But the newest player in the real estate industry, Lan Snowden, is determined his first solo venture – Our City Real Estate – will stand out from the crowd.

“I think there’s a gap in service, and I feel what I will be able to bring is a level of personalised service,” he said.

Mr Snowden and Mitch Brakenridge, who runs Next Level Digital, are working together in an office above the SportsPower store in Summer Street.

Mr Snowden said the agency would be different to the traditional agency model of a window full of listings and people coming inside for information.

“I will go and meet them,” he said, adding the business would be active on social media.

Mr Snowden said there was a shortage of houses for sale in Orange at the moment, which could be a sign of properties selling faster.

“I think people will still have to work hard for listings,” he said.

WHEN two veterans of the car repair and servicing industry retired in the past month Ben Churchland saw an opportunity.

Mechanic Steve Kay retired after 33 years, including 29 years at his March Street service centre.

Next door, Wolfgang Schumann retired after a lengthy period as an auto upholsterer.

So Mr Churchland, who had worked for Mr Kay for six years, took over both premises for his new business, Ben’s Auto Repairs and Service Centre.

“A lot of his [Mr Kay’s] customers have stayed. I knew everyone and they know who I am, so nothing much is going to change,” Mr Churchland said.

That includes retaining mechanic Glenn Magill, who had worked there for the past year.

MITRE 10’s Orange store is to undergo a major refurbishment, and has been rebranded as Mitre 10 Trade.

Store manager Steve Fergus said the work would likely occur next January-July.

“With huge increases in our trade business over the last five years we have now hit our capacity with the current site, and to support future growth we are spending in excess of $1 million creating an all-weather trade offer,” he said.

“The new building will allow us to increase our range of timber and building supply products while also improving site access with three lanes of drive-through for our trade customers.”

He said they will also build a new showroom where customers can discuss their plans with staff.

Mr Fergus said the business would continue to trade during the work.