Bethlehem First National gains Best Practice accreditation

Customers better protected

Bethlehem First National – Kaimai Real Estate Ltd has gained accreditation as a Best Practice real estate company.

Accreditation involves reviewing, documenting and monitoring all key processes within the First National Real Estate business, from answering telephones to filling out contracts, providing the right information to clients and dealing professionally so nothing falls through the gaps. 

Based on the ISO9000 quality management system, Best Practice ensures systems are effective and adhered to, facilitating continual improvement in the service clients receive.

The accreditation is judged by an independent specialist in Australia, although the programme is country-specific.

Bethlehem First National principal Mike McCullough said applying for Best Practice had been a useful review, and required a lot of work to complete.

“It’s taken about 6 months from start to finish.  The result is worth it because you then have a manual that anyone within the business can pick up and run with, and clients are not getting inconsistencies in service.

“We found a lot of our current systems were already at Best Practice standard so it was good to have that independently assessed.  However, we have tightened a few areas that had gone under the radar.”

Once a real estate office has Best Practice accreditation, it does not end there,  Mike McCullough said.

“You have to continually audit all documentation and resubmit each year to maintain your accreditation so it really does work in the interests of customers.

“We did this because we want the public to know that we are committed to doing everything to Best Practice standard so that they are protected in everything we do on their behalf.

“No other real estate group in New Zealand is doing this as far as we know.  It’s another way First National puts its customers first.”

First National New Zealand general manager John Stewart congratulated Mike McCullough on successful accreditation.

“Accreditation to First National’s Best Practice programme is further evidence of Bethlehem First National – Kaimai Real Estate Ltd’s commitment to professional industry leadership.

“I’m delighted that people considering buying or selling real estate in the Bay of Plenty can be safe in the knowledge that the excellence Bethlehem First National – Kaimai Real Estate Ltd has long delivered to the local market is rated internationally and that the office and operational systems used will ensure well managed, timely, effective and secure real estate transactions.”