlborough wine.

Richard Barton

Here’s the thing about Richard… He knows rural! Growing up on a Kumara farm in Gisborne, a decade of experience working within the viticulture industry plus four years as a shepherd on a large scale North Island sheep and beef farm have all done much to prepare him for the pivotal role he now holds as part of the Bayleys Marlborough Rural and Lifestyle division.

Bayleys Marlborough holds approximately sixty-five per cent of the local rural market and that keeps Richard out and about doing what he enjoys most, meeting vendors and purchasers, having a good yarn, and making a match. Richard finds the stories behind the sales and purchases fascinating, and he enjoys playing a part in those stories; he recently helped to secure a first home for a keen buyer after they had placed numerous offers on houses in a competitive market. Richard says, “It can be really hard to get your foot on the property ladder in this market, but by working with a good real estate agent and a with a little persistence, buyers can get quality homes within their budgets.”

Asked for his number one piece of advice for vendors, Richard says, “Just enjoy the process!” We know you will with Richard, because of his enthusiasm and down to earth approach, all combined with great communication and an understanding of an individual’s needs.

Richard’s a family man, and when he’s not selling real estate, you’ll find him hanging out with wife, Alexandra, and kids, Rosie and Gus, enjoying sport and the quintessential Marlborough lifestyle!

Planning Marlborough’s Future

June 6, 2017 by admin

It’s no secret that Marlborough is #brillianteveryday and as more people discover the delights of the wonderful region we call home, our population will continue to grow, our economy will remain strong and our lifestyle rich and diverse.

To cater for regional growth Marlborough District Council have implemented the Growing Marlborough initiative to help guide strategic investment and development decisions. This influences the development of the Marlborough Environment Plan, 30-year infrastructure strategy and Long Term Plans. But as any strategist knows, long term plans need to be considered in bite sized chunks and that’s why Marlborough District Council also prepares an Annual Plan to set out projects and budgets for the twelve months ahead.

The region’s Draft Annual Plan for 2017/18 has recently been released, and we caught up with Marlborough’s Mayor, John Leggett, to find out more about it.

Mayor Leggett began by telling us that in line with the long term plan, Council has continued to adopt a strong emphasis on core infrastructure, placing a high priority on roads, flood control and maintaining emergency reserves, affirming that recent events had confirmed the wisdom of these priorities.

In addition to maintaining these major capital projects, council staff and Councillors have brought forward ideas for funding consideration and as a result have agreed that the Annual Plan should also include several new initiatives. With the two largest being far-sighted, advances in the use of technology that will have a long term impact on the region.

Digitising the complex resource consent process, and;
helping to expand rural broadband into the Marlborough Sounds.

Mayor Leggett is in favour of these inclusions, saying, “As a lawyer I am well familiar with the paper war so I think Council’s continuing digital advances are brilliant. We’ve already shown what’s possible by becoming the first local authority to digitise our property files and the building and engineering sectors have seen the benefit of that.”

Mayor Leggett also notes that these two major technology projects, plus the Council’s commitment to a pyrolysis plant (smart technology to deal with unwanted vineyard posts in an environmentally sound way) fit well with Marlborough’s economic development strategy of being Smart + Connected, an important driver in ensuring the region becomes a globally-connected district of progressive, high-value enterprise, known for economic efficiency, quality lifestyle, desirable location and natural environment.

We asked Mayor Leggett how, when compiling the draft annual plan, Council juggled the needs of Marlborough’s urban and suburban areas alongside the more rural areas of the district. He advised that Councillors were always conscious that there are widely differing needs amongst urban areas and remote parts of the district, saying “Rural ratepayers are vigorously represented at the Council table and I am satisfied that, given both the size of the rural population and the economic contribution they make to the district, they are well served by Council. We don’t forget, for example, that town folk drive on country roads or that country people do come into town and use libraries and swimming pools from time to time.”

Council expects to be able to deliver its whole programme of annual plan projects with an increase of just 2.33% in rates and charges, almost 3% less than those estimated in the Long Term Plan. With projected debt levels also well down the future looks #brillianteveryday!

To view the full scope of the Marlborough District Council Annual Plan Update 2017/18 visit marlborough.govt.nz.

Introducing Vicki Eastgate & Kurt Lindsay

April 19, 2017 by kate

This week we’re bringing you the fourth in our series of blog articles for 2017, profiling Bayleys Marlborough team members. We understand that selling your property is a process that requires an excellent working relationship with your chosen real estate agent, and this regular feature is part of our commitment to ensure you get to know each of our agents a little better, so you can make the right choice when you come to sell!

This month we have two introductions to make, we’d like you to meet Vicki Eastgate and Kurt Lindsay.

Vicki Eastgate

Vicki joined Bayleys Marlborough two years ago as part of the Picton team. Originally from Gisborne, Vicki’s journey to Marlborough came after she and her partner decided it was time for a change. So just like that, they sold their house, quit their jobs and drove off into the sunset… After a Tiki tour of the top of the South and Canterbury, Vicki’s then husband was offered a job in Picton. He decided to accept it and that afternoon they bought a house, not to be outdone by her spouse Vicki found herself a job the same day! So, as you can see when Vicki puts her mind to something, it gets done!

