Bayleys Takapuna has unveiled a striking new space in the heart of the suburb, bringing its residential and commercial property services together under one roof.
“We call it Bayleys Corner – it’s our Takapuna home, and it genuinely feels like that,” says residential branch manager, Kathryn Robertson. “It’s open, welcoming and has a real energy to it. I wanted our team to be proud to bring their clients here, but equally, someone walking past to feel completely comfortable just coming through the door.”
Real estate is, she says, fundamentally a people business. “We are invited into people’s lives at significant moments, and the relationships we build often last well beyond the transaction itself, so it was important that the office reflected that.”
Central to the new space is a café, designed to invite the community in without there necessarily being a real estate reason to visit. “We’re fortunate to have a large space, so we want people to use it and enjoy it,” adds Kathryn. “We play great music and we get all day sun – both are obviously very important!”
The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive: “There’s definitely a bit of a ‘wow’ moment when people first walk in – the atrium space is vast and impressive – but what I’ve enjoyed most is seeing how quickly the agents, our clients and our customers have embraced it.”
The team, she says, genuinely loves being there, while clients linger for coffee and people meet and work within the space. “There’s a real sense of pride amongst our team too. It feels like ours.”
That team is at the heart of the operation, with around 25 agents, as well as administrators and property managers, alongside Vega Finance and the large Commercial and Industrial team led by Simon Farland. Together, they provide a full-service real estate offering, with Kathryn particularly valuing the synergy between the residential and commercial sides of the business.
“I really love that we’re sitting right in the epicentre of Takapuna,” Kathryn continues. “You can look out and see life happening around us, people walking past, businesses operating and the community literally on our doorstep.”
Having lived and worked on the North Shore for more than 45 years, she is unapologetically attached to the area, and it is that sense of community that keeps her anchored here. “My team doesn’t need to be taught how to sell the North Shore because we live it ourselves, we know our communities, we believe in them and we are deeply committed to them.
“When you genuinely love where you live, being invested in it comes naturally.”
Visit us at 2/8 Northcroft Street, Takapuna
