Online firm Express Estate Agency has said it needs to increase its workforce by 25% to cope with growing activity in the property market.
The Manchester-based firm currently has 160 staff, and according to a local news service, it wants to hire a further 40 sales negotiators and supervisors by the end of the year.
The firm carries a high-profile endorsement by Sir Ian Botham, and was founded four years ago by brothers Chris and Mark Brogan, and Sam Ballard.
According to Botham, “Express Estate Agency’s market-leading solution is the best way to sell any property in the UK”.
It currently lists a very large inventory of properties on Rightmove, ranging from a £19.5m house in Knightsbridge to a £17,000 flat in Kilmarnock. All are described as being “realistically priced”, with interest and offers invited. On its own website, there are 3,728 listings.
In addition, it has 33 rental properties listed on Rightmove.
Ballard, head of estate agency, told the Yorkshire Business Desk: “We are the largest online agency by far, currently achieving upward of 400 sales a month, and we have recently moved into the lettings market. We are looking for experienced as well as aspiring sales agents, and apprentices as well as graduates.
“In the last month we have seen a big increase in the number of properties coming to market with us and an increase in the number of people looking to buy, and we need to expand our team so we can continue to offer the best service in the industry.
”
The company operates on a ‘no sale, no fee’ model and claims nationwide coverage. It was recently awarded the title of best online agency in the UK by allAgents, based on customer feedback, beating rivals House Network and eMoov.
However, its offering has not always been plain sailing and complaints against the firm to the Advertising Standards Authority were upheld a couple of years ago.
https://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/oldeat_news_features/Uner-market-value-agent-home-reprimanded-by-advertising-watchdog
Comments
Good to see the site is up to date, still shows Find a Property portal!
Only on the very odd occasion Scott.
Scott are you really that ignorant of how the UK property market works!!?
@Wardy - I take it your listings have door numbers, post codes and vendors names in the description do they?
This is quite an interesting point. I was talking with a French estate agent last week and asking why he doesn't geo-code his listings so that potential clients can see the property on the map or even at street level.
He said because when we do that, many buyers in France will use the details on our site plus the map and street view details, find out where the property is located and approach the vendor direct in an attempt to cut out the fees associated with the middle man.
Is that something that happens in the UK?
sorry my 'u' has stopped working properly on keyboard!!
'without'
I am an agent and on market wiyot a sale board.. I have been 'hit' by abot 5 firms ranging from removals, action etc.. must be zoopla selling details to other companies.
surprised none of my vendors have complained , thinkings its me makinga qick buck.
Freddy
Who said anything about potential purchasers? These people phone up pretending to be surveyors looking for comparables of property on the market. Unsuspecting negs then blirt out the door number and hey presto, your Vendor is subject to a barrage of junk mail. Do you think a firm like express estate agency has the man power to go looking for boards when they can just phone up idiots like you?
I take it your listings have door numbers, post codes and vendors names in the description do they?
BTW, if any negs out there are asked for addresses of property thats ON the market by bogus surveyors, please stop and think before blurting out the door number....
so you want to take the chance of not telling a potential buyer where the house actually is ?? last time i had a bogus surveyor call, he sounded a little like a human being, stop hiding your stock, last i checked there is one of your boards outside the house, going to cover those up too ? if you are good enough agent doing your job, you shouldn't be afraid of canvassing, if your a slack agent then the Vendor deserves better anyway.
Endorse? Paid? A real vioce on agency of course I forgot that!!
The ALLAGENTS AWARDS proves that there is a correlation between our most profitable agents and those that provide the best customer service.
from the thread last week, wasn't one of the posters claiming on their site that Ian Botham endorsed them too?
Nobody told these guys that the market has turned and while their method of preying on vulnerable and distressed vendors may make some ground in a falling or stagnant market, they are positively screwed now its on the up.
Time for Botham & Ballard to cash in.
BTW, if any negs out there are asked for addresses of property thats ON the market by bogus surveyors, please stop and think before blurting out the door number.
@Kevin
False economy? These guys are raking it in - apparently they charge 2% and force you to sell at about 90%. So their ratios are likely pretty high and no doubt they're laughing all the way to the bank. Botham what have you done.
It doesn't work.
How many properties are under priced, or over priced?
How many vendors are as competent at qualifying, viewing, closing and then progressing a sale as effectively as an experienced agent?
How many properties are marketed with crap photos, no floor plan, etc etc.
How many missed opportunities are there where a vendor is not as available as an agent to field phone calls and/or conduct viewings?
False economy.
They also go under the name of Express Valuations and call for the address of properties that are being marketed. We now always give them the wrong address so they tout the wrong property!!
Wow, the power of Botham, imagine if they could get that Indian cricketer who just retired, they would need 1000 staff.