I've bought and sold a number of houses over the years and I have to admit that I was less that happy by almost all of those experiences. However, Kath and Jacqui have proved to be real exceptions.

Firstly, they are very good communicators, constantly in touch with us from beginning to end, so at no time did we feel left out of the loop. They were both clearly knowledgeable of the local market; they had numerous examples of other cases similar to ours and how they were resolved. They were unflappable even when our sale seemed at risk of falling over and worked tirelessly to get the deal over the line.

They were also good at interfacing with lawyers and had connections with building and council consultants so that we got good advice in quick time. This helped us to make good decisions during a problematic sale.

I have no hesitation in recommending Kath and Jacqui to anyone wanting a really professional real estate sales team.

Buying a home in a difficult market was a daunting process, but Jacqui made it much easier to navigate. She was friendly, engaged and worked hard to understand what we were after, ultimately resulting in us ending up with something we really love. While we certainly aren’t in any rush to move now, when the time comes Jacqui will definitely be first on the call list.

We found the ‘Kath & Jacqui’ real estate duo from Barfoot & Thompson Grey Lynn to be a good choice of salespeople for us. They were always focused on following up leads as well as being able to ‘think outside the box’ in their pursuit of a sale for us. They also kept in contact with regular updates in what was a somewhat slow and unpredictable market.

Thank you for all your efforts, Jacqui and Kath.

We dealt with Jacqui during our purchase of a fringe CBD apartment at a challenging point in the property market. Jacqui was at all times informative and honest in her dealings and kept a clear line of communication between ourselves and the vendors.

Jacqui brings a positive and professional demeanour to her role and we would have no hesitation in working with her again.

Over the past few years, both Kath and Jacqui have guided me through huge life milestones as I've bought a first family home and then navigated selling a family home when the relationship didn't last. Not once did they drop the ball, always able to bring my attention to where it needed to be, offering solutions and always giving their sincere and honest advice.

I wouldn't work with any other real estate salespeople. These women are highly experienced, people-focused, professional, fair and reasonable, great communicators and advocates for their clients. Buying and selling property is clearly a passion for both Kath and Jacqui - it is not just a job to them and you can feel it.

“It was a pleasure working with Jacqui while we searched for our next home. She understood our needs and went the extra mile for us more than once.”

We bought our first apartment in Auckland with Jacqui, a huge step for us after big life changes and leaving our rural dream. She was an absolute treasure to deal with. Always prompt and comprehensive in her responses to our endless questions, keeping us fully informed of how the offer was progressing and making sure everything was perfectly lined up for settlement and moving day. I would have every confidence in buying through Jacqui again, but also with having her as a listing salesperson. She is honest, hard working and an absolute pleasure to deal with.

Over the last four years, we have had the pleasure of working with Jacqui, twice as purchasers and once as vendors, and each time she has exceeded our expectations. Jacqui's ability to listen to our needs - hairbrained ideas, review concept drawings (for a proposed renovation that wasn’t for sale!) and offer valuable advice without expecting anything in return, truly sets her apart.

What makes Jacqui exceptional is her genuine interest in not just us but also our family and community. This personal touch makes the process feel connected and meaningful, rather than just a transaction. Jacqui is not only friendly and a good communicator but also honest in her dealings, whether you're buying or selling. We value Jacqui’s willingness to offer realistic appraisals without fear of repercussion. This has kept us in a realistic position as both vendors and purchasers.

We would highly recommend Jacqui to anyone looking for a real estate agent who goes above and beyond for their clients. She has made our property transactions smooth and stress-free, and we are grateful for her expertise and professionalism. If she didn’t do such a good job at finding us a dream home, we’d use her again!

