We needed to sell fast. It was April/May 2026, the market was flat, and we'd already had an offer accepted on our next place — no time to wait for the "right buyer" to wander in. Cheryl's first move was pragmatism. The house had a CV of $3.56m, but rather than anchor to that number and hope, she talked us through the market realistically and helped us land on a floor of $3m — a number we could actually sell at, not one we wished we could. That distinction mattered more than anything else. From there she pushed for a proper campaign, not a quiet listing. We moved out so the house could be cleaned and staged, invested in a high-end photo package, and put real weight behind marketing on Trade Me and realestate.co.nz. She brought her own network of stagers, decorators, cleaners and photographers, so presenting the house at its best was her job, not ours. She arrived early to every open home — clearing leaves, heating on, lighting right — and followed up after every viewing with buyer feedback. Nothing was too hard. The response spoke for itself: over 35,000 website views, 88 viewings, four building inspections. Four weeks after listing, we went to auction with five registered bidders and a reserve of $3.2m — in a market where comparable properties were struggling for traction. The house sold under the hammer for $3.35m — over 10% above our $3m floor. Selling at auction at all, in that market, was an outcome in itself. Advice to other sellers: when Cheryl tells you something about pricing or strategy, listen. You wouldn't do your own dentistry because you think you know better — this isn't the place to overrule a professional either. Whether you're a first-home seller, under time pressure like we were, or moving a high-value property — Cheryl is who you want in your corner. Unqualified recommendation.

I found Wayne and his team through a long conversation with Google Gemini AI about selling investment/development properties in the Eastern Bays, Auckland. Gemini recommended Wayne as the top choice for listing my 2 properties because of the following 4 reasons (Google’s words, not mine): 1) Master of local lifestyle and Investor Math Wayne has raised his own family in the eastern bays and is highly active in the local lifestyle. He knows how to sell the emotional value of the neighbourhood to premium buyers. He can also talk yield metrics, cash flow and land banking safety to seasoned investors without skipping a beat. 2) Former Ray White “Auctioneer of the year” An auction floor requires lightning fast psychological navigation. Wayne’s specific skill is leveraging that crowd tension to extract every single dollar out of the room. 3) Military grade negotiation discipline Before his 20+ years in real estate, he spent 10 years in the NZ Army. This experience translates directly to highly structured intense focus and an unshakable approach to hard negotiations. 4) Direct control of the local network As managing partner of the Eastern Bays branches Wayne can mobilise his entire network of local agents. I was a bit skeptical because AI has a tendency to overstate the positives about many things but I can honestly say Wayne and his team lived up to every single word that AI wrote about them. The part I appreciated the most was that during the Auction Wayne kept me constantly updated about the status of the side discussions with the top 2 bidders and his read on the ultimate buyer and the amount they would be able to pay was spot on. I felt he had the situation under control as he’s been there thousands of times before. For a first time vendor I felt Wayne supported me through the process like a true professional and managed my expectations exceptionally. I highly, highly recommend others to work with Wayne and his team when selling their properties.

The whole purchase went smoothly and Viv was very professional and helpful

Vivian wastes zero time. She brings a sharp, strategic approach to the table, pricing the property accurately from day one, pushing out high-impact marketing in a flash, and negotiating with absolute confidence. She keeps the momentum moving fast so your property doesn't sit stagnant on the market.

Mike kept in contact often, either in person or by phone and message. He is very prompt with his messaging. He carried out his actions very efficiently. His style is calm and positive and he ensures that his advice reflects reality. His market knowledge showed by the fact that the sale happened exactly as planned and predicted. I am very happy with the price and process as a seller. I would certainly trust his professionalism in the future.

Mike's communication and professionalism were A+ Never felt pressured, always considerate. Although I was disappointed with the final sale price this was in no way a reflection of Mike but simply the market

Wynn was up-front and straight forward when it comes to setting up the expectations, with extensive market research and great knowledge in the field, we were able to set realistic out look for my property from the get-go. This not only saved me precious time and also money. The campagin was well thought out, and through out the negotiation, Wynn demonstrated outstanding professionalism and achieved what I wanted out of the sale. Wynn and her team's ability to answer all my questions promptly was also something to be commended. Would highly recommend!

We enjoyed working with The Cleaves – their process and communication is very focused and efficient, and we were happy with the result.  They are straight talkers, and have a good understanding of the market, and manage buyers well.  Very happy to recommend.

Mike proved to be an excellent agent. With minimal fuss the house was photographed, listed and shown. He screened buyers effectively and kept us in the loop after every showing. He was diligent and willing to show buyers the house despite the sometimes inconvenient times. At auction he made certain that he represented our position well and negotiated fairly on our behalf. We would recommend him to anyone.

Worked hard to sell my property in a difficult market. Went the extra mile to ensure property was presented in the best possible way. Good communicator and always available