Tremains real estate expands to Taupo and CHB, more planned

Hawke's Bay-founded realtor Tremains has boosted staffing levels to open up in Taupo, as it eyes opening more branches elsewhere in the North Island.

Managing director and partner Simon Tremain said the company was "very excited" to have opened a new branch in Taupo on Monday.

"Our brand has a good community feel about it, we're genuine, and we think, and they do as well, that there's a real opportunity for us in that market."

Tremain said at present the company already had the Sotheby's International brand in Taupo, which had a good share of the high-end market but there was still another 60 to 70 per cent of the market that covered investors and first-home buyers, which was untouched.

"There's a lot of lakefront locations and holiday spots but they also have Taupo central with first-home buyers and older suburbs with homes that need a little bit of attention - so that's the mums and dads of the world and that's the Tremains market."

About seven people were already employed at the new Taupo branch, with Tremain looking to move the sales force from four to about 10.

"We've always been happy to stay in Hawke's Bay but now we have got the Colliers International and Sotheby's International brands working well for us, there's an opportunity to expand into other regions under those brands and then launch a Tremains to the main market."

Subject to how the Taupo operation performs, Tremains would be looking to open another branch further north in the future.

Founded by former All Black and local rugby legend Kel Tremain in 1970, the company operates in Napier, Taradale, Hastings and Havelock North, with another branch set to open soon in Waipukurau.

"We will be setting up Tremains in Waipukurau, and maybe looking further south as well."

FOOTNOTE. An earlier version of this story mentioned there were no locally owned and operated Real Estate businesses in Taupo. Gemma Miles, the principal/owner of B&W Real Estate has got in touch to let us know that her business is locally owned and operated in Taupo.