We have had a wonderful working relationship with Jacqui and Kath, although most of our following comments relate to Jacqui since she took us under her wing to sell our villa and find an apartment for us to move into. It was Jacqui who really brought home to us how a friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated real estate agent can enhance what was a difficult process. Our requirements were relatively simple but finding the apartment that was right for us took a lot of time and effort and Jacqui was there every step of the way. Her commitment to helping us find the apartment that we finally bought was amazing. At the same time we had an old villa to sell. Once again, Jacqui was an excellent mentor and with Kath’s help we sold with an extended settlement which we were very happy to agree to. We were also very pleased with both the sale price for the villa and the amount we paid for our new apartment. We would recommend Jacqui and Kath to anyone who wants friendly and expert help to sell or buy.

Ngā mihi

Jacqui is an exceptional agent who recently helped us find our new family home. She is professional, knowledgeable about the market and her communication was outstanding throughout the entire process. She listened carefully to our needs and was determined to help us find the perfect fit for our large extended family of eight. She was kind and supportive during times when the process felt stressful. Jacqui has a gritty determination to get the best for her clients and I cannot recommend her highly enough!

Jacqui and Kath were fantastic in the sale of our property. They showed considerable tenacity, patience and perseverance through what was a difficult sales process. Their communication was exceptional and they always came to us with options when we were faced with challenges. We were very happy with the outcome and would highly recommend them both if you were considering the sale of your property.

It was my first time selling a property, and naturally, I was highly anxious and distrustful of the "system" based on some horror stories shared by friends and family. I chose Jacqui and Kath because they know Grey Lynn like the back of their hand. From our first engagement, Jacqui and Kath were warm & friendly and built trust quickly through clear communication, highly organised, and on-time delivery of commitments. I kept waiting for things to fall apart, but Jacqui and Kath dealt with all the administration so smoothly that there were times when I wondered if I was actually selling my property! They were transparent about the process and had clear plans which gave me further assurance. Even after the sale, they continued to check in, meet up for coffee and chats, and make thoughtful little gestures and gifts. The whole experience was personalised, authentic and friendly. Jacqui and Kath have set the bar so high I am sure any future real estate agents I engage with will struggle to meet my high expectations.

Liz and I would just like to express our thanks for all your work on our behalf. We were delighted with the professionalism and thoroughness of the whole process. Thank you for persuading us to put the staging in – it made such a difference and was such a worthwhile investment. And getting five offers within four days of it going on the market was just amazing. All of you (including Andrew coming in on his day off) was testament to the quality of the Barfoot & Thompson team. From our perspective, getting such an early settlement was also such a bonus and thank you for your help with that as well. The personal touch of the marriage proposal was something we also enjoyed. Not only did it hit Facebook, but we now see it laid out in detail in Stuff. Thank you so much.

Our experience in buying a home with Jacqui was truly great. We became a new couple, but we were living in different cities and planning for our new life together in Auckland. Both having properties of our own, finding a home together was an exciting stage of our partnership. We first met Jacqui at an open home before we were in the position to buy. Jacqui listened to our story, understood our future plans and was very understanding of our situation, knowing it was going to be a long-term purchase.

At the same time we were talking to other agents, but Jacqui stood apart with her appreciation of our situation, what our ideal property/location was and immediately understood our pathway. As our change in living situation came to fruition with us both being able to live in Auckland, Jacqui was there for our new journey. It was a big change for us, at the same time becoming empty nesters. Jacqui’s knowledge of the local market pricing was on point, never sugar-coating it at a time where pricing was fluid. She was very clear on anticipated pricing in a moment where it seemed unpredictable. After 30+ viewings with Jacqui reading our cues and vibes, we reached a point where we realised Jacqui was so in-tune with what we were looking for, it was apparent that we could trust she would find our new home. Never disappointing with suggested viewings as she showed homes that closely aligned with our dream home.

When we had a call from Jacqui to view the place we now own, we could tell from the excitement in her voice that she knew she had found the exact house we were looking for. On viewing it, it was apparent, this was it! Jacqui’s negotiating skills kicked in from this point. We made an offer, it sat for a couple of weeks and then as we considered withdrawing, she ramped up momentum with the vendor. Her negotiation skills were direct and fair. We had no ambition to low-ball, we just wanted to pay a fair price. Jacqui embraced this and delivered. The next steps were professionally executed and seamless. Her demeanour was swift and efficient. The negotiation with the vendor was perfectly handled by Jacqui - we could tell she was a seasoned pro.

