Stephen Hebbend AREINZ

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8855
Mobile: +64 (021) 453 881
Contact Stephen

Email: stephen@hoamz.co.nz

Real Estate consultants come from all walks of life and Stephen Hebbend's no exception. His first career was spent rising up the ranks as an automotive engineer, ending on a high note as a company manager in Sydney.

But his Invercargill home called him back across the Tasman and it wasn't long before Stephen made the transition to real estate. Of course, that was after he and wife Jo had travelled the world on the traditional year-long OE, seeing Europe from the windows of a Combi van and learning the cultures of Europe at first hand.

A keen sportsman since he was a small boy, Stephen's completed a number of half-marathons and he recognised a similar appeal in real estate - the chance to train hard to become the best, so he set to with real determination.

He learned his work ethic from his father, an agricultural contractor with a Kiwi can-do attitude who built up a solid business in the Catlins. A quick learner, Stephen realised the only way to succeed in a close-knit community like Southland was to apply genuine commitment in every aspect of his work. "I've always endeavoured to do the right thing by my clients." he says. The formula paid off, developing many long term business relationships.

By 2002 he was an associate of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand and his career had propelled him to the highest echelons of the industry in his region. In late 2004 he decided the chance to join a team with a reputation for success through integrity, and to come on board as the company's principal was too good to turn down. "With the extremely efficient, high tech systems in place to assist the running of the office, I'm also still able to do what I enjoy the most, listing and selling property." says Stephen.

The fact the move brought him to Queenstown was important too, especially as it meant uprooting Jo, and their children Brendan, Rachel and Alicia. But the family's more than happy with the decision.

"This is a great place to live, it's positive, it's moving forward and everybody's here because they want to be. We're all loving that energy and culture. And the job is great too. I'm still working with many of my clients from Southland along with people from all over the world and handling some incredible property." he says. "But it makes no difference whether we're dealing with multi-million dollar investments or starter homes, as far as this company's concerned we still endeavour to do right by our clients...and that suits me fine." adds Stephen.

Testimonial

Name: Mark & Myschel
Date: September 2009

"We have been dealing with Stephen as our real estate agent for approximately 12 months now. During that time he has successfully sold two houses for us and helped us to acquire a house that we so desperately wanted. 

Throughout the whole course of this time, we have found Stephen to be of impeccable honesty and integrity. He was very knowledgeable about the market and what was happening in it and advised us accordingly yet still left us to make our own decisions. 

He was open and extremely approachable and nothing was ever too much trouble or question ever too trivial. We felt most confident in his decisions and felt that he gave us the time we needed to decide on things.

What stood out most for both of us was that we trusted him and as a consequence, trusted his team and found them all to be highly professional at all times.

We have no hesitation in recommending Stephen to anyone interested in buying or selling real estate or for anything else for that matter as we have found him to be extremely professional, reliable and courteous at all times."

Testimonial

Name: Shelly & Greg
Date: 21 November 2007

"Thank you again for selling our house. We appreciated your professionalism and honesty throughout the marketing of our house and this was one of the reasons we listed with you.

One of the things that impressed us about the entire team was their involved throughout the time our house was on the market. We found your team to be friendly at all times and appreciated the constant feedback through emails and phone calls after open homes and private viewings. We believe it is because you guys work as team that we sold our house."

Testimonial

Name: Tim
Date: 12 March 2005

"I am writing to thank you for the totally professional service you provided to us recently with the purchase of our property in Frankton.

Both Julie and I felt at all times that you were working on our behalf with absolute integrity and honesty. Furthermore we appreciated your frankness and attentiveness whereby we genuinely felt that our business was of the utmost importance to you. This does not seem to be commonly found in the real estate industry these days.

We also valued the efforts of the rest of the team it certainly made this process much more straight forward than it might have been. I would appreciate it if you could pass on our thanks to them.

Please feel free to pass on our comments to any prospective client if you wish."

Brendan Quill

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Mobile: +64 (021) 416 785
Contact Brendan

Email: brendan@hoamz.co.nz

Qualified teacher, international rugby player, world class cyclist, video star, radio presenter, jet boating legend. Brendan's led something of a sheltered life really.

This would, of course, suit the shy, retiring nature of a man for whom the limelight is but a shunned myth, a man whose aspirations are to sit and be humble in a field of waving corn, and a man whose greatest pleasure is to weep a solitary tear at the simple beauty of a dew-dimpled rose.

Whoever those three men are, none of them are Brendan Quill. Part of the furniture in Queenstown, Brendan knows just about everybody who's worth knowing - which in his book is just about everybody.

With a mind faster than his beloved high-performance car and a wit to match, there's rarely a moment his face is without a smile, and it doesn't take much to break that into a full-blown cackle.

So though he lists his hobbies as cycling, boating, diving and a whole list of high adrenaline activities, the fact is he's fully absorbed in the pursuit of that lamentably seldom-seen commodity: the permanent laugh.

The personality behind the fun is a man who has represented New Zealand on his racing bike, and the Cayman Islands on the rugby field. His all time hero is American cyclist Lance Armstrong, a man Quilly admires for his dedication and professional attitude, which brought a sensational string of victories in the Tour de France after defeating life-threatening illness.

And his main enjoyment of life at hoamz? "It's working with a classic team," he says, shortly before breaking into that trademark guffaw and slapping his thigh with mirth.

Auction Testimonial

8 July 2010

To whom it may concern,
On behalf of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Brendan Quill and the entire HOAMZ team for their contribution to the charity auction held as part of this year’s Thriller in the Chiller.

Brendan’s performance on the night, along with the able support of his team was nothing short of spectacular. With over 1300 people in the auditorium and the ring in the centre, this was a very testing environment in which to hold an auction and I believe that there is no individual or real estate company in Queenstown that could have delivered a better result.
It was obvious from the outset that the entire team was onboard 100%. Everyone knew their job, everyone worked together and everyone contributed to the end result.

