On Friday it will be the end of an era as Greg and Kim Kerr farewell Nutrien Harcourts Ararat, with a move to Ballarat on the cards.
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For the last seven years the Kerrs have been in charge of the Nutrien Harcourts Ararat real estate business, but they have decided it is the right time to move on.
Nutrien Harcourts Ararat Real Estate Manager Greg Kerr said a combination of factors had led the family to make the decision.
"It may be an opportune time to pass on the business and look towards the future," he said.
"There has been lots of changes in the industry, with rental arrangement changes, but it's just one of many factors that has led us to the conclusion that it might be time to move on.
"To do the business justice ongoing and to look after our clients to the degree that we had been, it would mean gearing up with extra staff and it needed that injection to move forward into the future.
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"Based on a few conclusions and logic, it is time for someone younger, a bit more tech-savvy, hopefully with some experience, to come in and take on a what is a great opportunity and take it to the next stage."
Mr Kerr, who grew up in Ararat, returned to the area in 1983 before meeting the woman who would become his wife.
Kim Kerr, who is originally from Horsham, has also played a big role with the business as office manager.
Mr Kerr said he originally started with Landmark in Ararat around 17 years ago as an employee, learning his craft under well-know agent David Thomas.
When Mr Thomas retired Mr Kerr took over the reigns before the family decided to enter into a franchise arrangement, creating a family business from then on until this moment.
Mr Kerr said it was a tough decision to leave the business and they would miss Ararat.
"Ararat has been fantastic to us and for us," he said.
"We have made a lot of friends and acquaintances and we take a lot of pride in doing the right thing by all of our people at all times and set a good standard to the Ararat community. We hope we have achieved that.
"The things we have enjoyed are the contact with some wonderful people, our service provider, our vendors, our purchasers.
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"We would like to think we have provided a user-friendly and professional service to all of those people.
"We like to think we have made their journey an informed one, a pleasant one and one that gives justice to their needs.
"Everybody has been terrific to deal with."
The Kerrs are in their final week with the business, with the new franchisees starting on Monday, August 16 and to be announced soon.
The Kerrs are enjoying their last few days, before some much needed rest and recovery while they decide what comes next.
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