When the RE/MAX brand expanded into four new countries in the first of half of 2020, it also recognised its resilient global leaders who championed entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.
As part of this recognition, RE/MAX global leaders singled out RE/MAX New Zealand CEO, Don Ha.
Mr Ha is the first New Zealander to own the region in its 24-year history with the brand, with the sale of theย regional master franchise toย Mr Haย conducted entirely over Zoom.
Since April this year, there has been exponential growth in the RE/MAX network in New Zealand.
โI had every opportunity back in February-March to back out of the deal because of the crisis and all its unknowns,โ Mr Ha explained.
โBut still I went ahead, because I saw the acquisition of RE/MAX New Zealand as bigger than the short term.
โI settled on April 1 โ and then things got more serious with the pandemic!โ
RE/MAX New Zealand has recently announced seven new offices, crucial re-signings, several office expansions, while applications are currently being processed for at least two new franchises.
While the country was in lockdown, Mr Ha was doing franchise presentations on Zoom in big numbers, over the whole country, with the aim of growing his network of offices.
โWe were reaching so many more people and it was a wider and more varied audience than we would have reached had we still been able to do things the traditional way.
โOur message was one of โhow to reinvent yourselfโ and it was delivered as a very strong message. We were teaching people how to reinvent themselves in business and that resonated with many kinds of people.โ
Among those now heading new RE/MAX offices are existing agents who stepped up to ownership, business owners pivoting from travel and banking industries, and business owners wanting to expand their offering.
โOne example is Paul and Sue Robinsonโs very successful travel business, with great business leaders and very skilled team.
“They are now turning all that experience into success in the real estate industry.
“Another is Neil Craigen, who was regional manager with one of New Zealandโs largest banks. He saw a pending restructure as compromising his financial future and personal life. He is now a business owner in control of his future.
โAnother instance is a very good busines that wanted to future-proof by adding a second string to its bow, so Steve Ropperโs busy renovations company is now in the business of real estate with two professional teams working side by side.
โWe have existing owners opening second and third offices, weโve opened Project Hub, a first-of-its-kind real estate retail shop on the ground floor of our Auckland head office, and we are excited to be openingย Thariq Rifki,ย Ivan and Julie Wong Keeโs office inย New Zealandโs capital, Wellington,โ Mr Ha said.
Creating new business is Mr Haโs passion but it is a passion steeped in culture and sharing success with others.
โI donโt just sell a franchise,โ he said.
โI sell a legacy. I make financial freedom and wealth creation possible, thereby providing for generations to come. It is very personal to me.โ
A new office opening in Westgate shows the depth of the RE/MAX CEOโs personal connection with his network.
โThis is a wonderful story of two young people with vision for the future,โ he explained.
โI first met Rozele and Ryan Singh just after they were born. I sold their parents their first home in my first year in real estate.
“Iโve advised on their parentsโ business investments for more than 10 years, during which time they went from owning one McDonaldโs franchise to three, using property investment to increase business opportunities.
โRozele and Ryan are now 26 and 20-year-olds. Both now have university degrees and have decided to buy a RE/MAX franchise with their parentsโ financial support and under my guidance.
“They will be the first sister-brother RE/MAX business owners in New Zealand. I have advised this family from 1996 to today, and that is what I mean by โselling a legacyโ.
โAlso,ย Milan Maharajย and her husband Roshan Anand are opening RE/MAX Rise, Mt Wellington. Milan has been coming into my companyโs office with her mother Mala Maharaj since she was 10. Mala is now Chief Operations Officer, RE/MAX New Zealand.
โI am proud of the Singh family, Milan and of all the new and existing businesses and their owners, and of the RE/MAX brand because our network growth represents all those people who have not allowed this coronavirus and crisis steal our entrepreneurial spirit,โ Mr Ha said.
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