Not only did we raise in excess of $40,000 in a little over 20 minutes, but the manner in which the auction was conducted was slick, professional and entertaining – three vital ingredients to the success of any auction in my opinion.

Having seen the team in action I would not hesitate in recommending HOAMZ for any auction be it a charity event, real estate or otherwise. And having Brendan at the helm means your auction will be in the safest possible hands.

Yours sincerely

Simon Green
Festival Director
American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

Auction Testimonial

July 2010

Brendan

On behalf of the Bruce Brant Youth Trust we wish to thank you for your involvement in the charity auction at the recent Thriller in the Chiller.

You worked the large crowd superbly with humour and skill that enabled the night to be a large fundraiser for the trust. In excess of $40,000 was raised on the night. This money will be turned back to the youth of the Wakatipu who are chasing dreams in the sports, arts and cultural fields.

The trust note your enthusiasm and community spirit and appreciate the time you gave up to assist the trust and the youth of the Wakatipu basin.

You are the champion of the community!

KIND REGARDS

The Bruce Grant Youth Trust

Auction Testimonial

23 June 2010

Dear Quillie

THANK YOU
On behalf of the Queenstown Ice Hockey Club I would like to thank you most sincerely for everything you did to ensure the smooth running of our recent fundraiser, Prenzel in the Alps.

We were delighted with the success of the event and thrilled that it ran so smoothly and professionally. Thanks to your auctioneer skills we obtained some very good prices for our prizes that had been donated.

We really appreciate your support, enthusiasm, professionalism and your generous spirit.

Yours in ice hockey

Teri Tisdall
Queenstown Ice Hockey Club

Auction Testimonial

Thanks Quilly for the great auction result and the entertainment you brought for Orphans Aid on behalf of Ivan Clarke and the Lonely Dog team.

Best wishes Ivan Clarke Gallery Team

Community Testimonial

Dear Quilly

Thank you for last night at the StepUp Charity Auction. You were the BEST!!

With your help and skill (and of course witty charm and humour) we raised over 300K for teens in NZ and Oz to be able to create a better future for themselves.

You’re a legend – Thank You

Yvonne Hilsz
GM
StepUp

Community Testimonial

Dear Brendan

On behalf of the crew and committee of the Riverton Coastguard Inc. we wish to extend our grateful thanks for your time and effort that you gave at our recent 50th Jubilee.

It was a great night and everyone that attended enjoyed the evening. You did an excellent job and we appreciated the way you kept the evening flowing.

Please feel free to call to inspect our Coastguard Headquarters. The building is usually open on Monday evening for training.

Yours faithfully

Anita Fraser
Secretary
Coastguard Riverton

Testimonial

Name: Gillian, Ed and Hamish
Date: February 2010

Testimonial

Name: Catriona and Aaron
Date: June 2009

Dear Sir Quillbags and all the team

Thank you for the hassle-free and completely painless experience you gave us in selling our home. You brought a big smile to our faces.

Great humour, passion for the job and extreme professionalism exudes from every one of the team.

You surely are the Number 1 agents (having now dealt with others confirms this) and it is with great pleasure that we sing your praises to all and sundry.

Until next time …

Warmest wishes

Catriona and Aaron

Testimonial

Name: Steve
Date: 19 August 2008

"I built an architecturally designed, rural property, sitting on 1 ½ sun drenched acres within the Wakatipu Basin. I considered the design and location to be very desirable and a sale commanding a good price should not be too difficult. I was wrong!

My property sat on the market for two and a half years and was listed with a number of local Real Estate companies. None of them had been able to sell my property and the market was now in decline.

I met Brendan Quill earlier this year and listed my property with him. He seemed to possess that special quality I had been looking for – he understands and has a passion for selling Real Estate and has a positive, confident air about him – he is a salesman!!

On inspecting the property he very quickly saw the positive aspects of my home and the reason behind certain design features. It would not be an easy home to sell as it would not appeal to everyone. Before too long he had an interested party and a contract was written up.

As often happens a situation developed which potentially was a deal breaker. Brendan’s quick appraisal of the situation and ability to provide a solution meant the deal proceeded to a successful conclusion for all parties.

I cannot recommend his sales abilities highly enough. You will not be disappointed with his and his team’s service and commitment to the sale of your property.

Many had the opportunity but only one succeeded!"

Testimonial

Name: Jeremaia
Date: 21 March 2008

The team have a slogan “Integrity with results”. As a local family we have bought and sold three properties over five years with the team. Integrity speaks for itself, you either have it or you don’t; they do. Honesty, even harder in Real Estate, but I have to say they WILL be honest with you regarding property values, even if it isn’t what you want to hear and you the Vendor choose to ignore them, in the long run they will be right. Results, well I am a believer, two of our sales weren’t exactly straightforward and both times they achieved results within half their self imposed time lines. 

I am also a believer in “together everyone achieves more” TEAM, and even though as a Vendor you deal predominately with one special agent, the whole team works with you at given times. Even more importantly with a young family they respect your space, daily lives and work around baby toys. By this I mean they give you ample time to clean and present your property before a viewing they ensure to call you after so you know it’s safe to go home again and they respect your stuff. 

I know this all might sound like a marketing pitch, but honestly, I have chosen to write this recommendation in my own words and mean every word. Ring me direct if you don’t believe me.  

Testimonial

Name: Mark & Dana
Date: July 2008

"We decided to put our house on the market and thought this would be an easy thing to do. As it turned out two local real estate agents didn’t want our listing as they had no one on their databases to sell it to. The third wanted to sell it at a price well below the two month old current valuation.

This left us totally disillusioned.

