I have worked with Peter since 2008 when he helped me secure our first investment properties in Otahuhu. His knowledge of the area and his ability to work with both parties to get the deal done has been great. He helped us secure another investment property a few years ago in the same block as he knew we were interested in the area. He contacted us as soon as the property came on the market. He has recently helped us sell all three properties, working through numerous agreements and parties to get the deal done.

We have been very happy with his professionalism, enthusiasm and guidance through our property journey so far. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking to secure a property in Auckland.

We have had the pleasure of Julia van Reijn and Peter Shirley, and Lee Radovanovich marketing our properties for sale in Saint John's, a sturdy brick and tile unit and at Glendowie, a freestanding three bedroom family home in a secure community setting.

Julia smoothly navigated the day-to-day management for us and any challenges that came along, through the requirements of each Covid level including arranging her colleague to translate these for my tenant's benefit, keeping us up-to-date with the change in banking prerequisites effecting mortgages for our buyers, preempting a variety of insightful options to stimulate interest in the properties, liaising with building professionals to tick off the conditions and negotiating with precision our sale and purchase agreements with the new owners.

Taking care of everything that was needed, above and beyond our expectations, working closely with all involved, in impeccable character and with a great manner, Julia you are an inspiration.

Peter provided full support to make the campaign happen and kept it rolling including advice on how to improve the properties to maximise returns and offering his recommended tradesmen to complete the works for us, as well as having his breadth of knowledge across the real estate industry and beyond at the ready.

Their fellow salesperson, Lee, introduced several buyers to the property at our open homes, for which we are grateful.

From our experience you have a more than outstanding team available to you in Julia and Peter, and Lee to market your property for the successful sale of your home alongside the creation of an enduring working relationship as well.

"We have known Peter Shirley and Julia van Reijn of Barfoot & Thompson since 2018, when they took a property we owned in Auckland to auction. The property sold at that time even though the market was somewhat sluggish in the South Auckland area. The successful sale at auction, we believe, was due in large part to the good advice and guidance to us from both Peter and Julia. We greatly appreciated their professional approach and the support they gave us which obviously came from their deep understanding of the real estate market at that time.

In 2022, we again engaged Peter and Julia to sell another property we owned in Auckland. This property was also taken to auction by Barfoot & Thompson. The property market at the time was in a slump, and sales were down almost across the whole of the Auckland region. This property also sold, and again we have to say, in large part due to the efforts of Peter and Julia. We were in Turkey during the marketing and sale phase for this property. Peter and Julia kept us completely up to date with every development. They even undertook to take care of the place while we were away, from cleaning the ceilings in one of the rooms to better market the place, to ensuring the security of the vacant building after an attempted break-in. All of this they undertook out of their own resources, and to this end we are very grateful for their attention and commitment to our property while we were out of the country.

As a result of our excellent experiences with both Peter and Julia, through the sale of two properties, we have no hesitation in recommending these two professional and successful salespeople.

Peter and Julia, we wish you both well in the future."

This is to certify that we are the vendors of a residential property on Sturges Avenue, Otahuhu, that has been successfully sold to new owners and the deal concluded on 13 March 2022 with the very able assistance of Peter and Julia of Barfoot & Thompson Manukau. Without their help and guidance at every step of the way, we would have had a great deal of expense and aggravation, given that we live at the other end of the country. We have been kept appraised of every detail of the transaction by numerous phone calls, emails and mail. We appreciate immensely the trouble and time the salespeople took on our behalf and on behalf of a long-standing tenant who had chosen to move on. They made the whole operation as stress-free as possible, for which we are extremely grateful.

We warmly endorse them to anyone thinking of buying or selling a property, Peter and Julia of Barfoot & Thompson Manukau, who showed us every professional courtesy and skill. Their professionalism doing their job is to be lauded.

For any further recommendations, the reader of this reference may contact us at cell phone 022 035 7062 or home (03) 236 8893.

