Council land agency question

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 431, 7 April 1992, Page 10

Council land agency question

Two southern Ruapehu councillors and the mayor questioned the decision to appoint only a Taumarunui based real estate agent to sell excess council land, at last Friday's full council meeting. Mayor Garrick Workman asked about the reasoning behind the council officers' decision to appoint Challenge Re-

alty, who are based in T aumarunui and who don't have an office in the southern area. "Sometimes local agents are aware of who wants what better than someone from outside," said Mr Workman.

Crs Bill Peach and Ellen Gould agreed, saying the property market in the southern area was such that a locally based agent may be to council's advantage in selling its excess property. Mr Peach said skiers

often decide at short notice to look around local property for sale, and that it was harder for them to do that with a Taumarunui based agent. Corporate services director John Murrihy said there were advantages in

commission payable by council in having one agent for the whole district. "We put it out to all local land agents for a price to handle council' s property - asking what service they could pro-

vide and at what price," said Mr Murrihy. "It just happened to be a Taumarunui firm that came up with the best deal." Cr Graeme Cosford said it would not be unreasonable to have two agents.

"We're getting a competitive commission deal and if we give it away, we will loose that," said general manager Cliff Houston. The council asked the officers to review the agency situation.