After meeting with Brendan Quill we were immediately struck by his positivity and enthusiasm. Quilly noticed all the little things about our property that we were so proud of. Our house was listed at a price we were happy with. It sold in six weeks with three offers on the table.

Buying or selling in Queenstown we would recommend Brendan Quill and the team."

Graeme Jackson

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (03) 442 3455
Mobile: +64 (021) 667 067
Contact Graeme

Email: graeme@hoamz.co.nz

After years of visiting Central Otago as a child during the school holidays, Graeme knew at a young age that Queenstown was the place he wanted to settle down. Twenty years later, “it's a city yet it's not," is how he sums up Queenstown, and that suits him down to the ground.

After a rewarding forestry career, and after taking a break to complete a Diploma in Recreation & Sport, Graeme returned to Queenstown. Exploration of the region’s great outdoors led him to realise that mountain biking, fishing and golf had moved ahead of rugby on his list of recreational pursuits.

Spending 15 years in the tourism industry and managing one of the most popular tourist operations in the district made Graeme realise that there was one thing missing for him - Property! So along came hoamz (then named Southern Lakes Real Estate). After achieving some exceptional goals in his first three years of real estate, Graeme now helps guide the business to even higher levels, never losing focus on his sole objective; creating a memorable experience for all customers and changing the perception of Real Estate in this town. 

Nowadays he and his wife and two daughters enjoy camping, biking and skiing together and just love the four seasons activities that the area has to offer, making sure that they always LIVE Queenstown!

Fred Bramwell

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (03) 442 7409
Mobile: +64 (021) 435 694
Contact Fred

Email: fred@hoamz.co.nz

Meeting challenges is nothing new to former international swimmer Fred.

After a brief period shepherding in his native East Cape, his talent was recognised and he spent the next few years representing his country in pools around the world. And he stayed with the water when he first came to Queenstown at the tender age of 30.

Rafting was one of the town's signature businesses in those days and Fred was in the thick of it. After qualifying as a raft guide and building up an enviable reputation for his skills, he decided there was room in the marketplace for a specialist.

Together with a business partner he started Extreme Green Rafting, a company that made him a major player on the region's booming tourism stage. Selling trips to hordes of happy customers wasn't enough for him though and he developed an arm of the company that made him a sought after commodity in Hollywood.

Once the international film world discovered New Zealand and its rugged waterways, they realised a safety expert who knew the area was something they just couldn't do without. In stepped Fred and his business partner and pretty soon his client list included blue chip names like Lord of the Rings and a host of other film productions.

But he hadn't been idle on other fronts either. Since first arriving in the town he'd been taking an interest in the property market, steadily building up a portfolio. "It's a fascinating business and Queenstown is unique in its investment opportunities. It has been for years, it still is, and I don't see anything to change that for some time to come," says Fred.

Once he'd sold his interest in the rafting company he was thinking about relaxing for a while and enjoying the fruits of his labours, but it wasn't to be. "Brendan and Warren approached me to join hoamz (known as Southern Lakes Real Estate at the time) and to be perfectly honest I resisted quite strongly. I had no interest in being a real estate agent, I had a lot of preconceptions," he says.

He hadn't counted on the company philosophy though.

"After we'd met a few times I realised they were building something new, something which didn't fit with the picture I had. Now I'm here I'm really enjoying it. I enjoy property and I enjoy people."

"Plus, there's a genuine team spirit here and I love the chance to get out and help not only our clients, but the rest of the team as well. That may sound like a PR statement but I promise you it's not. That's not the sort of bloke I am. Our job is all about providing a service and for my money, nobody does it better."

Testimonial

Name: M Wikstrom
Date: June 2009

I dealt with a few companies and yours stood out head and shoulders above the rest! Fred and Simon were great to deal with – no rubbish and no fancy talk – can’t be bothered with that. Good down to earth, professional service.

Testimonial

Name: J Page
Date: 5 May 2009

Hi Fred,

Such a very big heartfelt thank you to you and all the team.

As I’ve said before, you are by far, the best property team I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with.

With a strong desire to sell behind us and a massively proactive team such as yours enabling us to realise the financial potential of the Queenstown property we are now in a position where Phil has life options that were previously less available to him.

The adventure has just begun......

Rowan McDonald

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Mobile: +64 (021) 222 6314
Contact Rowan

Email: rowan@hoamz.co.nz

Ask Rowan how he made up his mind to work in real estate and he'll have a ready answer… "It's just the standard Queenstown route...track guide, ski instructor, jet boat driver!"

And as anybody in the team at hoamz can tell you, there's not much wrong with that. Rowan's been learning the ins and outs of the area since he first arrived in 1991.

In those days he was back-to-backing ski jobs between European and Kiwi winters as a precursor to a 'real job' in tourism sales and marketing.

Not that he let a little thing like work get in the way of traveling, though the Pacific got the brunt of the McDonald effect with long-term, Queenstown-based roles that brought Fiji and Australia onto his resume.

As a seventh-generation McDonald from Outram, near Dunedin, Rowan knows the value of belonging, and made the decision to put down roots in Queenstown a long time ago.

These days he's a well-known member of the community and, like the rest of the team at hoamz, a part of the furniture.

That's not to say he doesn't like getting away now and again.

"I'm right into hanging out with my nieces and nephews, Finn, almost 4, Caitlin two-and-a-half and Meg, who's one. They're very cool, Finn and Meg live in Outram and Caitlin lives in Dunedin," he says.

Looks like there'll be young McDonald descendants visiting Uncle Rowan for some years to come then!

Testimonial

Name: Henk Hocken - USA
Date: May 2010

Veronica and I would like to Thank You for your dedication and professional yet pleasant assistance in helping us purchase our rental property last week. It was a true pleasure working with you and we'll certainly come back to you and Hoamz for any additional purchases in future.

