The changing tide of real estate

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Janet O’Shea and Susan Northey, Franchise owners at Tall Poppy Real Estate, Tauranga
From understanding tech savvy homebuyers to using digital tools to sell properties, there’s a lot to unpack when considering the future of real estate. Embracing technology is essential in such a dynamic industry, however offering real value to clients remains front and centre.

Since Tall Poppy Real Estate’s inception in 2012, the team behind this respected brand has been passionate about breaking the mould and offering a great customer experience.

The company is widely recognised for being innovative, upfront and crystal-clear with regards to pricing.

This exceptional business model motivated Tauranga business owners Janet O’Shea and Susan Northey to join Tall Poppy in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Janet says they are both proud to be part of a most forward-thinking real estate company as it matches perfectly with their desire to offer clients value, transparency and the best results.

“It’s always been about creating a fairer and clearer process for our clients, breaking down the barriers of overpriced services and outdated practices. From the beginning, Tall Poppy moved away from the traditional model where unclear processes and high overheads, such as fancy office buildings, inflated costs,” Janet confirms.

“Selling is about relationships and trust. No matter what industry you’re in, it’s about people. Susan and I are problem solvers who make things easy for our clients, so you will know exactly what we’re doing for you at every stage and how much you’ll save along the way. To date, Tall Poppy has saved Kiwis close to $113 million in fees!”

Easily done, all online

Transforming brick-and-mortar processes into digital procedures is just one example of how Tall Poppy adds value for clients. Not only does this change the way properties are bought and sold, it boosts efficiency and improves the client experience, Susan says.

“Our new digital platform, My Tall Poppy, had a soft launch this year and is about to be rolled out across the country early next year. We’re proud to be one of the first real estate companies in New Zealand to enable people to buy and sell property 100 per cent online.”

My Tall Poppy ensures users can track exactly where they are throughout the process.

“Because everything is done digitally, it has become faster and much more convenient. From listing your home to managing offers and finalising transactions, My Tall Poppy does it all!” she says. “However, being a real estate agent is not about houses, it’s about relationships and trust. So, even though digital tools such as My Tall Poppy make buying and selling property easier, face-to-face, hands-on support is still vitally important.”

Multi-channel marketing

A multi-award-winning business recognised for innovation, Tall Poppy aims to lead the way in digital marketing. Through national partnerships, the team creates campaigns designed to speak directly to ideal buyers and leverage the power of the internet to give properties maximum exposure.

“When you list with Tall Poppy, we’ll include an impressive, results-based marketing plan that will spread your advertising spend over a multitude of digital channels including Trade Me, One Roof, Homes.co, realestate.co.nz, Google ads, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and six international property platforms,” Janet reveals.

“On Trade Me alone, all our listings have either gold or platinum status. Both Tall Poppy Tauranga Central and Tauranga South consistently achieve the highest number of views, watch list additions and enquiries when it comes to local property listings – we’re proud of that result.”

Shaping the future

While Janet and Susan are helping to shape the future of local real estate, they can’t do it alone. Both would love to see more agents who align with their values to join Tall Poppy and grow the brand even further across the Bay of Plenty.

“It’s your chance to be part of the team that’s been voted Agency of the Year 2024 by Rate My Agent and Canstar Blue’s Best-

Rated Real Estate Agents in NZ for 2023,” says Susan.

“Every year, we’re reaching a higher market share in the region, our teams work closely together, there are no issues with egos and we always support each other. If you enjoy offering fantastic value to clients while using tech and digital smarts, you’ll find Tall Poppy is a great fit.”

Embracing digital transformation isn’t about keeping up, it’s about leading the way, Janet adds.

“Our work will always be people-centred and we take pride in our culture of fairness, respect and honesty. For us, real estate is not just about doing business or the accolades we receive, it’s about doing the job right for our clients.”

REGIONAL BUSINESS LEADERS REVIEW 2024/2025