RE/MAX New Zealand business owner Garry Malcolm celebrates 40 years in the industry.
The announcement:
New Zealand real estate business owner Garry Malcolm says there have been many milestones through his 40 years in real estate.
One of RE/MAX New Zealand’s most esteemed members, Mr Malcolm renewed his franchise agreement last week, showing a belief in the brand and the value of its offerings.
He joined RE/MAX in May 2004 when he and wife Maree purchased the RE/MAX franchise for Taranaki and opened RE/MAX Team Realty in New Plymouth with three salespeople and one administrator. RE/MAX Team Realty now has 20 on the team.
One memorable milestone came prior to RE/MAX.
“I took a local independent real estate business from two offices and 10 sales associates to six offices and 58 sales associates over an eight-year period. Not just a milestone but it also gave me and my wife the grounding and knowledge to take on our own business.”
His real estate journey began as a vendor.
“We contracted an agent to sell our house. Having studied him as a person, what he didn’t do, and the commission he charged, I thought I could do a better job – and I wasn’t really enjoying what I was doing at the time.
“Getting into real estate at 28 was best thing I ever did. The timing was great as the Taranaki market was benefitting from the discovery of large areas of oil and gas. After four decades, I still love it and I wish that I had taken a RE/MAX franchise earlier in my career.
“Each sales associate who grows and succeeds in running their real estate business is a milestone – and, collectively, these are the most significant milestones of my years thus far.”
He says that being in real estate is about “the law of compensation – that is, your income is in direct proportion to the amount of energy and effort you put in”.
He had a desire to succeed at every level and realised the way to do this was to surround himself with people who were better and smarter than him.
“I have always been open to new ideas, systems and technology and embracing these things has helped me and the business ‘stand out from the crowd’.
“I grew my RE/MAX business over the first ten years by mentoring, coaching and recruiting people who were motivated, enthusiastic, better and smarter than me. For the past 17 years our office has been consistently in the top five for RE/MAX New Zealand.”
Mr Malcolm sees his real estate career continuing through the next decade and beyond.
“Whatever I am doing, my life always revolves around Maree’s and my real estate operation.
“It is an exciting business and I love the way it is constantly evolving. Look at technology, for instance. We are now information providers, and our buyers and sellers require immediate information.
“When I first started selling, I was given an A4 book, pencil and rubber. We would write our listings in the book and when they were sold, we would rub them out to make room for our new listings.
“Client management programs are an essential part of our business now, and databasing and instantaneous response to a client is paramount.
“Real estate is far more professional now. The industry is attracting quality people. Our sale associates are far more mobile than previously, and communication is easier and quicker.
“Our sale associates are far more knowledgeable than they have ever been, and this is good.
RE/MAX New Zealand CEO, Don Ha, calls Mr Malcolm ‘the Jedi Master’.
“Garry is a master at what he does, he has experience, he has wisdom, and he willingly imparts his knowledge to others. Garry is always willing to help and mentor others and make our network greater,” he said, “and RE/MAX is very fortunate.”
Mr Malcolm has held the title of RE/MAX New Zealand Broker Owner of the Year four times and was also named International Broker Owner of the Year.
His reputation extends far wider than the RE/MAX ranks having been in the real estate industry for four decades. He was appointed a fellow of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand in 2002, having first become an associate 11 years prior. He has served on the Taranaki District Committee for the past 30 years and is currently the REINZ Ambassador for the region.
Source: RE/MAX press release