Testimonial

Date: September 2007

In the last 6 months we have sold our home and bought a section, co-incidentally both of these transactions were through Rowan McDonald.

Rowan was always a pleasure to deal with and we felt that he was really on our side throughout the whole process. He achieved the ideal balance between keeping us informed as the situation required, whilst never being too "in your face" as many Real Estate agents are, making what could have been a stressful and overwhelming process as hassle-free as it ever could be. Something else that set Rowan's service apart was his ability to really listen to our needs and not try to sell us property that we were not interested in.

Once everything was signed and sealed, Rowan thoughtfully called in with a little thank you, which was as appreciated as it was unexpected.

We didn't have a mansion to sell, nor were we buying at Queenstown's high-end, but we were made to feel like valued and preferred customers.

We will definitely look to Rowan when we make our next move.

Testimonial

Name: Anna and Mark
Date: September 2008

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Rowan McDonald at an Open Home he was holding in Lake Hayes Estate. At our initial meeting we found Rowan to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable about residences for sale in and around Queenstown. 

Over the following few weeks, we very much appreciated that Rowan had listened to our requirements, taken our budget into account, and arranged to show us a variety of suitable homes. We did not visit any homes which were unsuitable or out of our specified price range, and we did not feel pressured by any sort of 'sales tactic'. We found Rowan to be patient, friendly and helpful at all times. 

During the purchase of our current property, Rowan was extremely conscientious in all aspects of the purchase. Rowan responded promptly to any enquiries we had, and was at all times approachable and efficient. 

We have lived in the Queenstown area for fourteen years. During that time we have purchased several houses, and have encountered a number of real estate agents. This was by far the smoothest and easiest house purchase we have made, and we attribute this to Rowan's high standards and professionalism. 

We have found the service provided by Rowan to be exceptional. We would not hesitate to contact Rowan regarding the sale or purchase of a property in the future, and we highly recommend Rowan to all prospective buyers and sellers.

Jannette Highsted

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Mobile: +64 (021) 608 613
Contact Jannette

Email: jannette@hoamz.co.nz

An appreciation for architecture is a definite helping hand when working in the real estate business, and luckily Jannette is a true aficionado when it comes to house design. Every day on the job is like “opening presents” for Janette when she sees new properties...and that's just how she she likes her clients to feel when helping them into a new home!

A born and bred Southland girl, Jannette came to us from Gore where she excelled in the real estate game. The Queenstown market was the obvious next challenge for her to tackle and she’s continuing to build upon an extensive database of investors from all over New Zealand and Australia.

But before getting into selling homes, Jannette spent much of her spare time upgrading and improving older houses and turning them into “palaces”. Landscaper, painter, interior decorator; she’s done it all. “I’m a real fan of point of difference architecture,” says Jannette and after building three of her own homes, she’s an expert on what sells houses.

Jannette has never looked back since getting into real estate and one of her big achievements is completing her licensee certificate and getting those important letters “ARIENZ” added to her title.

 “I love the hoamz motto - "where your heart is" - Queenstown's my home - and my heart's right  here, in this wonderful town with this wonderful team! You can never complain of having nothing to do - there is just so much choice”.  With a strong interest in fitness and the outdoors and an energetic manner, Jannette truly enjoys being part of the hoamz team.

Testimonial

Name: Vicki and Graham Hedley
Date: May 2010

We had been trying to buy an apartment in Queenstown for about 7 months when Jannette Highsted came to our rescue.  We found Jannette to be ever cheerful and patient answering our many detailed queries.  She was not only very prompt but also very professional always keeping us in the loop when waiting on 3^rd party answers to pass on to us.  We changed our mind quite suddenly at one point and followed an option that we were initially disinterested in, and Jannette more than happily continued to supply us with her good service and humour – this is a stage where previously many other agents had turned sour and given up on us.

In short we are now the happy owners of Queenstown real estate and Jannette not only made that possible but she was our one point of contact in the process who was ever reliable helping us solve issues where ever they arose.

Testimonial

Name: Faye, Ross and Shane
Date: February 2010

Testimonial

Name: Shirley and Nev
Date: September 2009

We were very happy with your performance regards the sale of our house in Kingston. Your attitude, energy, professionalism and commitment to the sale did not go unnoticed. You have some very good systems in place eg. phone and email and marketing.

We would have no hesitation in passing your name to others.

We wish to thank you sincerely and wish you all the best for the future.

Testimonial

Name: R Brabazon
Date: 10 June 2009

Upon being asked to recommend a Queenstown agent:

We worked with Jannette Highsted who we found to be very hard working and efficient. I am sure that Jannette will be able to assist your friend. Please ask him to tell Jannette that I recommended her.

Testimonial

Name: A McDonald
Date: 5 May 2009

Sometimes we have to make a decision that is difficult to make when we sell a property. Often made because of financial gain or physical limitations, in my case the latter was the driving force. To sell my Kiwi Cottage and associated land at Kingston was a decision that I agonized over for many weeks. Would I sell and how would I organize the procedure. Who could I ask for assistance? 

By chance I visited an Open Home in Kingston as the design of the dwelling interested me for I had spent all my life associated with the building trade and spoke to the real estate agent. I invited the Lady to assess my property, my introduction to Jannette Highsted. 

We came to an agreement and it was all on. My theory was that, the sale notice would not cost me a cent sitting out in front of my property no matter how long it rested there. I underestimated Jannette who worked very efficiently and as time progressed suggested some plan changes in our approach to our sale plans. I was in a position to be flexible as the new approach that was agreed on was different to the original plan of sale. I was impressed with the communication, hearing from Jannette once a week to keep me informed. Any question I asked the answer came back the same day, refreshingly different from some people one deals with. 

