Warkworth real estate couple Ben and Nola Kloppers have moved their successful business RE/MAX Realty Group into historic premises, the gracious Bank of New Zealand building, circa 1930, on the corner of Neville and Warkworth Streets.

RE/MAX House welcomes real estate customers to the lower floor of the heritage building, which is typical of the style of bank buildings of the period featuring big facades with triple layers of brick and designed by prominent architect Richard Abbott (1883 – 1954).

“We were delighted to be given permission to place ‘RE/MAX House’ over the entry,” said Nola Kloppers, “and the idea came from one of our RE/MAX peers in Australia, Brad Nielson, who owns the number one office for the RE/MAX network there.”

The Kloppers also decided, and had special approval from the global real estate giant, to use silver lettering in signage rather than the iconic RE/MAX blue and red.

“We felt use of the silver showed greater respect for the building. The local community appears to have recognised this and are very app­­reciative.”

“We’ve been able to design a very welcoming environment. We are still in the main part of town, in a high foot-traffic area, and we have a free public carpark out the back.”

Inside RE/MAX House is the original vault, with its super heavy six-inch-thick doors, and safe, both bearing the Chubb name, now in working order and being used as a utility room for filing, printing and binding.

The RE/MAX Realty Group team has grown from three and will continue to grow, says Ben Kloppers.

Ben, Nola and the team would like to thank the community for all their support and look forward to returning the favour in the not too distant future. Call in next time you are in town.