Standing in the old ASB Bank building in Pukekohe is like standing on the threshold of time for the community’s own Conveyancing Shop lawyers, who are located there.
The bank, built in 1956, was the site for many transactions which catapulted the humble but budding community into a thriving town with a bright future.
And now, the Conveyancing Shop team feels honoured to be there helping the community move forward into growth and prosperity.
“It’s such a great spot – we bought it in 2015 and just knew that it was a historic building, symbolic of the growth of Pukekohe,” says Sirpa Gunn, general manager of the family-run law firm, set up in 2005 by Thada Chapman, Sirpa Gunn and Michelle Erasmus.
The award-winning Conveyancing Shop specialises in property transactions and focuses on helping everyone from first home buyers to seasoned property developers, from families to overseas investors.
Their services support property and farm sales, purchases, refinances and subdivisions, as well as business and commercial transactions, retirement planning, trusts, wills, relationship property agreements and franchise agreements.
The Pukekohe branch is located by the roundabout on the corner of King and Seddon Streets, with the firm extending its open-door policy to anyone who wants to pop in, see the artwork on the wall and feel the history of the building.
“Lots of people call in for a chat, some with legal queries, some just to say hello, such as some of our elderly residents and clients,” Sirpa says. “We love that – it helps us keeps in touch with our community.”
The community is rapidly growing, with housing developments springing up and opportunities for local and arriving families and businesses.
Sirpa and the Conveyancing Shop team understand what the community needs. The team works to take the headache out of legal processes for clients, especially with pricing.
“Our fixed price offer for standard residential transactions gives clients the confidence to ring and ask questions or pop into the office to discuss their transaction.
“From the outset, clients know the full cost for every type of service we offer, allowing them to budget accordingly. This means they won’t receive a nasty surprise when presented with the bill,” says Sirpa.
The tech-savvy team has also invested heavily in smart technology to free up their office time so they can have more face-to-face time with clients who need it.
The mobile legal service – one of the first in New Zealand - also allows clients the benefit of more flexible appointments.
“We began offering a mobile service soon after we started the company in 2005, but in recent times we've found a huge increase in demand. While much can be done electronically, there's still a need to meet face-to-face with clients.
“We can arrange a visit wherever or whenever suits, during the day or in the evening, so there's no need for clients to take time off work or arrange childcare – or battle through Auckland's horrendous traffic. It's all about making things easier for our clients.
“We now have our mobile service available to visit clients anywhere in greater Auckland. If someone can't get to our Pukekohe or Botany branches, Conveyancing Shop will come to them – our mobile service is just a phone call away at 0800 SOLICITOR.”
What’s more, the Conveyancing Shop is also open over the Christmas holidays.
The team also offers mobile services for ill or dying patients in hospitals, and their families.
“We understand how difficult and stressful it can be when a family member is unwell, and there are legal processes, such as wills or business sales, underway. At times like that, you need a listening ear and a local, family-run business like ours that cares about your family to come and take some of the stress out of the situation for you.”
The Conveyancing Shop Lawyers reach out to the community as much as they can and try to make it easy for clients to navigate the somewhat complicated legal landscape.
Senior lawyer Gurleena Walia says she understands how terrifying sale and purchase agreements can be for first time buyers.
“That document is probably the most important thing you will ever sign in your life, committing you to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. It’s so normal to be nervous about it, which is why we are here to help,” says Gurleena.
“It's our mission to try to ensure everything goes well. We are happy to check over an offer drawn up by a real estate agent free of charge. It only takes a few minutes and can be a quick and simple way to gain peace of mind over what for many may be their biggest expenditure.”
The Conveyancing Shop Lawyers team also runs frequent, free seminars to increase understanding among clients about property transactions.
“We are regularly invited to speak by agents, banks, brokers and building companies, not as part of the sales process but to educate people and explain about the legal aspects involved.”
The future of the town is something the Conveyancing Shop’s heart is invested in. Gurleena and the team are excited to be part of its growth.
“Pukekohe is thriving and we’re just thrilled to be rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck in with the community to make this a great place to live, work and play.”