I had to be patient over one part of the transaction as there were two properties involved but as I was in a position to do so, the end result was satisfactory to me. My dealings with Jannette were very satisfactory and I thank her for making what I thought would be a difficult time, trouble free.

Testimonial

Name: A Smith
Date: 30 January 2009

I would like to thank you very much for all the effort you put into selling my property.

I was very impressed with your friendly, professional service and the regular feedback you gave after prospective buyers viewed it.

I would have no hesitation in recommending you to prospective buyers and vendors.

It was a pleasure working with you.

Testimonial

Name: Lorraine
Date: 1 May 2007

"Having had our house on the market for approximately six months with a sole agent with little success, Jannette Highsted approached us to see if she could have a go.

We found her enthusiastic, honest and prepared to work for us the Vendor, not just for the commission.

After dealing with other agents we found Jannette prepared to do the job we expected and the house was successfully sold.

We have no hesitation in recommending Jannette to any other Vendors."

Testimonial

Name: Pat & Peter
Date:  7 June 2008

"I am relieved that the trauma of selling our house is now over, after only two months in your hands. We have admired your expertise and energy in progressing matters which were necessary for an “out of season” sale; the Listing Contract was clearly and rapidly produced, and the photographic presentation was excellent. Clearly you have produced a quality web site that can be expected to produce results.

We wish you well in your future property sales in Kingston and the wider Lakes District."

Testimonial

Name: Sal

"I just wanted to say how god damn pleased I was to have you on the job selling our Kingston property earlier this year. Without your focus I’m not sure we would have had a sale in this testing economic climate. Sure, we did get seriously real on the price and our expectations. I’m also reassured in hindsight that you got the best deal you could and you stuck with the potential buyers and followed through.

Thank you for your professional commitment to selling our property and all the best for the future."

 Testimonial

Name:  Ray & Flora
Date: 16 April 2008

"Jannette Highsted handled the recent sale of our property in Kingston.

We were very impressed by her professionalism, her knowledge and friendliness and most impressed too by the way she speedily completed the sale process to our advantage."

Testimonial

Name: Dion
Date: 2 August 2008

"I am very thorough and only deal with agents that are the same.

Your constant updates and attention to detail are two reasons why I continue to deal with you.

You kept me updated during the peak of the market when most agents thought they were God’s gift and picked and chose who they dealt with.

That was in the Mataura days before the jump to Queenstown. I never forget where I started and always trust my instincts.

Having property internationally, the hard yards are done in the prep and one property is only part of the jigsaw.

Thanks again Jannette, God bless."

Testimonial (abridged)

Name: Margaret and Maurie

"Dear Jannette,

Thank you for the work you have done towards the sale of our property.

We have found you and your Real Estate company very consistent, persistent and efficient. Your regular supply of information of the market, sales and upcoming property opportunities has kept us in the picture. At the time, we would have liked more people through to view the house, but feel that circumstance has served us and the Wrights well. You will have found the eventual sale straight forward with little stress other than the waiting on finances to come through!!

 So Jannette, thank you again. We have appreciated your input, and wish you and the team the best of support and success over the years."

Testimonial

Name: Wayne and Lesley
Date: 15th December 2008

Thanks so very much Jannette on the recent sale of our property in Kingston. We were taken completely by surprise how fast our property sold especially in this time of uncertainty. We believe it was all down to you and your market strategy and personality.

Lesley and I appreciated your prompt communications on all aspects of the sale. This was so important when we live so far away. The quick emails and phone calls you made all helped the process go so much easier.

For your information we have spread the good word about you and the team. Once again please accept our warmest thanks and gratitude.

Maria Wyndham

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 4388
Mobile: +64 (021) 997 522
Contact Maria

Email: maria@hoamz.co.nz

If a big smile, a bubbly personality and a genuine love of helping people into their dream home counts for something in real estate, then Maria Wyndham’s at the top of the stack. Couple that with sales and negotiation skills finely honed after years of experience and you’ve got a sales consultant with everything in place.

Maria’s always believed real estate was for her, and sat her REINZ papers soon after joining hoamz (then Southern Lakes Real Estate) as Warren White's PA.

Being surrounded by the knowhow, experience and positive energy of New Zealand's most legendary property sales consultant has helped Maria onto the road to becoming a legend in her own right! That may sound a little like a fairy tale but Maria and carpenter husband Bruce have had a good deal of property experience over the years too. Combining their joint skill sets of building and interior design, the couple have produced and sold numerous homes, which has given them invaluable insight into the property industry.

 "I think it's fair to say we've learned what should be expected by vendors and buyers alike. We know the procedure, we know which consultants stood out and which were left in the shade, so it was time to put those lessons into practice," says Maria of the start of her real estate career. Years down the track, she’s well established as a successful member of the hoamz team.

Whether it’s her infectious enthusiasm at a listing appointment, her knowledge and skills at a serious buyer negotiation or a practical joke on a member of the team, there’s never a dull moment when Maria’s around!

Testimonial

Name: Peter and Elaine K
Date: April 2010

Testimonial

Name: Corey S
Date: March 2010

Testimonial

Name: Brett G
Date: November 2009

To whom it may concern.

 I first met Maria Wyndham around five years ago when I was looking to purchase property in Queenstown. My wife and I had specific needs in a property so not just any house would be appropriate. Maria took the time to understand our needs and actively set about compiling a number of houses that would meet our requirements.

Over the years circumstances continued to change for us, keeping us overseas and delaying our move to Queenstown. During this time Maria continued to search out properties and keep us updated on the state of the property market here. We trusted Maria’s opinion and on the occasions we were in Queenstown we viewed the properties Maria suggested. Earlier this year we found the perfect property and Maria negotiated the purchase for us while we were out of town.

