LJ Hooker Pinnacle Property, which services the Greater Hobart region, is embarking on an exciting chapter with a new team taking over leadership under a recently signed franchise agreement.
Long-time staff members Simon and Taya Parsons (pictured) have purchased the business from Managing Director Penny Higgs and Sales Manager Stuart Whyment, who are set to retire after three decades.
Mrs Parsons, an executive assistant, started working with LJ Hooker Pinnacle Property in 2016 and was joined two years later by her husband, who had previously been employed in property development, design, sales and as a corporate BDM.
“Initially, I was invited to the Christmas dinner as Taya’s plus one, where I met several staff members, including Stuart, who had heard about my background and invited me to coffee the following week, and the rest is history,” Mr Parsons said.
“As Stuart and Penny moved towards retirement, taking on the franchise was just a natural progression, allowing us to take the next step in our careers and lives. The staff here are skilled and talented, so there aren’t many big changes to make to the business, just some small tweaks that we’d expect to go mostly unnoticed.”
Chris Keating, Head of Network Australia, congratulated Mr and Mrs Parsons on becoming the new franchise owners of what is one of Tasmania’s busiest agencies.
He also praised Ms Higgs and Mr Whyment on a detailed succession plan, which included identifying potential candidates within their business to take over the reins.
“New franchise agreements can be complex, especially when there are several offices, staff and leases, so when someone from within the agency takes on the business, it can make for a smooth transition as they have an insight into how everything runs,” Mr Keating said.
“Tasmania, particularly Hobart, has experienced strong population growth and internal migration from mainland Australia. It has significance for LJ Hooker network as it not only allows us to access new buyers, sellers and investors but also creates consistency across the brand nationally.
“Simon and Taya make a great team with a strong business background and knowledge of this important and growing market. They have been mentored by Stuart and Penny, learning everything they can to ensure this well-established agency not only continues but thrives.”
Ms Higgs and Mr Whyment are currently building their property management company before retiring early next year, with plans to sell it back to the business.
LJ Hooker Pinnacle Property has three office locations in Hobart City, Glenorchy, and Kingston Beach, which are three of the State’s most populated areas.
“The LJ Hooker name holds weight in conversations for those of us that are old enough to remember the marketing campaigns through the 80s and 90s,” Mr Parsons said.
“The latest marketing updates by the group provide an in-vogue feel on a trusted product. It’s familiar, it’s known, and it’s not going anywhere.”
Latest figures from Cotality show the median house price in Hobart is $718,406, making it the second most affordable capital city, just ahead of Darwin. The median price to rent a home is around $560 per week.
Mr and Mrs Parsons, who were both born and raised in Tasmania, have two children and currently live in Kingsborough, which is a 15-minute commute to the Hobart CBD. They love the region’s first-class foodie scene, beautiful beaches and will sometimes indulge in a weekend getaway to Melbourne, just a quick 50-minute flight away.
“We have travelled around most parts of Australia and taken several overseas trips, and it’s mostly felt underwhelming, which speaks volumes about where we live; it is a beautiful spot,” Mrs Parsons said.
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