A Queenstown real estate agent has set up a web-based agency in the town after new real estate legislation removed the "former bureaucracy" and the need to have a place of business.
Agent Wayne Cafe, who has 23 years' experience working with corporate brands, said he was excited about the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 and the changes in the way real-estate business would be done in the future.
Mr Cafe said the new Act had "more muscle but less specific controls".
"[It] means that agents must be far more professional and responsible or suffer heavy penalties.
"In essence, this means experience and a deep knowledge of the local market will be driving factors in agent selection by clients.
"The new Act is spot on," he said.
"Why have an office when virtually all the inquiry is done by web or phone?"Mr Cafe said when he started in real estate in the 1980s, people walked into the office as a first point of contact.
People had to be driven around, "often for days" to educate them on the market and view "every single home for sale".
That had now changed.
A recent overseas survey had indicated 90% of people considering buying or selling real estate did their homework on the internet first.
"In many cases, the agent and customer never meet, even after numerous transactions."
Under the new structure, a high level of trust needed to be established, which was when "experience and superior knowledge" came to the fore, he said.
He was excited about Wayne Cafe Realty.
"I look forward to creating my new real-estate business around both former clients and new customers."
Mr Cafe had recently returned from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, supporting his son Tim who was representing New Zealand in alpine skiing.
"It was a fantastic experience for all our family, but now I am home and completely focused on launching this exciting new venture."
He and the viewers were the only ones involved in the website.
"There's nobody else at this end: no national brand, no receptionists, no secretaries, no management team, no swanky offices."