We’d love to work with Jacqui again. Without her diligence and tenacity we wouldn’t have found our ideal home in Ponsonby… but it may be some time as she helped us find our dream home! We’d be more than happy to refer Jacqui as a real estate agent. Her knowledge of the Grey Lynn and Ponsonby market is superior.

We had a great experience as a vendor with Kath and Jacqui. They provided pertinent market insights and managed the whole process around our busy lifestyle, always very accommodating and professional. We achieved a great result on the sale of our property which exceeded our expectations.

Jacqui and Kath are a great team! They did an outstanding job in marketing and selling my house. Their hard work, professionalism, and expertise are second-to-none. I was thrilled with the final price that my house fetched, especially in today's market. Jacqui and Kath's ability to connect with buyers and create excitement around the property was truly impressive, and I know that it was a key factor in getting such a fantastic result.

Overall, I cannot recommend you both highly enough. Thank you for everything you did to help me sell my house and achieve such a great outcome.

'When we were seeking a new place, Jacqui and the team were fantastic to work with. They were really flexible at working with our complicated schedule and available to help at short notice. Jacqui was really friendly and knew the neighbourhood so well. We're delighted with our new home!'

We have just completed the sale of our property in Ariki St, Grey Lynn with Jacqui Vaughan-Kells, Kath and Emma. I just wanted to let you know personally that we found Jacqui outstanding to deal with. Such a bubbly personality. She was very positive, but also very real, in what was a difficult, diving market. Interestingly, Jacqui identified the eventual buyer very early. While we had to wait for him to sell his apartment, and there was other interest, her prediction eventually proved true. The open homes and marketing were first-rate. Not having sold a property for a long time, I'd forgotten how stressful the process could be, but Jacqui put us at ease throughout. You've got a gem there.

We were so lucky to meet Jacqui as we searched for our first home. From our first meeting, she listened intently to what we were looking for and was able to make great recommendations. From the search to the purchase, nothing was a problem or too much to ask.

Thank you Jacqui for finding us the perfect first home.

I have worked with Jacqui for over three years and she has been a huge asset to me in the competitive Auckland market. Jacqui is thorough and honest in her appraisals. Lovely to communicate with as a purchaser and obviously also as a vendor, judging by the great results.

If you are after honest and reliable communication with excellent knowledge of the industry, trends and market along with winning results, then I cannot recommend Jacqui more highly.

Jacqui and Kath were outstanding. They made the whole process transparent, put us at ease, were friendly and nothing was too much trouble. They always kept in contact throughout the whole process making it easy. They also showed compassion towards our family for what was an emotional process selling our parents home.

Thank you Barfoot & Thompson. Your salespeople, Jacqui Vaughan-Kells and Kath Barnes were professional, knowledgeable and super helpful. They explained each stage of the sale process to me, (sometimes more than once). I knew that when potential purchasers visited the open homes they would feel welcome. I appreciated the regular updates on viewing numbers and interested parties.

“At a time when the property market had come off its record bull-run, the reserve bank had tightened up lending restrictions, and we were about to turn a corner toward yet more volatility with the arrival of the Omicron variant, I entrusted the sale of my property to Kath and Jacqui. They met the challenges in the market head on and helped me secure a price that would help me move forward with my own build.

Throughout, they were never not outstanding. Meticulous, friendly, and nothing was ever in the ‘too hard basket’. Even extending to post-sale help as I needed to sell furniture, and clear storage.

Kath and Jacqui: my most sincere thanks."

"My choice to purchase a home in Grey Lynn was made easy with Jacqui’s local knowledge and enthusiasm for the area. Being extremely honest and helpful at every stage of the process, I can easily recommend her to other purchasers and sellers.”

Was all too easy with Kath Barnes and Jacqui Vaughan-Kells. They listened and produced! Outstanding salespeople – professional, informative the whole way and personable.

