• Winston Kidd, North Shore Sales manager with Sotheby's International Realty.
  • NZSIR North Shore office in Takapuna.

New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty

- a brand with history and class

We talk with Winston Kidd, North Shore Sales Manager about why, after 20-plus successful years in his chosen profession, he is with New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty.

Channel Magazine: Winston, what can you and your team offer that has a tangible benefit to luxury home owners here on the North Shore?

Winston Kidd: The Sotheby's International Realty brand adds a new level of mystique and class unseen before in New Zealand real estate and instantly infuses credibility and value to any property via the quality perception it brings, regardless of the price bracket. This means that potential buyers will consider the home to be the best in its class, which is a fantastic place to start negotiating on the sale of the property.

CM: How and why can you guarantee to get the best buyers for your vendors?

WK: We have unparalleled international reach. We are the world’s largest and pre-eminent luxury residential real estate company with more than 22,500 licensees and 990 professional offices worldwide, and global sales in excess of $112 billion. Our exclusive yet automated marketing channels offer our vendors’ properties a diverse range of web portals frequented by the globally affluent, such as the Wall St Journal, New York Times, London Telegraph, Sotheby’s & Sotheby’s Preferred magazines and SIR.com. This allows us to showcase properties to the world like no other New Zealand real estate company.

SIR.com is the world’s number one ranked luxury, residential real estate website with more than 2.5 million unique visits per month, more than double that of our nearest major competitor. This means that if there is an international prospect or expat looking to return home who is a suitable buyer for your property, we are far more likely to reach them than any other New Zealand based real estate company.

CM: New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty has had a plethora of extraordinary sales achievements. Why is that?

WK: We are marketing innovators, with our Property Style magazine, Apple TV, office touch gallery screens, SIR mobile app, and our recently released our Curate app which allows you to virtually stage a home in real time on your device. Curate allows purchasers to make faster and more informed decisions to buy, which ultimately benefits the seller. Our social media campaigns have highly competitive rates in all New Zealand real estate marketing channels  we have it all covered. Your property will be positively profiled to the widest possible audience of cash rich buyers no matter what your marketing budget. We have some of the best forward-thinking marketing minds in the world that do not settle for the average or the norm. It is an incredibly exciting brand and company to be a part of. 

CM: What about the Asia Pacific pool of high net worth buyers?

WK: Our Asia Pacific footprint is extensive and continues to expand. We work extremely closely with our Asia Pacific network with more than 50 offices including locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and nationally across Australia. These markets, including more than a million-plus expats, remain unaffected by the changes in foreign buyer legislation and we are, again, far more likely to reach any potential qualifying international buyer than any other New Zealand based real estate company.

CM: Since 1744 the Sotheby’s Auction House based in London has sold incredible works of art, jewellery and historic priceless artefacts to the internationally famous and mega rich. How can that benefit luxury home sellers here on the North Shore?

WK: Our association with the Sotheby’s Auction House and its exclusive client database is unique and adds incredible reach and value to home sellers. We have direct access to a select group of highly qualified globally wealthy purchasers with international office referrals like no other company in New Zealand. If your property is a luxury residential, waterfront or lifestyle property it may appeal to these unique buyers.

CM: Tell us about your national coverage and its benefits to buyers and sellers.    

WK: We have national reach with small to mid-size teams of full-time high calibre professionals. We have 15 offices strategically located across the country, an integrated client relationship management system and a strong inter-office referral process. This means your property will be directly marketed to multiple qualified databases of local buyers nationwide, including our advanced buyer matching function. Additionally, once sold and on the move, you will be referred to and looked after by the best.

CM: Winston, what drives and inspires you with this brand and within your profession?

WK: Success and teh pursuit of excellence. We continually create sales records in regions throughout New Zealand, and we sell most of our property to New Zealanders living here and offshore. A recent important accolade is our award in the prestigious Asia Pacific Property Awards in the category of Real Estate Agency 5-20 Offices. This may be at Award Winner level or higher Five Star level, which will be announced in May at the event in Bangkok. To be viewed by our peers as the best of the best is something special. To be a part of this company that is led by visionaries with passion and focus sits well with my own belief and professional approach to my chosen career.

New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty

159 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna 09 358 4142