These guys were great to work with and had such enthusiasm for their job. I could ring them anytime for advice and information, in weekends and after hours sometimes. Their strength lay in their ability to communicate, keep stuff moving, and understand the needs of their clients. They both have a down-to-earth attitude and good sense of humour. They really know their business well so nothing is difficult. Ours was not a flash house but they still respected it and our family's memories. They were recommended to us and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to others. Thanks again for your work.

Our short journey with Peter and Julia selling my deceased mother's property has been nothing but a pleasure considering they were complete strangers initially. It has been a difficult period since my mother passed. Peter and Julia were so respectful with me and the sale of her property from the start. They were very informative as I was new to selling property. They used some innovative ideas to help with a quick sale before the Yuletide season. As discussed at the original meeting, the schedule set out was adhered to explicitly; on time; on schedule.

The photos of the property were amazing and the advertising package exceeded my expectations. On auction day, Peter and Julia met us and calmed our nerves and discussed the process of the auction which was "very" exciting. Peter and Julia both worked their magic during the auction, both working the floor and phone bidders. We got a great result and we thank you Peter and Julia and would highly recommend your services to any prospective clients.

"We have no hesitation in recommending Peter and Julia. Our house sale in Otahuhu East had some interesting twists and turns to it and Peter and Julia stood by us every step of the way with their unwavering support, creative solutions and professionalism. They complement each other very well as a team and we remain super grateful for a fantastic result."

I just wanted to give some feedback on one of your great teams who helped us through the sale of our previous home. Julia Van Reijn and Peter Shirley are a fantastic team who really made the whole process easy. They explained everything to us and kept us informed throughout the sale. Its thanks to their efforts we where able to settle and buy our new home before the lock-down came into effect and we all faced challenging times. 

We will definitely recommend Barfoot & Thompson to others and especially Julia and Peter as a team. If you want the job done in an efficient and friendly way, then they are the team to use! 

Please stay safe.

Kind regards

"We were looking to sell a property and Julia and Peter were recommended to us through a friend. Their knowledge of the area and the buyers that were in the market helped guide us through the sales strategy. They were upfront and realistic with feedback and really engaging with our tenants to ensure the open homes went smoothly. We had regular and insightful communication and prompt replies to any queries which gave us the confidence we were achieving the best price for our property.
We wouldn't hesitate to work with Julia and Peter again".

"Julia and Peter were professional from the outset and gave me a great overview of the local market and current activity. After reviewing the options for selling I took Peter and Julia's advice and I took the property to Auction after a strong marketing campaign. They dealt with my tenant professionally and assisted with finding her alternative accommodation. Their weekly reporting was detailed and informative and the result on Auction day exceeded my expectations. I would not hesitate in recommending them to others who are looking to sell. Thanks again for all your work."

"Julia and Peter were lovely to deal with and kept me informed promptly with everything they did, every step of the way. Having bought and sold a few homes over the years, I have dealt with various agencies and agents and Julia and Peter have by far been the best.

Julia and Peter are a dynamic duo and complement each other perfectly. They offered pertinent advice and listed and sold my family member's home in six weeks. Without delay I received reports on open homes, prospective buyers and property views, etc. Never have I been so well informed during the sale of a property. Julia and Peter are professional yet friendly and very easy to deal with. What a great advertisement for Barfoot & Thompson they are. I am extremely happy with the sale".

"Thank you once again for doing a magnificent job of marketing and selling our four houses on Church St, Otahuhu."

"We sold our house earlier this year and, after interviewing other agents, we chose Peter and Julia because we were really impressed with the amount of research they did on our property and because they were so genuinely enthusiastic about selling it. We knew it meant much more to them than just getting a quick sale and they clearly wanted to find the right buyer and the right price.

They worked so hard for us and were able to negotiate with stubborn buyers with ease. Also, they were enthusiastic and so fun to work with, which is so important when you are dealing with all the stress involved in moving.

