His Fitzgerald Estate Agents business will now be named McGrath Orange with his Molong office to also take on the McGrath name.

Mr Fitzgerald said he was looking to expand into other local towns.

The change will start with a shift several doors down Lords Place into the former Leading Edge computers store in a month.

Mr Fitzgerald said he had initiated the change by contacting the Mudgee-based Central West main office for McGrath.

"One month later I go a call from head office," he said.

Mr Fitzgerald said the company examined his business before approving his request. "There was quite an in-depth screening process for us," he said.

"We still own the business and we have become a franchise."

Mr Fitzgerald said while the Orange real estate market was strong it was hard to operate as a small independent business in a changing business world.

He said McGrath had "excellent strategy and technology" support which helped their real agents match buyers and sellers and provide other vital services. "That was the biggest thing for us," he said.

Mr Fitzgerald said McGrath had 104 offices in Australia, which while not the biggest in the country, was a significant player in real estate.

"Forty per cent of the offices are owned and operated by McGrath. They've got skin in the game," he said.

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