Hunters add rentals to its franchise business

Hunters, the Yorkshire-based business, is continuing with its estate agency franchising offering.

The highly successful company made the most of the boom and at one time announced plans to expand to every high street in the country and to list on the Stock Exchange. However, since being hit hard by the downturn, it has offered a new style of franchising called Personal Agent.

The model allows its franchisees to use the Hunters branding and back-office resources, but to work remotely. The firm has now added a free bolt-on lettings franchise to its sales offering, Lettings-Lite.  

Franchising director Jamie McMullan said: “The idea is that all Personal Agents can have the opportunity of earning from both residential sales and lettings, without any additional investment required. We realise that in today’s market it is important to be able to offer both sales and lettings.

“With the Personal Agent just finding the landlord and tenant and Hunters administrating the back of office work, it’s a win-win for both of us. The Personal Agent splits any income with Hunters 50/50.”

He added: “Undoubtedly this is a really tough market for everyone, but by working from home in your local area, and by keeping all overheads to a minimum, the Personal Agent stands a good chance of high rewards.

“Paul Atkinson, one of our first franchisees, in York, took four listings and made 44 viewings and four sales in week. Since Paul became a Personal Agent two months ago, he has sold one property a week and has a pipeline of £30,000.”