Peter and Julia were both very communicative and kept us up to date with feedback all throughout the process. We are very happy with how they were able to help us relax and feel positive about selling, especially in a slow market. We are also very happy with the hard work they put in to secure us the right buyer and a price we were pleased with. Should we ever have to buy or sell again, we would immediately contact Peter and Julia and can't recommend them enough to other potential clients. Thanks guys for your amazing work and for being so wonderful throughout the process - we really appreciate it!"

"I have recently sold my property in Mangere East with the help of Julia van Reijn and Peter Shirley. They were a delightful pair to work with and I felt they gave 110 percent of effort, and nothing was too much effort. They explained all the relevant details of the marketing and sale procedures and made things very easy for me to understand. I had not sold a property for 30 years and I felt it would be a very daunting process, but thanks to their wonderful attention to detail, and their very positive attitude things went very smoothly. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to any of my friends or family. My sincere thanks to them both".

"I have recently had our family home marketed by Julia van Reijn and Peter Shirley
from Barfoot and Thompson. I was very impressed with their professionalism, friendly attitude and the way they kept me informed of all the processes. I would happily use them again and would recommend them as honest, upfront and very helpful. They also sold the property within the allotted time. Always a good sign".

"It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I share my experience with Peter and Julia.
I had the privilege of working with Peter and Julia as my realtors when looking to sell a house in Favona. I also worked with Peter when I first purchased the house. Peter and Julia's knowledge about real estate is multi-faceted and they most certainly do more than the average agent, they went far beyond what I expected of them. I appreciated their ability and willingness to advise and help me throughout all steps of selling the house.
They were there to help and support me in every possible way. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to any person who is looking to buy or sell a home, as well as seek their service in any of my future real estate transactions.
While I have bought and sold a number of houses, I have never before encountered such a level of excellence, which truly set them apart from those whom I've dealt with previously".

"Thank you for the great service Julia and Peter you have provided over the purchase of the property. You have been so professional and I have enjoyed the whole process. Your communication and support throughout the whole process was amazing. Thanks again and I will have no hesitation in recommending you to my friends and family!"

"We worked with Julia and Peter from Barfoot & Thompson in searching for a property to buy. They understood our needs perfectly and were always available to discuss any concerns. What impressed us the most is that they really took trouble not to waste our time showing us houses which did not meet our specifications. Also, even though it took some time to find the right house, they never gave up on us, and would meet us at the houses themselves to show us around. Peter gave some very good advice, and Julia was tireless in her willingness to help, even researching things we needed to know on our behalf. We cannot recommend them more highly to anyone who is looking to buy a property. Their honesty and exceptional service are a credit to Barfoot & Thompson".

"We started looking for a property a good three months ago in the Auckland area and we met Peter Shirley and Julia van Reijn from Barfoot & Thompson Otahuhu at an open home. Peter and Julia were both very professional and informative regarding the property we visited and advised us of other properties they had listed for us to view. We advised them we were looking at an investment property for our future. On going to an auction some 2 months on, Peter was there and made a point of coming to speak with us. It was not a Barfoot property we had gone to see but Peter had remembered who we were and stated "I will find you a property, I promise". Peter and Julia remained in touch with us and true to their word they found us the perfect property. During the negotiation process, which can be a little stressful, Peter and Julia made us feel supported and kept us well advised as to the proceedings. They were totally committed to a positive outcome on our behalf and went that extra mile for us.
Having dealt with a number of real estate agents throughout our property purchase, and we dealt with a few, we would have no hesitation in recommending Peter and Julia for their honesty, communication and integrity. We will certainly be in touch with them again should the opportunity arise. Thank you Peter and Julia for all you did for us, it was greatly appreciated".

"Peter did such an excellent job selling our first rental that when we decided to sell our second rental recently, he was the only agent we were prepared to work with. Having said that, it was a lovely surprise to find he had a new partner that was every bit as warm, honest, hardworking and professional. Peter and Julia organised the sale of our house quickly and professionally, as with the last rental, and the price we received exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend them to anyone considering selling their property and wish them all the best in their endeavours".

