LJ Hooker has announced the renewal of its franchise agreement with a Southport office as the network moves to secure its presence in an active Gold Coast market.
The Southport agency joined the LJ Hooker brand in 1989, and a new five-year extension will see the office remain with the network until 2030.
LJ Hooker said retaining the office was part of the network's strategy to maintain a foothold in the growing Gold Coast market, which includes offices in Southern Gold Coast, Nerang and Coolangatta.
LJ Hooker Southport principal and licensee Alex McCormack, who joined the office back in 1991 as a sales consultant, said the agency had attracted offers from other networks but elected to stay with LJ Hooker for the “family feel”.
“Most of our competitors are in the business to make a quick buck; it is about transactions and turnover,” McCormack said.
“We didn’t want to structure our business like that; we want to make sure we are a long-term established part of the community, which is the heart of LJ Hooker.”
LJ Hooker head of network, Chris Keating, said the renewal of the agency's network membership was evidence that the brand was heading in the right direction.
“Agencies are looking for reputation and trust, but also they want a franchise model offering their business support, training, lead generation and marketing tools,” Keating said.
“We can’t just assume that if an agency has been with LJ Hooker for decades, they will continue to do so; we need to keep evolving our systems.”
LJ Hooker Southport director and sales consultant Ben Latimer said the office holds a special place in the Gold Coast real estate market landscape.
“To be the one business, in the same location and with the one brand for more than 30 years, says a lot about what it offers and how it is perceived in the local community,” Latimer concluded.
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