Mary Turnbull has got the good stuff: she’s a cracking Christchurch real estate agent, and one of the top Harcourts agents in the world. Mary says the secret is giving as much care to marketing a $400,000 house as she does to a home worth $1.5 million.
She goes beyond the call of duty, always chasing the buzz of a happy client – perhaps a retiree who made more than expected on a sale and went travelling, or a couple who found their dream first home. Mary likes to give her clients a personal touch: regular phone calls for updates and a genuine care for the work she does. “I never pass the buck,” she says. “I put myself in the vendor’s shoes. This is probably their most valuable asset, and it’s important that I’m passionate about their house.”
Mary started her career working for the New Zealand Government Tourist Bureau, and was one of the first women the organisation sent to an overseas post. “They put me up in this beautiful apartment. I was in my 20s, selling New Zealand, but based in Sydney. It was incredible.”
After 13 years working with the bureau, she took a marketing job at a vineyard in the Hunter Valley. In 1993, Mary moved back to Christchurch and worked for Villa Maria Winery before finding her calling in real estate. At the time, she was a single mother with three young children and wanted to give the property business a go.
Lynette and John McFadden at Harcourts Gold gave her that shot 16 years ago and she’s still with them today. They run a first-class, top-notch operation, and Mary loves that the team supports her style of client-first business.
The thing that links the three industries together for Mary? They’re all people-centric and fun. “I’ve sold really nice things: holidays, wine and houses,” she says. “Having happy happy clients gives me a buzz.”
Mary’s passions include playing squash every week, and she says Christchurch’s hottest feature is its myriad walking tracks. “Rapaki, Godley Head. It’s so easy to get to these places, they make you feel like you’re on your own, but you’re still in the city.”
You’ll often see her getting her morning coffee at Black & White Coffee Cartel in Victoria Street, and her favourite spots to eat around town include 5th Street and Athens Yacht Club.
Mary is warm and friendly, and pays attention to what people say. She is a wealth of real estate experience bundled up with someone who really cares.
Mary’s market insights:
What’s happening out there?
“Currently there’s really good activity in the market. I do believe some vendors are sitting on their hands and are a bit nervous about what’s ahead, but there’s a lot of demand and we’re getting some really good prices at auction.
“There are also Kiwis returning from overseas and looking for somewhere to settle. Christchurch is seen as a go-ahead city, and it’s affordable to live here.
“Auctions are the best way to go at the moment. It’s really hard to set a price, because prices are often going far above the appraisal value. I’ll never pressure anyone to auction, but if I was selling my house, I’d auction it.
“With low interest rates and money available cheaply, there’s a good opportunity for buyers. I’ve spoken to savvy first-home buyers who are planning to buy a house and get some flatmates to cover the mortgage.”