Vicki joined Bayleys Marlborough with over twenty years experience in real estate. She had owned and managed Real Estate Companies, but decided to return full time to sales because she missed the interaction with her clients; she believes you reap what you sow, and is happy to work hard to get the best result. As a seasoned realtor, Vicki will tell you that her job is to get the best price for her vendor but asked for her career highlight, and Vicki doesn’t cite record prices and ground-breaking offers. Instead, she talks with benevolence about the time she found the perfect unit for an elderly lady who had been searching for two years. Vicki says, “We built a strong long-term friendship, and that’s what makes this job so rewarding.” It’s a combination of Vicki’s easy manner, empathy and fidelity to her clients that sees them returning to her time and time again, as well as referring their friends and family.

With a love of Marlborough, and especially Picton, where Vicki believes it’s like living full time in a holiday destination, she’s the perfect person to sell your Picton or Sounds home. When she’s not working, you’ll find her sticking with the holiday spirit, boating, enjoying the Sounds or relaxing with friends and family!

Find out more about Vicki HERE.

Kurt Lindsay

Kurt became part of the Bayleys Marlborough team three years ago. Raised on a sheep farm in Drummond, Southland and with a background studying and working in viticulture, Kurt is a real asset to our country, viticulture and lifestyle division.

Even though he’s been selling real estate for five years, Kurt is the first to admit that he still gets a frisson of excitement every time he shakes hands on a new listing or a sold sign goes up!

Asked why a vendor should choose him to sell their property, Kurt responds, “In a vibrant market, like we’re experiencing at the moment, anybody can slap a for sale sign in the ground and will usually get a result. But to garner that ten to twenty percent premium you need the right agent with the right experience in their sector.” He continues, “As a rural property specialist, I’ve got proven results. I am confident that I achieve the best result for my clients.”

You’ll often overhear Kurt extolling the virtues of the Marlborough climate and lifestyle to purchasers from outside the area; so as a country boy with a love of the great outdoors, it won’t surprise you to know that when he’s not selling properties you’ll find him out on the water or fishing. We’re proud to say Kurt’s also supporting the Fight for Life Education in Marlborough, with a charity boxing match upcoming, we’re pretty sure he’s going to be as successful in the ring as he is in selling rural properties.

Find out more about Kurt HERE.

Where to live in Marlborough

March 15, 2017 by admin

At Bayleys Marlborough we think we’re pretty lucky to live, work and play in a region that’s #brillianteveryday and there’s a lot of it to explore.

If you’re thinking about making Marlborough your home we wanted to give you a quick run down of some places to visit and provinces to explore so you can decide where you want to settle down!

Blenheim:
Blenheim is Marlborough’s main town, it’s also where you’ll find the Bayleys Marlborough head office, so be sure to come in and say hello when you visit. Blenheim has a plethora of great restaurants, with an understandable focus on local wines and food. It has great shopping, including the fabulous department store Thomas’s with its high end national and international brands. There’s a public art gallery, a fabulous multi-use and purpose built theatre, a cinema, a museum and wonderful parks and recreational areas, including the Taylor River Reserve and Blenheim’s premier Pollard Park. It’s also the town where our budding entrepreneurs, future business people and next wave of talent receive a fine education at Marlborough Boy’s College and Marlborough Girl’s College. There are a selection of schools for years 1 – 6, plus an intermediate school.

Renwick:
Renwick is 10 kilometres west of Blenheim, close to the south bank of the Wairau River and in the heart of wine country! You’ll never be short of a cellar door destination for lunch or dinner, you’ll also find a supermarket, pubs with local beers and some service shops. There are some great local parks and reserves including a large sports domain. One of the most popular recreational areas, on the outskirts of Renwick is the Conders Forest area beside the Wairau River, which offers mountain biking and dog walking. Renwick has a school for years 1 – 8.

Picton:
25 km north of Blenheim and 65 km west of Wellington, you’ll find beautiful Picton at the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound, the jewel in Marlborough’s coastal crown! A buzzing community and home to some fantastic cafes, restaurants, galleries and specialty shops. If you enjoy the great outdoors then Picton is close to lots of walking tracks. The kids will love the skate park and the Endeavour Park sports park development which has its own pavilion. Picton’s school caters for years 1 – 6. This thriving town is home to the Bayleys Marlborough Picton office, so please call by to say hi!

Havelock:
This coastal village sits at the head of Pelorus Sound, it’s also the Greenshell ™ Mussel capital of the world. With a busy marina, you’ll find restaurants, pubs, cafes and gift shops, as well as a small supermarket and service station. The Havelock domain with sports facilities is right in the middle of this bustling community, and you’ll find other picnic areas on the outskirts of the township with fabulous views of the Sounds. If your child is years 1 – 8, they’ll settle right in at the Havelock school.

Seddon:
Located 25 kilometres south of Blenheim, close to the mouths of the Awatere and Blind Rivers and the Lake Grassmere salt works. This small, yet thriving community has strong ties to the agricultural and viticultural industries. You’ll find a few shops and a new café, art gallery and wine bar. When you want to enjoy the great outdoors visit the beach at Ward or the Seddon domain. Seddon has a school for years 1 – 8.

Kaikoura:
Not strictly Marlborough, we wanted to include Kaikoura in this article, as it’s also home to our third Bayleys Marlborough office. Kaikoura is located on the east coast of the South Island 180 km north of Christchurch. This picturesque coastal town is a natural playground for all who love the water! With a great selection of bars, restaurants and cafes, shopping and art galleries, there’s plenty to enjoy when you make Kaikoura your home. With a primary school and high school, your kids won’t have far to travel each day.