If anyone seeks real estate salespeople with integrity, intelligence, efficiency and effectiveness, look no further than the Barnes team. Kath, Jacqui and Dayle have been a pleasure to deal with in every instance, offering sound advice in a thoroughly professional manner. While our sale took some time to eventuate, largely due to Covid related delays, the end result was excellent - and mostly due to the ongoing tireless application of the salespeople. Nothing has been too much trouble. These guys truly rock!

“Kath, Jacqui and Dale recently sold our home and we have nothing but praise for their professionalism and efforts. The sale price by far exceeded our expectations, but in saying that, the result was achieved through great marketing and getting a lot of potential buyers viewing the property.

Selling our family home was an emotional time but Kath, Jacqui and Dale made sure the sale process was seamless. They have great listening skills and also kept us well informed with open home numbers and buyer feedback. We’ll definitely be using their expertise again when the time comes for selling or buying another home.

Thanks team!

PS They managed to seal the deal on securing our new home too, so what more can we say! “

We wanted you to know how thrilled we were with Kath Barnes and Jacqui Vaughan-Kells in their support for us in the sale. They were there for us during every step of the way - from making an initial plan, to the final fall of the 'hammer'. Furthermore, they helped us find our lovely new home in Lynfield. They got to know us well during our time together and were able to show us the fabulous place we are now in. It was only the second place they needed to show us.

What we loved about them was their ongoing contact with us to make sure we were on track with the plan (we were), and to make sure we were going okay, (we were). They were incredibly warm and friendly, genuinely so, and that made everything so much easier for us. At the same time, their professionalism, expertise and experience shone through.

We were also well supported by Dayle Barnes who looked over the house we bought to identify the building materials and gave advice about what needed attention. Furthermore, he offered to bid for us at the auction and did a brilliant job.

I can't tell you how much we both appreciated the team's efforts on our behalf. It made things so easy and we felt safe in their hands. Furthermore, we had highly desirable outcomes with the sale of the old house and the purchase of the new house. We can't recommend them highly enough.

Kind regards

Jacqui Vaughn-Kells & Kath Barnes were extremely professional with a very personal approach. We were very comfortable with everything they did and achieved a favourable outcome. They guided us through every step, putting us at ease with the process from start to finish. After a successful sale of our property they have kept in touch and we look forward to maintaining contact in the future.

We can highly recommend Kath Barnes and Jacqui Vaughan-Kells, who recently sold our Westmere property. As an offshore seller I can happily state Kath and Jacqui really do go the extra mile for their clients including assisting us with the many tasks and advice needed to help get our property ready to market. They always kept us informed during the process and of course the most important thing is they got us a great end result. Kath and Jacqui give a personal touch to the process you seldom find these days.”

From the outset, Jacqui was extremely proactive in sending me regular links for houses to view, and accommodated my timeline to see them. She is extremely perceptive, and immediately understood my likes and dislikes, knowing time could be a wasted by taking me to undesirables.

Within a period of eight weeks, Jacqui had found me my perfect home, which I am very lucky in this current housing climate. On the day of auction, I had the wonderful Dayle bidding for me, which was such a bonus with the experience and expertise that he brings. The team of Jacqui, Kath and Dayle, made my overall experience a pleasant and stress-free one.

I cannot recommend these guys highly enough!

Wonderful Service..took all the stress out of marketing my home..easy and pleasant to work with.. so supportive...

Jacqui and Kath were outstanding. They made the whole process transparent, put us at ease, were friendly, and nothing was to much trouble. They always kept in contact throughout the whole process making it easy. They also showed compassion towards our family for what was an emotional proces, selling our parents home.

We have nothing but high praise and count ourselves very lucky for the service that we received from Barfoot & Thompson. Our salespeople explained the process, supported and gave us sound advice all the way through the process. They listened, were warm, friendly, professional, sensitive and transparent. The service was outstanding and we would 100% recommend Barfoot &Thompson.

Jacqui & Kath

Thank you both for your advice and support in helping us sell our much-loved family home. Your communication was outstanding and with your experience and guidance we achieved a result beyond our expectations. Thank you both so much for making this process a smooth and successful one.

