Battle of the quick witted

Battle of the quick witted

Press Release: Harcourts

28 June 2013

Fast wits, impeccable timing, charisma, real estate legalise and an ability to crunch the numbers under pressure.

It’s a winning combination that has seen Andrew North, from Harcourts Cooper & Co on the North Shore, win the title much coveted in real estate circles – REINZ Auctioneer Champion of New Zealand.

The elite of New Zealand’s fast talking, quick thinking auctioneer professionals gathered at the Ellerslie Events Centre this week [SUBS 24, 25 JUNE]to compete in the annual Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s competition.

Each competitor, representing real estate groups across the country, calls a mock auction, with bidders planted in the audience to throw in fast and unusual bids, as well as a range of curly questions.

The winner is the auctioneer who gives the best answers to questions – some outrageous, adds the bids quickly and without mistake, sticks to the time limit, and presents with a finesse that engages the audience.

Andrew has been calling auctions for the past 13 years and estimates he’s put at least 3000 homes under the hammer.

He’s competed at eight REINZ National Auctioneering Championships, made the final seven times and placed runner up for the last two years running.

“It’s been a bit of a monkey on my back. My competition was outstanding this year so I’m thrilled to have won,” says Andrew, who will now represent New Zealand at the Australasian Championships in Perth.

Auctions are the sale method of choice in Auckland’s heated property market, with vendors gaining the best prices from competitive bidding.

However, Andrew says the real skill of an auctioneer comes not in making a sale, but in gaining the best possible price.

“It’s not just calling the auction and showmanship. You need the ability to relate to people, to bring them with you when it’s time to negotiate.”

Competition auctioneering is very different to the real thing – with increasingly difficult bids and questions put to the competitors.

Andrew puts in hours of preparation every time he competes, practising timing and fast and complex calculations.

“Competing makes you a better auctioneer. I’d say there is not much that phases me anymore. The competition is the most stressful, difficult auction you will ever face.”

Harcourts CEO Hayden Duncan says Andrew works incredibly hard to make a difficult skill look effortless.

“Andrew is a master of remaining cool under pressure. He is entertaining and never misses the chance to get a laugh from the audience, but also knows real estate law inside out.”

This year Robert Tulp and Aaron Davis, also of Harcourts, were National Auctioneer Championship finalists, along with Daniel Coulson of Bayleys.

Hayden Duncan says Harcourts performed outstandingly and everyone is now getting behind Andrew to take out the Australasian Championships on 23 – 25 September.

ENDS

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