"I recently appointed Peter and Julia to sell our mum's home in Mangere East. They presented us with a plan which was carried out in full. Peter and Julia were very down to earth, worked well as a team, and responded promptly to all our enquiries. It all culminated in a sale (at auction) with a result that exceeded our expectations. I have no hesitation in recommending them to others who are selling their properties".

"Peter Shirley did a fantastic job selling our house. He communicated to us daily and we got our weekly reports. What Lloyd and I went through losing our Son in January, he knew we were going through so much stress! So he lifted a bit of the stress off us. He's a hardworker and makes sure everything to the book. We really appreciate what he did for us. Thank you."

"Peter Shirley has recently marketed and sold my family property with great respect and professionalism despite having a major life experience happen during the marketing.
I was given very regular updates both verbally and stats. via email.
He listened to me and gave great advise which turned out to be correct in every way resulting in very stress free and total satisfactory sale.
I would certainly recommend him as a trustworthy and competent agent to anybody thinking of selling their home."

"We highly recommend Peter Shirley to anyone wanting to sell their house. After a rough start with another agent who tried to get us to sell our house well under value we changed to Peter. We were impressed with Peter's honesty, excellent people skills and patience. Why? How? What's next?...were frequent questions throughout the 6 month process and final sale at auction of our former rental property. Peter remained patient and gave us excellent advice while we dealt with issues with Housing New Zealand e.g. getting repairs done before termination of lease. Nothing was too much trouble for Peter. As we both work during the day and were in relatively new jobs we were unable to take the time off to meet with tradesmen, cleaners etc. Peter looked after this for us as well as recommending excellent lawn mowing and staging services that charged reasonable rates.

Thank you Peter we are really happy with the premium price we receive for our property. You will be the first person we call when we decided to sell either of our other properties

"We came to meet Peter Shirley through another agent. Peter's complete professionalism and friendly manner earned our confidence right away.

Throughout our home selling venture, Peter was always available, provided knowledgeable in sights, Peter's knowledge of the real estate market is equally matched by his honest and dedicated nature towards his clients. Peter understands his clients' needs and is an attentive listener.

Peter thoroughly explained every step of the sale process through to the final closing. He inspired trust and always showed professionalism.

I would recommend Peter to any potential residential property seller."

Regards

"Geoff and I would just like to thank you for your help during the listing of our property.

We found your easy manner and helpfulness throughout the process to be very calming, and we enjoyed working with you.

Once again thank you for your assistance. When next wanting a real estate agent we will contact you."

"Trying to sell a house? What a stressful time. I tried Real Estates insufficient help. I rang Barfoot & Thompson's Peter Shirley. Peter took the stress off me, sold my house for a satisfactory amount. I then asked Peter the impossible, for the house that I wanted and where. A couple of days later, Peter rang back with just the one that suited my family at the price I could afford. Peter, you are an awesome Real Estate agent, you took all the stress and worries off me and supplied me with my dream place. Thank you very much."

"I am writing to let you know of the great service I received from one of your staff members, Peter Shirley. As a first time home purchaser, Peter make things seem a lot easier during the process and even took the time to come and see me after the sale had gone through just to make sure things were all ok (which they were). In dealing with Peter I found him to have both a professional and friendly manner and I thank him for this."

"Peter has been helping me to sell my home in Papatoetoe, the sale was completed recently. I really appreciated his help and information on marketing in the present economic climate. I found him to be well informed with a wealth of experience in Real Estate sales. He kept in touch regularly over the marketing period and made relevant comments re pricing and presentation. I have no hesitation in recommending him as a responsible and capable sale person. He has a calm and unflappable manner and was encouraging and supportive all through the sales period."

"I wish to testify that we used Peter Shirley to sell 2 properties in Otahuhu and found him to be both honest and professional with all dealings we had over the last few months.

As this was a very difficult time to be selling we congratulate him and thank him for the many tireless hours he spent on open days and guiding us through the selling process.

I would not hesitate to recommend Peter as an agent and wish him well and hope he has a bright future in Real Estate."