Tight team bond a highlight for Bayleys’ stalwart

Mark Hourigan, managing director, Bayleys Capital Commercial in Wellington says the camaraderie in his office, and the close team bond they have is what sets them apart from other agencies.

“Since coming over to the Bayleys family in 1999, there are six of us in the office that have worked together for 25 years, and another four that have been there over 15 years. We are all great mates,” he says.

“It is unusual in a commission-only, competitive industry to have a core team still together over 20 years extending to 25 years.”

The now 22-strong team enjoys similar outdoor pursuits, so they have office mountain biking groups, a fishing crew, a diving crew, even a trout fishing crew.

“We use that more as the ongoing team bonding thing, and any events like the

Round Taupo cycle race or the 50km Motatapu mountain bike ride from Glendhu Bay to Arrowtown, we turn those into social team trips.”

“There is a real close bond with everyone in the office and this is probably what sets us apart from all our competitors.”

Hourigan was one of the group who bought the franchise rights for Bayley's Wellington Commercial and Industrial operation in January 1999, joining the four incumbent Bayleys brokers who still form the backbone of their legendary 25-year team.

“When we took the business over in

January 1999, it was also the same week my eldest son was born. Which has now resulted in him and my other two boys all now also working in the business. So, we've got a big range of ages in the office.”

Ethan Hourigan, the eldest, and Oliver, the youngest in the company at just 20 years old, both work in the commercial sales and leasing team, while the middle son, Matthew specialises in residential property.

“For us the real estate talk starts at the 7:30am sales meetings each day, and it's still going at the dinner table most days.”

Hourigan enjoys the variety in his real estate work and says the key to success lies in building relationships with clients.

“You spent more time talking to the people you’re dealing with about all things other than property, to be fair.”

“There is never a dull moment. Every transaction has different complexities and I guess it all comes back to the people - both the people you're working with and the people you're working for.”

In 2022 Hourigan was awarded a $1billion sales award, a Bayleys initiative recognising high achievers within the group’s nationwide commercial and industrial team.

He attributes that achievement to what he calls the Bayleys way, the family-owned company still owned and run by its founders David and John Bayley, and how they always encourage and celebrate successes.

“They are still at the coalface, and that work ethos drifts down through the whole company, so we’ve got great network across the country.

“The billion-dollars award was a milestone, but as the highlight of my 35 years in real estate, I think the last 25 being in the Bayleys group have been the most fun.