Cunninghams Northern Beaches has continued its expansion after merging with the former LJ Hooker Collaroy team.
The move comes after Cunninghams expanded to Avalon Beach in 2021.
Former LJ Hooker Collaroy Principal Andrew Strong and his team, who have served the Dee Why to Narrabeen region for almost 20 years, will continue to do so under the Cunninghams Northern Beaches brand.
Cunninghams Northern Beaches Managing Director John Cunningham said the merger formed part of the agency’s strategic growth strategy, which was all about bringing “the right people” on board at the right time.
“We’re looking at those small businesses that want to change and that want to be part of something bigger, to come with us,” he said.
“There’s a number of them we’re currently in conversations with to continue that pathway of smaller rent rolls we can absorb into our larger rent roll.
“This (LJ Hooker Collaroy merger) was a very strategic move for us and it fits with our strategy of bringing the right people into the business for them to growth with us.”
Mr Cunningham said he was thrilled to have Andrew and the Collaroy team join Cunninghams.
“Cunninghams is one team, four offices, and one business group so this is a huge value add for our new clients who will now have access to an extensive client database, as well as a large team of non-competing sales agents who also have broad client networks.”
Mr Cunningham said while the agency had the largest rent roll on the Northern Beaches, and a large sales team, the growth strategy wasn’t simply to be the biggest but, rather, to provide the best service.
“It’s about providing the best service to people by having the best possible people providing that service,” he said.
“The interesting thing is, when you go about it that way you often end up being the biggest because of the service and the culture that you bring with it.”
Part of the culture Cunninghams prides itself on is investing in its team members and growing them as leaders, with career pathways within the business.
Mr Cunningham said in 2022 they had brought on two more partners in the business, with the partnership team now sitting at 13.
“That’s quite a different model to everyone else,” he said.
“That is because we’ve developed all those people through their careers to be part of us.
“I think we’ve got 18 people in our leadership team, which is made up of management, partners and other key people who want to be part of the future of the business.
“So when you look at the size of business being close to 80 people, that’s almost one in four people in leadership.
“So it’s a different approach.”
When it comes to the sale and management of established residential property, Cunninghams are proven market leaders in the area, with their market share the highest it’s been in the company’s history.
Currently, Cunninghams sells close to one in nine homes along the beaches, from Manly to Palm Beach and out to the Forest region.
“Our brand and our reputation will bring clients a trusted and transparent approach to real estate,” Mr Cunningham said.
“We believe this is why we are the most recommended agency on the Northern Beaches according to our client reviews and surveys.
“This is something that matters to us as much as it matters to our clients.”
The expansion will allow Cunninghams to continue its trajectory of growth, strengthening the team to better service clients in the Dee Why, Cromer, Collaroy and Narrabeen area from a more prominent and central office location.
In the coming weeks the office at 1020 Pittwater Road Collaroy will be fitted with the Cunninghams colours and branding.
The existing Cunninghams Dee Why team will make the move just one kilometre north into the new office.
Mr Cunningham said being one business entity that operated in four locations also enabled the agency to develop its people through its training platform Cunninghams College and its culture program Cunninghams Cares.
“That’s how we can define what we do and who we are,” he said.
