Letting Agency

Supporting Hardyman Group (circa £10m turnover group), who have a strong history in the maintenance and planned repairs for several local authorities over a number of years. I am working with them in the expansion of this offering into the private residential lettings sector. We are currently in the early stages of what is already proving to be a very successful trial with two prominent letting agents in the East Midlands area. I would be keen to speak to other letting agents, primarily in the East Midlands, to discuss how we could introduce this beneficial service to your business. Having owned my own lettings business, I am fully aware of the time spent by your staff to respond to repair requests by tenants and landlords, the management of these repairs and the ability to update any concerned parties at the drop of a hat. The unavailability of sub-contractors from time to time, the transparency of costs and the problems that this can cause will ultimately reflect on the service standards that your landlords judge you by.Hardyman Responsive Maintenance will give you a dedicated agent with a real-time web based repairs log which will allow you to track all reported repairs and quotes at the touch of a button and also to add notes where necessary. Hardyman will manage the appointment making, quotations and ultimately the approved repairs to all of your managed properties. We already have an extensive list of fully employed/ approved contractors and qualified trades people but we are also able to use your own contractors where required. You will still deal directly with the landlords yourselves.It should take no more than 7 days to implement and will involve very little time on your behalf to get this fully operational, saving you time and money.

Having bought the Franchise in 2001 I turned the business into the market leading estate agent in Ilkeston, regularly being the top selling agent (data verified by For Sale Sign Analysis). We became one of the top franchise offices within the Whitegates network, regularly winning awards (TOP FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR 2009, financial services, gross financial income, lettings growth) and punched way above our weight in terms of size of area. I was responsible for the implementation of an integrated software system and was one of the first agents to introduce floor plans and 360 virtual tours. An outstanding customer experience was always our number one focus and this resulted in regular repeat business. We introduced lettings in 2002 before it was fashionable and quickly became the leading agent in this field too. Another indicator of my business growth ability was the securing of a partnership (following tender) with Three Valleys Housing. This resulted in the sale of over 70 properties in their large regeneration of a local housing estate. I was responsible for the initial tender document and subsequent project management of this initiative, making regular recommendations, strategy suggestions and client liaison. This resulted in the project meeting its agreed timescales and financial targets.

Managed the Estate Agency Branch for Legal and General Estate Agents

I managed four branches within the Countrywide Group in the West Midlands Area. I was responsible for increasing sales revenues and profitability, increased financial income, marketing, management of staff, training and development and management reporting. I was also employed to assist in the acquisition of Nationwide Estate Agencies and to bring them inline with Countrywide operating principles. Over this period of time I won numerous manager and incentive awards in recognition of my results and improved financial returns.

I started as a negotiator with Countrywide and worked my way through the ranks, winning many awards for my sales achievements and focused client care. Being motivated by targets I naturally found success and adapted well to the culture earning my first company car at the first attempt!