Barry Plant Emerald is slated for a significant management change with Justin Barrot and Riley Nicholas becoming the new owners and directors of the thriving sales business. The property management side of the business will remain with the current owners under the leadership of Len O’Donnell.

Justin and Riley have a combined 22 years’ experience working at Barry Plant Emerald. Justin has worked for the office for the last 16 years as an Auctioneer and Senior Sales Consultant, while Riley has 6 years of experience at the office as a Sales Agent and Auctioneer.

For Justin Barrot, selling homes in the Emerald area has always been a family business. His mother Gayle Barrot has a long and successful career spanning 33 years. She started the Barry Plant Emerald office in 2001.

“My mum has been in property since 1988, so real estate has always been a bit of a family business for us,” said Justin Barrot. “I started as a personal assistant to my mum in 2005, so we’ve worked together for many years. I’m looking forward to working alongside her again as she’ll stay on here at Barry Plant Emerald. It’s been a dream of mine for a decade to take over the business, and it’s a bit surreal and exciting to be taking over an office that mum started herself.”

At 24 years of age, Riley will be one of the youngest directors in the history of the Barry Plant Group. Riley was an early starter in the property industry, getting his Agent’s Representative certificate straight out of high school, which quickly led him to doing some casual work for Justin on the weekends.

“I got into the industry straight out of school. We sold our family home with Barry Plant at the time, and I was keen to get into the real estate business, so I started working for Justin as a trial every Saturday for 4 or 5 months,” said Riley Nicholas. “I was then offered a job when his personal assistant resigned, and I spent the next 18 months working as his PA, and then the remaining time up until now working alongside him as a sales agent. It’s pretty amazing to go from being his PA to taking over the business with him within six years.”

From a structural and management standpoint, the sales business at Barry Plant Emerald will remain relatively the same. The office currently employs eight staff (six sales staff, two administration staff) who will all continue on under the new management. Justin and Riley are very keen to implement their own strategies when it comes to sales and growing the business as a whole.

“For myself and Riley, it was the logical next step and a natural progression for us a people who love the property industry and have been working in it for so long,” said Justin Barrot. “Barry Plant Emerald has a reputation for delivering a high level of customer service, and that’s something we really want to uphold and continue on. At the same time, we really want to put our own stamp on the sales business, and bring our own innovative ideas and strategies to selling properties in Emerald and surrounds.”

“Owning the business means we’ll be able to give a high level of service to the clientele,” said Justin Barrot. “We’re also really enthusiastic to give back to the community who have treated us so well over the years. We are just so excited to begin the next chapter for the office.”

Mike McCarthy, CEO of the Barry Plant Group, is thrilled that Justin and Riley have taken up the opportunity to buy the sales side of Barry Plant Emerald. “Justin is an amazing real estate professional. He never stops trying to provide the very best service for his clients and his dedication has meant that he’s picked up a lot of awards over the years. Riley, from his first year with the group, has shown that he has a passion for real estate. In fact he picked up the Group Rising Star award at that time. I have no doubts they will take this business to yet another level.”