Many thanks again

We would like to convey how impressed we were with Jacqui and Kath in marketing and selling our home in Grey Lynn as soon as we came out of Covid-19 lockdown.

They had to both navigate a ‘new world’ of selling real estate with all of the social distancing rules and the anxiety of a worldwide pandemic. This would have been quite difficult. Yet they were nothing short of amazing! They gave us their honest professional opinions when prompted and took away any stress that we were feeling about the current global situation. We had no face to face communication. It was all done via phone, text and email and this felt effortless. It was decided to sell by negotiation. As soon as we had signed all the paperwork, they took the reigns and we left them to do what they do best - sell houses!

We were not disappointed! Within the first five days of marketing and open homes we had five offers presented to us - and we duly accepted one that we were very happy with. All of this was achieved post Covid-19 lockdown when the whole country was feeling quite uncertain about the future.

Their professionalism, their Kiwi ‘Can Do’ attitude, their willingness to just get on and do it, their lovely personas. This all equated to a fantastic result that we were ecstatic with.

We would not hesitate at all to recommend Jacqui and Kath as top real estate salespeople to market and sell your property. Thank you so much Jacqui and Kath.

“We bought our Grey Lynn house through Jacqui and Kath who were amazing to deal with. They were super-efficient whilst being extremely personable.

Nothing was ever a problem and we have no hesitation in recommending them.”

Thank you so much for all the hard work and resilience in closing out the sale of my property. We would not have got across the line without your tenacity.

Regards

We were impressed with professionalism of the team of Kath, Dayle and Jacqui in selling our house. They set out a realistic timetable and provided regular feedback on progress. There was no pressure and they gave sound advice regarding the sale and auction process, the price and other important details re vendor disclosure. The marketing fees were very reasonable.

They stressed the advantage of the broad network of Barfoot & Thompson salespeople to increase exposure. In addition they worked the property themselves and stressed that they handled only a few properties at a time to help them concentrate on the sale process.

We were very pleased with the end result re the price and the sale.

We would like to thank you and Jacqui and Dayle for all your work with the open homes and the successful auction. You made the whole process work seamlessly, and took all the stress out of it. It was a pleasure to have you working for us. You all have a very professional manner, and a good knowledge of the market. You gave us good advice and achieved a very good outcome.
We would certainly recommend you to anyone wishing to sell their property.
Kind regards,

Searching for a house to call a home in the Auckland market has been an interesting, and extremely frustrating endeavour. We have been searching high and low for 4 years, and have come to see the good, the bad, and the ugly with the houses on offer - and this is, interestingly, the same observation for the service and approach from a variety of real estate agents over the years. The bulk of the agents we have dealt with were not really interested in helping us find homes beyond their own listings at that time. Jacqui, however, has been the one of the very few shining examples of real estate agents out there who treated us like *people* looking for our home, and not just buyers so she can close a sale. Jacqui kept in touch throughout several months for listings we may be keen on - she took into account our wish list, the area, our budget, and our personalities (!) with the kind of homes she'd suggest for us. I have never come across a real estate agent quite as thorough, knowledgeable, passionate, friendly, and all-around awesome as Jacqui. She's not pushy, and genuinely enjoys helping people find their home. She takes pride in her work and it shows - I have recommended Jacqui to several of my friends and colleagues who are also looking for their homes, I know they'll be well taken care of, and their house hunting experience will go to the next level with Jacqui. I honestly can't recommend her enough!
Thanks

I would like to express my appreciation to Jacqui Vaughan-Kells of Barfoot & Thompson Grey Lynn for her wonderful approach to market my property for sale. She worked so tirelessly on the process from the moment the property was listed, bringing her personal touch to customer services by going over and above what I expected with her great enthusiasm. She has a high level of communication and was available at all times to discuss any concerns. Along with her strong marketing campaign she provided a great representation of my home, showing nothing but professionalism. I would highly recommend Jacqui to anyone wishing to sell or buy property.