Throughout the entire process we have found Maria to be very thorough, extremely professional, proactive and always pleasant. Other agents may have walked away given the length of time spent looking but Maria stayed with it and completed the sale. I highly recommend Maria to potential buyers and sellers.

Testimonial

Name: Clive and Joy
Date: September 2009

Recently we have been successful in selling our property at auction through your company with Maria Wyndham as our agent. Maria was thorough in her approach ensuring we were fully aware of all processes through our initial discussions and subsequent meetings with her. We were kept well-informed, prior to and following open homes, and of the activity surrounding prospective purchasers. Maria advised us to attend an auction prior to our own which we found very helpful giving us a thorough understanding of what to expect. Her attention to detail ensured all the necessary paperwork prior to auction was completed so that on the evening the auction unfolded as smoothly as possible. We have been very pleased with the professionalism and whole team approach when dealing with them and in particular Maria and would recommend her and them to any potential vendors.

Testimonial

Name: Shirley
Date: 16 February 2009

"A little note to thank you for all your consistently hard work over the time it took to sell our house.

It’s a stressful time selling a house and even when I got testy you always remained calm, cheerful, helpful and patient.

You and the team are a great crew and I loved the fun you brought into even the dullest of days.

To get the sale together, you and Quilly (Agent Gold Tooth) worked extremely hard and tenaciously and showed intelligent handling of a stubborn stalemate.

Well done and thankyou."

Testimonial

Name: Nigel & Marlene
Date: 25 August 2008

"1 Silverwood Lane, Kelvin Heights

The above property had been on a general listing for approximately four months, when we approached Maria Wyndham regarding marketing on a sole agency with your company.

Maria was very positive about the property, and mapped out a marketing strategy with us, whilst allowing us to have some input into the plan.

Within two weeks Maria had matched the property to some of her clients, and an offer was made for the property.

There were some issues with the title and permits, due to a previous sub-division, which had to be checked by the Council authorities, however Maria did all of the research and investigation, and was able to satisfy the purchasers that these were not an issue.

Maria has worked very hard on this sale, and especially in a quiet period, and also in a time of slight uncertainty in the market, she has managed to secure an unconditional sale at a price that was most satisfactory to us.

We are very grateful to Maria for her professionalism and enthusiasm shown during the sale of our property.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Maria to anyone selling or purchasing a house in the Queenstown Southern Lakes District."

Testimonial

Name: Simon & Nina
Date: Christmas 2007

"Thank you so much for all your help with our house – you really sold it to us and we both thank our lucky stars that it was you on the desk that morning! Love Simon and Nina"

Testimonial (abridged)

Name: Yasushi & Mari
Date: 2007

"We can say anything when we are talking about property and private matter with Maria. She always makes us feel fun and relax. She gives us her call or email quickly anytime. We had a good communication with her because she often call us or send us her email. She gave us necessary information at each marketing stage, i.e. advertisement options and cost, professional photographer and etc. She and the Marketing Team gave us a good advice on marketing for our property selling. 

They are very well organized because we can discuss an Ad with Ad specialist and have good advice on the next marketing plan from the Marketing Team, and ask a rental property team to use house for temporary stay until buying property.

Maria is our trusted coordinator and all of the members of the company are supporting her to achieve for our success. I think this is the best business model for client service on property marketing, because vendors and purchasers can obtain a good idea, know-how, experience and skill from all of the members for selling or buying property.

We always feel enjoyable and comfortable when we come to the office and talking with members because everyone talks to us casually and freely anywhere and anytime with a big smile like an old friend. They seem to be working for pleasure, but it is a very good thing. We look forward to coming the office every time because we can enjoy with them.

This business model for client service is absolutely a sustainable success model. I would like to tell all of my Japanese friends about the team in Queenstown."

Testimonial

Name: Ann & Neil
Date: 25 August 2008

"Thank you Maria for working so well for us. You were friendly, adaptable and more than ready to go the extra mile. We truly appreciated everything you did for us to ensure we got the property we wanted. We will be recommending you to anyone we wanting a property in Queenstown."

Testimonial

Name: Gemma
Date: 23 August 2008

"We found Maria very helpful and courteous. Maria always made a great effort to show us properties in her own time and was always there to answer questions the best she could.

Maria took onboard exactly what we were looking for in a property and I would not hesitate in recommending her services to others."

Lindal Ngata

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (03) 442 1822
Mobile: +64 (027) 3068 914
Contact Lindal

Email: lindal@hoamz.co.nz

Living life to your own beat isn’t a bad way to get along, but grooving to the strum of his guitar has always been the Lindal Ngata philosophy!

Since he was just a wee boy growing up in Christchurch, Lindal’s passion for music has been a huge part of his life and has taken him to all corners of the South Island.

If you take a look at the rest of our team, it’s plain that passion is not a bad thing to have when working in real estate. Lindal’s fervor for property was awoken through his wife Michelle’s job at a local Invercargill agency while he was studying sound engineering. Music is still a great love for Lindal, but helping families into new homes is now number one.

Lindal lists his other interests as sport, poker (of the Hold’em-Texas variety, although he admits his poker face is rather second-rate…) and of course, family life - children Jayde, Te Ana and Hoani have taken to their new home in Arrowtown with gusto.

In 2007, Lindal was named Southland Guitarist of the Year. Testament to his love of performing and entertaining, he’s been involved in countless bands, musicals and has even visited Germany as part of a music and dance group. Not just an expert with the guitar, Lindal also plays the bass, keyboard, drums and sings.

So the beat that has seen him true so far now finds him as part of the hoamz team. With two pianists, a drummer and a vocalist already among our company’s talents, we think Lindal can only add more magic to the rich hoamz musical tapestry!

Testimonial

Name: I Takizawa
Date: May 2010

Re: Mr Lindal Ngata

My property is successfully sold all thanks to the great service of Mr Ngata. He worked as my Real Estate Agent. His proactive approach and his dedication to his client and also other team members effort achieved a great result.

