The Agency’s Ben Olofsen and Cameron McKillop, of McKillop Property, are joining forces under The Agency banner to create a formidable operation across the Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands and Wollondilly regions. Launching with 200 listings and a team of 15 agents and staff, this will be one of, if not the biggest, real estate operations in the area.
“This is just such an important alliance between two prolific, premium agents in the Southern Highlands area and surrounds,” Matt Lahood, CEO of The Agency says. “Ben Olofsen has already achieved incredible results with The Agency in the Southern Highlands, and now with the addition of Cameron McKillop and his highly talented team, we can help realise the expansion of these impressive real estate operations.”
Cameron McKillop’s Southern Highlands sales team will be joining The Agency and the Goulburn office will be re-branded The Agency.
Enhancing the connection between the Sydney and Southern Highlands markets is a strategic move for both businesses. Currently there is a shortage of stock in the Sydney market, particularly in the prestige category, and in the Southern Highlands 80 to 85 per cent of buyer enquiries are from Sydney.
“Joining The Agency not only provides enormous exposure for our properties in Sydney, but nationally,” Cameron McKillop explains. “We find those clients who have already migrated from Sydney are more comfortable dealing with a brand that has a footprint in both locations, which we can now provide.”
There is significant migration between Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore and Inner West and the Southern Highlands area. This includes Sydney downsizers and families either relocating or purchasing weekenders and/or farms.
“I have many Paddington and Woollahra clients who have downsized from the family home and live locally Monday to Friday but then spend their weekends in the Southern Highlands,” prestige agent Ben Collier says. “Strategically there is a strong connection between Sydney’s blue chip areas and the Southern Highlands.
“It is not uncommon for clients who have homes in the Southern Highlands to ask for recommendations, they want an agency that can tap into the Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore as well as the Highlands. These types of clients are attracted to our brand and the premium level of service we can provide.”
A culture of sharing expertise and knowledge, world-class training and collaboration is one of the main drawcards that attracts great talent to The Agency.
“We will be bringing our agents up once a month for networking, database sharing and training, there is just so much opportunity between our two markets.” Cameron McKillop says. “I am also excited about our agents gaining access to industry leaders like Thomas McGlynn and Matt Lahood, ensuring we have the most highly trained agents in the marketplace.”
Director of Sales Thomas McGlynn runs weekly sales meetings with the team and these forums provide the ideal space for connecting the Southern Highlands agents and their available stock with keen Sydney buyers on the hunt for property.
“Given the Sydney buyer interest in the Southern Highlands region, being able to connect our high-performing Sydney team with both Ben Olofsen and Cameron McKillop’s team, is a very exciting next step for The Agency. We will now have a huge presence in the area, along with the Goulburn bricks and mortar hub,” Thomas McGlynn says.
“Our model facilitates integration and close cooperation between our agent network nationally, our teams will be working closely together to maximise the synergies at hand.”
For local agent Ben Olofsen, uniting with Cameron McKillop and his team was a natural choice, as in his view, like attracts like.
“Cameron McKillop and his team are highly regarded, well-known and respected. The Agency attracts great talent and this partnership makes sense. We will be working across all market segments, from prestige residential to rural and commercial properties, delivering premium service at all times,” Ben Olofsen says.