John Evans is the Principal of NAI Harcourts Rinnovate. They are the business broking office with offices in Shepparton and Melbourne.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE AND WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN IT?
I have dealt in commercial property and business broking for 25 years. I commenced in employed roles, eventually starting my own business and have been part of NAI Harcourts since January 2016.

WHAT MARKET SECTOR/S DO YOU PRIMARILY FOCUS ON?
‘Going concern’ businesses in almost all sectors – excluding agricultural/farming but pretty much everything else.

Tell me about a truly memorable deal that you have been involved in?
We specialise in getting the difficult deals across the line.

A highly regarded commercial lawyer recently told me that a deal we put together (to get a truly unique property and business sold), was the most challenging set of contract documentation he’d done in his 40+ years in commercial law.

The sale was for the only privately operated Memorial Park in Victoria, a freehold property and associated business, operating with interred remains – together the business of funerals, memorial services, family functions, etc, and a beautiful onsite residence.

A business with elderly vendors, not operating the business to its maximum potential, coupled with a series of unsuccessful campaigns to sell with other agents had left the proposition in limbo. NAI Harcourts Rinnovate structured a finance arrangement that met the vendors’ needs to get a certain amount upfront so they could buy a house to retire in, but also accommodated the purchaser’s financial capacity and dealt with financial institutional unwillingness to lend on this type of property.

What’s your best “big tip” in the next 12 months?
Make a well considered purchase now, while interest rates are low, and as we are on the upswing out of COVID. There’s never been a better opportunity to get into a solid business that’s right for you.

Away from work, what is your favourite hobby or pastime?
The gym; that is, when my 6 and 4-year old stepsons give me time to get there!

Do you have fun or interesting photo to share?
See above – on a camel at Uluru with my wife.