I have sold several properties since I moved to Queenstown so I have used several different services from agents in other companies. I know who is good and who is not. I could not imagine you could find a better person than Mr Ngata for selling your property.

He has worked very hard, sometimes even outside regular hours. I am very impressed with his excellent people skills and wonderful personality, qualities that make him a very successful Real Estate Agent.

I highly recommend him as an excellent agent to anyone who wants to sell their property, especially in very difficult market conditions.

Testimonial

Name: R Nyberg
Date: November 2009

To The Managing Director/Owner

I am writing to you to express what a valuable asset Lindal Ngata is to your company.   We first met Lindal at an open day at Quill Street Lake Hayes Estate.   We were very impressed with his polite friendly manner.  Previously we had met other real estate agents at other properties.  My wife and I both discussed how we hoped we would buy a property off him, as we felt we could trust him. 

He helped us secure our home and his after sales service was exceptional, we had a few issues that had to be worked out with the vendor.  I cannot speak highly enough of Lindal.  Due to him we recommend hoamz to our family and friends. 

Too often real estate people are after a quick dollar, but not Lindal he works in the best interest of the buyer and seller. 

He is a credit to his peers.  Just to let you know we really appreciated his help.

Testimonial

Name: S Zuschlang
Date: November 2009

To whom it may concern

‘On Behalf of me and my family, I would like to thank Lindal Ngata for his friendly yet professional approach in dealing with us for a section we purchased in Arrowtown.  As an agent he ticked all the boxes for us and as a result we are very happy with our purchase.  We wish him the very best.’

Testimonial

Name: S Vogt
Date: September 2009

 ‘I recently purchased a Unit in Hallenstein Street in Queenstown, when I’m ready to sell I’ll definitely do this through Lindal Ngata and agency Hoamz, until that time, thank-you and all the best.’

Testimonial

Name: I Takizawa
Date: September 2009

 ‘I met Lindal Ngata at an Open Home, I instantly felt comfortable with him, and he helped me to sell my property on Sainsbury Road.  I am very pleased to of met Lindal and will continue to work with him in the near future.’

Testimonial

Name: S J Lee
Date: August 2009

 ‘Lindal gave me a call in regards to my property, since then he has sold a section and my house, I have since moved from Queenstown to Auckland, and we continue to communicate.  I have always felt comfortable with Lindal, you can trust him’.

Testimonial

Name: R Bickley
Date: July 2009

To whoever it may concern.

Having just recently sold and purchased property in Arrowtown, I wish to acknowledge the service received from Lindal Ngata as agent.

His friendly, professional and helpful manner assisted greatly with the decision making and I have no hesitation in recommending him to future clients.

Testimonial

Name: B & J Weir
Date: June 2009

To Whom It May Concern:

We highly recommend Lindal Ngata to be your Real Estate Agent. We live in Hamilton, and bought an apartment in Queenstown using Lindal as our Agent. It was important to us being so far away to find someone who really understood what we were after. Given criteria of what we were looking for in an apartment, Lindal produced an excellent range of units to look at that fitted these criteria. 

After our initial visit to Queenstown to view these units, we had complete faith that Lindal would find the right one for us… and he did. He updated us weekly on the status of properties and eventually found the right property. We had so much faith in him we put an offer on this property without actually seeing it in person based on video footage he produced and photos. When we did see the property our faith in him was proven to be correct.

Lindal was hardworking, a good communicator and easy to get on with. He was patient with our children as we dragged them from unit to unit, and nothing was ever too much trouble. Lindal did more for us than we have received in the past from other Real Estate Agents we have dealt with.

Testimonial

Name: P & B Dunne
Date: March 2009

We would both like to thank you very much for your hard work and dedicated efforts in the selling of our property.

We would have no hesitation in recommending your services and wish you all the very best for your future, and are confident that you will be very successful.

Garry Pankhurst

Sales Consultant / Business Broker

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8090
Mobile: +64 (027) 433 6304
Contact Garry

Email: garry@hoamz.co.nz

There’s a familiar quality that runs through much of the hoamz staff roll and Garry Pankhurst typifies this trait: he’s a Southlander, born and bred!

Having lived in Invercargill since he was a wee boy, Garry’s experience in sales began four decades ago in a local car yard. After gaining the skills he needed, Garry and his business partner formed O’Callaghan Pankhurst Motors and proceeded to build it into a thriving company.

True to the die-hard sporting tradition of Southlanders, Garry has been a fanatical sportsman his whole life. As well as playing first class rugby for the Invercargill Pirates, representing New Zealand in softball and also enjoying a regular round of golf, he’s shouldered many roles off the field too. He’s served as chairman of the Southland Rugby Union, President of the Invercargill Pirates during their Centenary year and manager of the Southland Rugby team.

Around the end of his fourth decade of selling cars, it was time for a lifestyle change.

Garry and his wife Marie packed up and shifted to Queenstown in 2000, in part for the resort’s great weather.

While Garry’s sales and business experience sets him in perfect stead for real estate, it was his passion for property (he’s bought and sold three times since moving to Queenstown!) that really spurred his eagerness for the job.

“The thing that makes me happiest is a happy environment, and that’s exactly what you get in our office,” he says.

And continuing on with the team’s strong tradition of quality, service and integrity, Garry’s bringing his own strong roots and connection with the community into the job.

Testimonial

Name: Brian & Jan
Date: 30 August 2009

To Whom It May Concern:

We entrusted the sale of our property at 379 Peninsula Road, Queenstown, to Garry Pankhurst. After discussing the various methods of sale we decided, with Garry’s advice, to take the property to auction. Through their excellent marketing campaign, Garry and his fellow salespersons managed to show over 40 lots of people through the property in the four weeks leading up to the auction and created the necessary interest which we believed helped us attain the best price the market would pay. Thanks also go to Brendan Quill who was a master auctioneer on the day of the sale.

