Posts by Alex Evans
How to increase the value of your garden
A well-designed and maintained garden makes a property stand out and will definitely increase its price. Landscaping is a great way to turn your garden into a magnificent and very special place. Here are some great tips on how to increase the value of your garden and thus improve the state of your house. Take…
Read MoreEwe must be joking? – Add some Apple thinking to your agency’s efforts
I attended a seminar a couple of years back which featured Steve Wozniak , the co-founder and original brains behind Apple. He came across genuine, down to earth, and incredibly clever but I was bored by the end of his talk – so much so that I vividly recall wondering why Gangsta rappers don’t attract…
Read MoreThe Little Touches that Make a BIG Difference
It was a big day in the Lyons’ household on Monday 12 September. My little girl started school. Mum was nervous, I was anxious, but the little ‘un was unphased. Seeing her take her first little steps into the classroom at a place she’ll end up spending the next seven years made me feel lucky. Lucky…
Read MoreRedundancies – and why we must fight another brain drain from the industry
Redundancies are almost always a shock and very sad for the people concerned. At the same time redundancies do create new and positive opportunities for both job-seekers and prospective employers. Only months ago, I was writing about skill shortages throughout the estate agency and letting agency sector. It was increasingly difficult for employers to entice…
Read MoreMANAGING THE SALES MAVERICK
The sales maverick, rogue elephant, troublesome superstar, it all means the same. It’s a challenge that virtually every manager I have met trained or been associated with has had to deal with. I believe that it’s a challenge that managers often find the most demanding of their time and ability. In my training sessions a…
Read MoreThe UK Property Market is Shrugging off Brexit Qualms
Fresh figures have revealed that the Brexit shadow of uncertainty that was cast over the UK property market has begun to lift. House price growth has risen 0.6% in August, allowing property values to upsurge to a new record high of a £206,145 national average. This spells promising news for anybody who has a property…
Read MoreA VERY simple step could save your agency from throwing thousands of pounds down the drain
We’ve all been there. When a big shining penny so blindingly obvious drops into our laps and screams ‘What the f**k took you so long?!!!!’ Let me explain. Twice this week I’ve had conversations with clients about their PR and marketing plans for the next quarter. Both times I’ve heard words to the effect of;…
Read MoreAnd so it begins. The disintegration of the UK’s largest estate agent
Countrywide have today announced the closure of 59 branches across the country in addition to the consolidation of their London brands by morphing Faron Sutarian into John D Wood, one of the more established of their upper market shopfronts. Alan de Maid, Hetheringtons, Vanet, Fitz-Gibbon, APW Lettings, and CHK Mountford are also being re-labelled and will lead…
Read More10 Ways to Build a Reputable Estate Agency
If you are considering it and you tell a friend or family member that you want to start an estate agency business, what reaction do you usually get? Well honestly speaking, a number of them have had a bad experience or two with some estate agents in the past and they will tell you so.…
Read MoreThings You Should Do Before Moving to a New City
Moving to a new city is a very important step in everyone’s life. It can be due to different reasons such as buying a new house or changing your current job. Before making the big decision on house relocation however, you need to think of arranging some things in advance. Here are the most essential…
Read MoreYour Nuisance Neighbour Could be Costing You £37,000
Nobody wants to move into a new property and have to deal with any form of harassment or nuisance from the neighbours, but the difference between moving in next to a nice and a naughty neighbour could be worth more than £37,000 to the valuation of an average household. Based on the statistics taken from…
Read MoreIs it time to change your Estate Agency Window Displays?
Up to 50% window displays – end of summer special offer Are you looking to update your windows and get exceptional value for money? Plus you want to look different from everyone else. Take advantage of a limited offer on our designer range of LED Light Pockets. Place an order before the 2nd September and…
Read MoreHow much could you lose to online agents through complacency?
I believe that perception is everything and at the moment estate agents are having to deal with the perception that some of them don’t give a good enough service and that because of this the public’s expectations are low. What does this mean? Well in my experience when people believe that the majority are giving…
Read MoreFirst Time Buyer Meets Japanese Knotweed
The Guardian recently published an article about a first time buyer encountering Japanese Knotweed on the property he is proposing to purchase. The potential buyer discovered that the property has Japanese Knotweed only after making the offer. The article mentions that digging up knotweed is a thankless task. Although digging up knotweed is not easy…
Read MoreProperty investment is far more attractive with the low interest rates
With so much uncertainty doing the rounds of late relating to anything remotely connected with finance, whether that be savings, investments, business and even the economy. Ever since the UK voted to exit the EU we have seen the property sector placed firmly under the microscope and an array of predictions from experts across the…
Read More