MEDIA RELEASE
Harcourts boosted by acquisition from LJ Hooker franchisee in Huntly
21 November 2008: Just a few months after opening a second North Waikato office, Harcourts’ franchise Riverlands Real
Estate Ltd has expanded further through the purchase of a property management business from Huntly LJ Hooker franchisee
Meryle Lockley.
Riverlands Real Estate Ltd co-owners Stan Hickford and Dallas Hodge, who earlier this year set up an office in Te
Kauwhata to complement their established Huntly office, say their recent acquisition has substantially increased their
property management division.
“Until now we’ve only had a small portfolio of rental properties in the Te Kauwhata area under our management, so it’s a
big and exciting step for us to have purchased a large, established rent roll in Huntly that has been steadily built up
over the past 10 years,” Mrs Hodge says.
“Not only does the purchase enable us to strengthen our position in the local market, it’s also seen us gain an
excellent real estate professional in the form of experienced property manager Andrea Ardern who will continue to manage
the properties in the rent roll we have purchased.”
The move, which it is hoped will eventually see two Harcourts property managers based in the Huntly office, has benefits
for clients too, Mrs Hodge says.
“Obviously we now have a much wider range of rental properties to offer tenants, while the owners of the properties we
are now managing will benefit from the flow-on effects of their property manager having access to the leading-systems,
support and training available through Harcourts, which is New Zealand’s largest real estate group.”
Mrs Hodge says the Harcourts property management team is keen to increase its rent roll in the North Waikato and will be
working hard to achieve that.
“Obviously a key focus will be on delivering top quality customer service to existing customers, in addition to
proactively working to grow the business through various promotional efforts. Getting a company car especially
sign-written is just the first of many initiatives we’ve got planned,” she says.
ENDS