We have no hesitation in recommending Garry Pankhurst to do an excellent full service program for the sale of a property.

Alasdair Roy

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (03) 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (03) 442 3991
Mobile: +64 (027) 4347 770
Contact Alasdair

Email: alroy@hoamz.co.nz

A life on the ocean wave can take many forms, and for Alasdair Roy it’s been a diverse one. From days spent on oil rigs towering above the perilous North Sea to the frozen ice shelves over the Antarctic and right up to the present day’s sailing trips around the Pacific – adventures on the high seas have certainly prepared this true blue kiwi for the rollercoaster world of real estate.

A South Islander born and bred, Alasdair’s work-hard, play-hard philosophy makes him a perfect fit for the outdoor-loving hoamz team. When he’s not busily selling Queenstown real estate, Al spends his weekends boating, climbing and tramping; a life-long love affair with Fiordland has stood him in good stead as a regular competitor in multi-sport events including the famed Coast-to-coast and Southern Traverse.

Going the extra mile has never been a problem for Al – or Alroy as he’s more widely known. Those extra miles have even taken him as far as the south pole – twice! A very rare feat for a Kiwi, making him one of just a handful of people to have done so.  Despite a few chilly seasons spent on the ice, his warm personality and love of working with people has meant 15 years of real estate success.

When asked why hoamz (Southern Lakes Real Estate at the time) was the first port of call for him, the answer was simple – ‘a high profile company with proven results and a great team, many of whom I already knew and liked’. 

So that’s an adventure-loving nature, hard-working outlook, a seriously motivated attitude, a fan of the outdoors, a wealth of real estate knowledge and exemplary people skills. To unashamedly coin a real estate cliché, Alroy ticks all the boxes.

Ged Hay

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: 03 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: 03 441 1386
Mobile: 0274 440 089
Contact Ged

Fiona McDonald

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (0)3 441 8858
Mobile: +64 (0)275 500 966
Contact Fiona

Email: fiona@hoamz.co.nz

An innate joie de vivre is apparent from the moment you meet Fiona McDonald. There’s no denying this is one lady with boundless energy, who throws herself wholeheartedly into every venture in life, from travelling overseas pursuing dreams to achieving success in her career; Fiona does everything with passion and commitment.

Naturally you’d think that makes her a perfect member of the team - we all know the hoamz sales squad are a committed bunch, but Fiona arguably takes the cake on making sure she’s got every form of life experience required to excel in a role as a Sales Consultant. From studying Property Valuation at university, to working as a labourer on building sites, she’s left nothing to chance in equipping herself for a career in real estate.

She also has one extra special skill to set her apart from the crowd – a lifelong love affair with supermarkets (The editor would like it noted that we’re not making this up…), in which she spends time identifying, being inspired by and understanding new products and the best ways to use them. So she’s well placed to work with new properties to the market, and understand the right buyer and the solutions those properties can provide for them. After all, ‘outside the square’ thinking and problem solving are two of the driving forces of this Southland girl, along with a love of spending time with friends and walking in Queenstown’s great outdoors.

When asked ‘why hoamz’ as her choice for a real estate career, she’s quick with an answer: ‘I wanted to work with the most progressive, actively motivated team who moved with the times and constantly reviews and improves the way they do business’. 

Right place, right time – after 15 years in Queenstown, a proven track record in sales and an ‘above and beyond’ attitude to life Fiona’s an asset to the team. To talk to Fiona just give her a call – or alternatively pop into your local supermarket and there’s a good chance you’ll find her browsing the aisles!

Chris Connor

Sales Consultant

Office Hours: +64 (0) 3 441 8858
Out of Office Hours: +64 (0) 3 409 0191
Mobile: +64 (027) 473 1529
Contact Chris

Email: chris@hoamz.co.nz

An amiable handshake, combined with a smart suit and a twinkle of the eye seem somehow at odds with the nickname ‘Rhino’, yet in Chris Connor’s case, it’s a natural marriage! A real estate professional of more than 25 years, Chris has charged his way through the years with buoyant optimism and a commitment to professionalism that’s stood him in good stead.

An early career as a hotel manager set Chris on a customer service path which he’s pursued with gusto. Undeniably a people person, Chris values ‘meeting people and being able to help them’ above all else, making him the perfect fit for the property business. Having decided he preferred being the boss to taking orders from one (after all, rhinos are leaders rather than followers), his determination and head for business led to the establishment of his own successful real estate company in Mt Maunganui. A couple of decades and plenty of sales later, Chris and wife Vivienne opted for a move south.

When questioned on the motivation for moving from the sunny north, the answer is quick in coming ‘Rivers, mountains, lakes and streams – look at it, how could you not want to move here?’. Our sentiments exactly, Chris, hence the excellent decision to join the team at hoamz, also known for their love of everything Queenstown has to offer.

So if you’re looking for old-fashioned values, superior service and a wealth of experience, talk to Chris. In his own words ‘It’s not the promise but the process that’ll deliver the best results’.

And the nickname? Dating back (by his own confession) a long, long, time, it’s all about his ‘enthusiastic’ approach to rugby. The rest can be left to the imagination.

Sue Charlesworth

Marketing Manager

Mobile: 021 648 422
Contact Sue

Hugh Clark

Marketing Coordinator

Office Hours: 03 4418858
Contact Hugh

Andrea McWhirter

Office Manager

Office Hours: +64 (0)3 441 8858
Contact Andrea

Debra Loewe

Business Support

Office Hours: +64 (0)3 441 8858
Contact Debra

Emma Watson

Receptionist

Office Hours: +64 (0)3 441 8858
Contact Emma