Breaking Property News – 25/04/24
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.
Five office agency, Hat and Home joins The Guild network
The Guild of Property Professionals is pleased to announce that Hat and Home has become the latest Member to join the network. Founded in December 2020, Hat and Home has rapidly established itself as an award-winning, leader in the industry, prioritising exceptional service and modern marketing techniques.
Ben Gee, Founder of Hat and Home, expressed his motivation behind joining the Guild network: “The Guild is a respected and trusted organisation which gives further confidence to the public that we are providing a best-in-class service as we have been hand-picked based on our reputation and operating standards. The opportunity to help our customers and clients by referring within a UK-wide network of like-minded businesses means we can make the moving process more efficient for everyone involved.”
With a vision to ‘make moving home a fantastic experience,’ Hat and Home combines cutting-edge technology with traditional service values. Gee’s background includes twenty years of estate agency experience with some of the biggest names in the sector, and under his leadership, Hat and Home has grown from a single branch to five branches located on the Berkshire, Hampshire, and Surrey border. The first branch opened in February 2021 in Wokingham, quickly followed by Crowthorne, then Bracknell. The latest additions of Ascot and Sandhurst went live in summer 2023. From these locations Hat and Home has a wide geographical reach to include the neighbouring towns of Lower Earley, Shinfield, Arborfield, Eversley, Winkfield, Camberley and Yateley.
The growth from one to five branches in 27 months has required a significant investment in people with 29 full-time and two part-time team members. The lettings team makes up five of these.
Commenting on the growth and ethos of Hat and Home, Gee stated, “Our aim is for our customers to have such a fantastic experience when dealing with us that they feel compelled to recommend us. Not content with ‘just’ being recommended we want people to go out of their way to tell friends, colleagues and even strangers about us, purely because we have impressed them so much. To achieve this, we need to deliver an exceptional experience.”
He adds, “Our two greatest intangible assets are our people and our brand. The role of the brand is to bring the customer to the door of our offices, predisposed to do business with us. The role of our people is to convert that opportunity into revenue. At Hat and Home, we take brand and marketing very seriously, whether we are marketing our clients’ properties or the brand itself. We operate in an extremely competitive landscape so everything we do must cut through a very noisy and crowded marketplace. Our brand evokes a reaction, an emotional response. People smile when they encounter our brand advertising, and they remember what they have seen, which leaves them with a predisposition to engage with Hat and Home. We treat our customers with intelligence and respect, which builds and retains a loyal following of brand ambassadors and cheerleaders who will promote and champion the business to their peers.”
By leveraging The Guild’s network and resources, Hat and Home aims to provide added value to its clients. “Utilising the referral network we will give our buyers the best possible chance of becoming ‘proceedable’ in the shortest time possible and at the best possible price. Additionally, the robust compliance and advice services will ensure our clients are fully compliant, we are operating within current ever-changing regulation and that we ahead of changes to legislative regime. The tech stack is also compelling and enables are to create highly targeted marketing campaigns that hit the most relevant audience with the most pertinent message for them,” Gee added.
When asked about the role of technology within the business, Gee commented: “Tech should enhance our service and not replace it. There is massive scope to further digitise the industry, especially when it comes to talking with customers and ensuring they are on a meaningful nurture journey with us.”
Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, welcomed Hat and Home to the Guild’s esteemed community. “We are delighted to have Hat and Home join The Guild. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction aligns perfectly with our values, and we look forward to supporting them in their continued success,” McKenzie said.
As a Guild Member, Hat and Home reaffirms its commitment to providing exceptional service and delivering a fantastic experience for homeowners and prospective clients alike.
Fine & Country Foundation announces recipients of Spring 2024 Grant Scheme
The Fine & Country Foundation proudly announces the selection of 26 charitable organisations working across five countries to receive funding as part of its Spring Grant scheme for 2024. This initiative aims to allocate financial support to non-profit entities dedicated to addressing homelessness and poverty. A total of £41,147 has been allocated across 27 projects in France, Spain, India, South Africa and the UK, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to making a tangible difference in communities worldwide.
The Foundation’s Grant Scheme operates on a biannual basis, with Fine & Country offices across the globe encouraged to submit nominations for charities of their choice. Following a rigorous review process by The Foundation’s board, successful projects are awarded grants to bolster their impactful endeavours.
Commenting on the initiative, Jon Cooke, Trustee of the Fine & Country Foundation, emphasised the critical role of financial assistance amidst ongoing economic challenges: “Many organisations face significant hurdles due to the increase in the cost of living experienced over the past few years, necessitating support to sustain their invaluable community work. We trust that the grants awarded will serve as a lifeline for these organisations, enabling them to continue their essential missions of effecting positive change in people’s lives.”
Cooke underscored the profound impact of the Fine & Country Foundation’s collaborative efforts: “Through the Foundation, the Fine & Country network has found a meaningful platform to give back, touching countless lives in the process.”
Since its establishment in 2014, the Fine & Country Foundation has been dedicated to supporting those in need, raising over £950,000 through diverse fundraising initiatives and events. With a steadfast commitment to its mission, the Foundation aspires to reach the milestone of £1,000,000 in funds raised for homeless charities during 2024, the organisation’s tenth anniversary.
Full list of charities receiving grants is below:
Milton Keynes YMCA
HCT – Helping Caring Team
Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire
The Amber Foundation
New Beginnings Reading
Nuneaton Foodbank
Off the Fence
The Clock Tower Sanctuary
Love Malborough Kids Meals
YMCA East Surrey
Renewed Hope
StreetVet
The Wimbledon Guild of Social Warefare
SleepPod
Emmaus Oxford
OCC Edge Housing
Reaching The Unreached
Path Torbay
Crisis Skylight Newcastle
Better Life Foundation
Street Paws
The Four Streets Project
Beacon House Ministries
Project For All
The Welcome Centre
Homeless in Teinbridge
Andrew Stanton Executive Editor – moving property and proptech forward. PropTech-X
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