WORKING WITH FAMILY can be considered a risk. But when it’s worked out for the last 100 years, it’s safe to say that the risk paid off, massively.
PN O’Gorman of New Ross, Co Wexford can trace its history back to 1924, when founder and namesake PN O’Gorman first set up the business. PN became a member of what was formerly known as the Irish Auctioneers Association and is now known as the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI), which qualified him to work in real estate.
Incessantly busy, PN was involved on the New Ross Town Council as well as running auctions for homes and land in the locality. This service is crucial for a town like New Ross to survive, impacting almost every home in the area at some stage.
Today, Anne and Philip have their steady hands on the tiller, having taken over the business from Anne’s parents, who purchased it from PN’s wife in the early 1950s. Like with most family businesses, it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly when they started.
“You’re about five,” says Anne.
It starts either in the DNA or at the kitchen table,” confirms Philip.
Anne’s father became involved in PN O’Gorman in the 1940s, and was followed by his wife, who worked in the company’s office. In the sixties, the old bridge in New Ross closed to make way for a new bridge. This meant relocating the premises of the business to the other side of the river, directly opposite the old PN O’Gorman establishment. Over fifty years later, they’re still there.
Anne cut her teeth in the world of real estate up in Dublin at the offices of FitzGerald and Partners, which was the forerunner to now Sherry FitzGerald. A small operation in comparison to what it is now, Anne learned the trade here for a number of years.
Returning to New Ross in early 1979, Anne continued the business alongside her mother after her father passed later that year. Anne’s mother herself was involved in the business until her death in 2010.
Philip’s joining of the business was less formal than Anne’s. Throughout summers and school holidays, he worked with the family. Even when completing his Leaving Certificate, Philip continued working as a porter at house content sales.
When you grow up around this [real estate], you realise what a fascinating business it is but there are many elements to it. From a certain amount of commercial acumen to people skills which you need in situations,” Philip said.
As mentioned earlier, real estate is in Philip’s DNA. On a day out with his grandmother, a visit to a friend’s home saw the seeds of a long career in the industry planted.
“Philip was about three and a half years of age. And he went out with my mother one day, as she used to take half days on Wednesdays. On one occasion, she went to visit her friends for coffee,” said Anne.
“I asked where the bathroom was. And then I came back from the bathroom and said ‘you have a very nice bathroom, can I see the rest of the house?’” Philip explained.
It didn’t happen by accident!” adds Anne.
After completing his education at UCD, where he also worked for Sherry FitzGerald like his mother, Philip ended up studying in London at Sotheby’s Institute. A return to New Ross was “inevitable” and happened in the early 2000s, when the family was busy with various new build projects in the area.
Like all businesses, PN O’Gorman’s has had to adapt to modern business ways. With the help of Daft.ie, they have been able to reach a whole new group of interested buyers.
“Daft.ie have played a crucial role in expanding our shop window. Every month there are more inquiries, and they are coming from a wider pool. We would normally look at an annual review of buyers. Most people who we’re dealing with (probably about 70 to 80%) will be buyers who are known or who are staying within the area. Others may have a connection to the coastal villages that we cover, they may have gone on holidays there as a child and now they’re coming back to buy and getting out of Dublin or other parts of the country,” said Philip.
Daft.ie is not just good for attracting more buyers and showing them what’s there, but it also has benefits for sellers. From Philip’s perspective, it allows him and the team to access unrivalled insights and show homes in the best light.
From a seller’s perspective to show them in addition to what we’re doing to promote it, that it is out there to the widest possible audience in a very, very presentable manner,” Philip said.
The role of an estate agent is challenging. A broad mix of skills is required to keep clients happy. Gaining the trust of the client is the most important part. When you have this, the job can be extremely rewarding.
“In small communities, everybody knows everybody. There’s a great amount of pride in what you do, and meeting people midway through their buying or selling journey, seeing how they are and then seeing someone settled, there’s new family members or there’s a new pet in the house and you get all of the stories. It is rewarding in respect to your part in people’s journey,” says Philip.
“Meeting somebody and bringing them to successfully handing over their keys, that is an amazing moment,” adds Philip.
Much like how the real estate gene is passed down the generations, PN O’Gorman’s have looked after the same properties in the area for generations.
“We would have properties that my father would have sold. I sold them and now Philip will sell them,” says Anne. “We’ve one couple who are selling some land they bought from me at auction 28 years ago. Now they’ve reached a space where they’re downsizing, we’re selling it for them, and you can see all the work they’ve done with it, it’s great.”
These return customers show the skill and grace that the family business has operated with for four generations. That relationship between agent and buyer/vendor is paramount, and retaining so many customers over the years shows that not only have good business skills and commercial acumen been passed down, but the PN O’Gorman group’s signature warmth is inherited too.
I do think ultimately, it is very much a personable business,” said Philip.
To commemorate PN O’Gorman’s 100th birthday, the group is donating €1,924 each to two local charities. This continues the work in the community that they carry out as estate agents, and continues the legacy of PN O’Gorman in New Ross.
Beyond that, the real celebration of this family-run business will be the sustained impact on the families that it touches in New Ross and beyond. The only reward they’ll look for is to hear the stories of happy families who make their new house a home.
PN O’Gorman has operated in New Ross, Co Wexford for 100 years. Visit their site to learn more.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say