New agent leads push into prime regional centre for Barry Plant
Announcing a top Berwick based agent, Matt Smith, is joining their Drouin office, Barry Plant is pushing further into Gippsland to build market share in the regional centre of Warragul.
Matt Smith has been in the industry for nine years and been through plenty of market cycles. Formerly based in Berwick and working for a competitor, he bought a block of land in Drouin, built a family home then looked to join a local dynamic agency - Barry Plant.
Already the number one agency in rural Drouin, the agency has tasked Mr Smith with extending their service offering and building their reputation further down the South Gippsland Highway.
The Barry Plant Drouin office is part of a network of three offices - in Berwick, Pakenham and Drouin - under the leadership of Matt Ketteringham, Dan O’Loughlin and Jack McMaster. This strong local network appealed to Mr Smith who appreciated the value of such a powerful brand presence in the outer south east of Melbourne and Gippsland.
Barry Plant Drouin Branch Manager, Jack McMaster, believes that while the pandemic and subsequent Victorian lockdowns has been a catalyst for tree changers moving to the area, the growth was going to happen anyway.
“Areas like Pakenham - one of the main centres in a state government designated growth corridor - are already well developed and people are looking further out to find more affordable options with more land.”
He added that the Drouin market has held up very well with the office cornering the market on large, million dollar plus lifestyle properties.
“People are becoming more aware of the lifestyle on offer just outside the Melbourne metro border.”
There has already been significant development in the West Gippsland region with subdivisions being approved, lots of land being released. The population is growing fast, followed by new businesses and infrastructure.
Barry Plant CEO Mike McCarthy believes that the push further into the regional market will be a big success.
“The Drouin office has built great success by offering a real estate service that is uncommon in regional areas. The agents bring deeper experience, local knowledge, professionalism, technology and a higher level of communication and service. Plus the strength of the Barry Plant network in finding buyers.”