Elders Bangalow merges with Elders Lennox Head and welcomes some familiar faces, reflecting changes in the local property market
Elders Lennox Head has acquired a second office through the purchase of Elders Bangalow.
It is a move its owners believe will help them better service Ballina and Byron Shire locals, who are increasingly moving away from the hustle and bustle of Byron Bay itself and into the more relaxed surrounds of the hinterland and surrounding villages.
“Byron Bay is a special place,” says Director Michael King. “There is a great mix of people and lifestyles and it is a very accepting environment.”
“In recent years, the town has matured. There’s a larger variety of restaurants and facilities, functions and festivals that bring an even greater diversity to the town and provide the locals with a very nice lifestyle. But, of course, this also brings a big influx of people.”
“Many locals are looking for a low key and relaxed lifestyle that’s still cosmopolitan. And, increasingly, they’re finding that in places like Bangalow and Lennox Head, which offer similar facilities and a similar sophistication to Byron but with a relaxed pace of life.”
Natural synergies between Lennox Head and Bangalow
One is coastal and the other is country, but Lennox and Bangalow share a similar village feel, are both community oriented and offer residents a great café and restaurant culture, as well as a healthy lifestyle.
Both towns are also now high growth areas, popular with tree-changers and locals alike. This means there is a natural crossover between the property markets in the two towns.
By amalgamating the two offices, Elders Lennox Head and Elders Bangalow will be able to provide buyers and tenants with coverage across the entire Ballina and Byron Shires, with a reach that stretches into Byron, Suffolk Park, Ballina, Lennox, Bangalow and the hinterland lifestyle properties.
A new challenge for both offices
After dominating the Lennox Head property market for over 20 years, Michael King and his team felt this was a new challenge and great opportunity for both businesses.
“This amalgamation brings us to a total team of 23 including 9 sales people,” says Michael. “We also have in excess of 450 managements on our rent roll and a wider geographic reach.”
Elders Lennox Head is already the established market leader in North Coast real estate and have been helping local property owners buy, sell, or lease property since 1990.
Meanwhile, Elders Bangalow office has a strong track record in property sales, rural sales, leasing and storage sheds, in Bangalow itself and across the Bangalow hinterland.
Established in 1980, Principals Janice Maple and Duncan Lorimer have owned the franchise since 2010. Together they bring significant experience of over 50 years in real estate.
They have an excellent reputation, many record sales and industry awards, and are widely regarded as the leading real estate agency in the Byron Bay hinterland.
“Amalgamating the two offices will bring Bangalow locals a complete real estate agency package with an enormous depth of knowledge, experience and proven results,” Duncan Lorimer says.
“The merger will allow the Bangalow office to develop further, with both a larger sales and property management team. We are excited about having a much larger team to work with and the opportunities it presents for our staff, as well as ensuring even a better level of service to our clients.”
“Duncan and my new roles will allow us to step back from the business side and fully focus on what we love doing: helping both vendors and purchasers to conclude their plans with the minimum of fuss,” says Janice Maple. “We are both very excited about the next chapter for Elders Bangalow.”
And it will be business as usual, with the same staff, same branding, and same friendly service from both offices – just with the added benefit of a second office and improved reach, systems and technology for clients.
More familiar faces return to the Elders team
Elders Lennox Head has always been a family business at the heart of the local community. The King’s adult children grew up in the world of real estate, and after studying travelling and working elsewhere and in various industries from law to teaching have gradually returned home to raise their own families.
“Our children have brought with them new skills, enthusiasm and passion,” Michael King says. “And our son-in-law Nick Bordin has brought amazing real estate experience and introduced new and exciting ideas in a friendly, professional and respectful way.”
Coinciding with the amalgamation, Paul King, Michael’s brother, and a well-known Byron local who has worked in Byron Bay real estate since 1994, has also joined the team as a sales agent.
Paul has spent some years overseas and is relishing the opportunity to return home to the market he has seen mature over the past decades.
A natural next step for a successful business
For Michael King, the opportunity to purchase the Bangalow office allows him to use his business skills to take the two real estate agencies to the next level.
“When Duncan and Janice approached us about buying the Bangalow office we thought it was perfect timing and a great opportunity for us to combine two successful businesses and our experienced teams and build on their collective strengths,” he says.
“I am confident that with the help of my team we can join forces with Duncan and Janice in a positive and energetic venture, sharing new ideas and constantly lifting the bar to be bigger, stronger and better for our clients, while having some fun along the way.”
“The challenge is to learn new ways of remaining successful in an ever-changing marketplace,” Michael says. “I believe my success in real estate has been through hard work and an honest approach, I love people and am constantly rewarded by helping families create their dreams. And Janice and Duncan and their team share our approach.”
Read more about Elders Lennox Head.
Read more about Elders Bangalow.