KIM WATERS
A leading Geelong real estate agent has left one of the city’s major franchises to start his own brand with a business partner.
Daniel Hayes said he and Michelle Winckle had re-branded their former Ray White Highton office to HayesWinckle AGENT.
They planned to open a second office in Geelong West’s Pakington Street next month and franchises in Ballarat, Colac and Warrnambool in 2012.
“We want to grow our brand very quickly,” Mr Hayes said.
“I’ve had just over seven years experience in the industry and Michelle is coming up on four years, so it makes sense to step out and launch our own brand.
“Whether it’s a good time to do this we aren’t sure but we’re very excited and determined as hell. We’ll die trying.”
Mr Hayes said his brand would “take the plums out of mouths and carrots out of bums” in real estate.
“We aren’t going to hide behind words like integrity and professionalism, they’re done to death.”
A spokesperson for Ray White had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.