Harcourts takes its own advice

By ANNE GIBSON

Expansion at the national headquarters of Harcourts in Auckland has led to the business moving from Penrose to Newmarket.

Chief executive Bryan Thomson said the head office, which moved from Christchurch to Auckland in January, had run out of space and the real estate agency was taking its own advice and buying a property instead of leasing.

"Real estate is the best investment," Thomson said, adding that some of the Christchurch office functions had been moved to Auckland, which was the national training office for the group.

The headquarters is on level two of Unisys House at 650 Great South Rd. The Newmarket offer had not gone unconditional, so Thomson could not say where the firm was moving.

Harcourts has also expanded into Takapuna and Devonport, after the franchise owner of its Milford and Glenfield offices, Martin Cooper, bought real estate agencies branded under the Impact name.

Harcourts in Tauranga opened a new rural and commercial office last month. This week, it opened a Fiji office and next month will open in Grey Lynn, bringing the group to over 160 offices.