A small independent triumphed at the ESTAs on Friday.
Beating off record competeition, Stoneshaw Estates – a single-branch business in Dagenham, Essex – took the crown as the UK’s estate agent of the year.
Taking silver was Taylors St Ives, part of the Countrywide group, while bronze went to another independent, Abacus Estates, London, a firm launched by Craig Norman when he was just 22.
For Stoneshaw Estates, the day was a double triumph as the firm also picked up bronze in the overall best letting agent in the UK.
Whilst it was a day for independents to celebrate, there were also awards for the best chains.
The award for the best small chain, with three to nine offices, went to Porter Glenny, while Webbers won best medium chain. In the best national chain category, Countrywide came top, followed by Reeds Rains and then Spicerhaart.
More than 500 people attended the ESTAs bash, hosted by Phil Spencer and held at the Hilton in Park Lane, London.
For the first time, awards were made to individuals working in the industry. They were Emily Kirsten, sales coordinator at Charters; Ailsa Mather, office relocation manager at Northumbria and Cumbria; Pauline To, director of To Lettings; Jo Wheeler, director of Wheelers Estate Agents; and Hannah White, lettings manager at Jacksons.
Also for the first time, awards were presented to the industry suppliers of the year, as voted for by agents. Gold went to the Mortgage Advice Bureau, while HomeLet picked up silver and bronze went to Key Agent.
For the full list of all the award winners, go to https://2011.theestas.com/shortlist/
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Comments
@ getoverit. No, that isn't what I'm saying. In fact there is absolutely no suggestion in any of my comments that that is what I think.
In a field of 14,000 estate agents, you seriously think that one with 14 houses on the books is the best?? Get real mate.
As i've said ten times before, if their customer service was that good and they sold houses so quickly, their valuer would be exploiting this at every opportunity and they would be listing more houses at good prices than you could shake a stick at. The fact is, they don't.
I am not questioning the service of the agent, I'm sure it is very good but by no means are they the best in the country. If you are against that, you either work for them or you are not an etsate agent.
So according to 'absolute joke' the winner should have the most properties on their books?? Ok in which case agents should go round and overvalue everything (like bairstow eves do) that way they'll have more properties than anyone else and should therefore win in 2012??
Hmmm it sounds to me like a good honest approach to estate agency is the way to go and the winners have proved that. I choose quality over quantity and it would seem the voters agree. After all its the voters opinions that counts!
Taylors St Ives 2nd! As an Ex agent I am not maoning I have not won but they are the worst agent by a country mile in a town of very good independents.
The little office of Taylors live on Repos, that does not make them good, buy a Repo through them and sell it via one of the others to make money.
Rather devaluers any creditabilty this had.
I agree with absolute joke. The award should simply be given to the agent with the greatest quantity of over-priced, unsellable stock on their books.
My nomination would be Beals in Hampshire.
The Real awards happened a while back.. if i remember correctly Marsh & Parsons won it?
This is their shortlist for London's best agents?? What kind of awards is this.. are they mad. Furthermore its 2011 awards... so they're judging on half a years assessment or what? Hilarious.
LONDON
Abacus Estates (seem to advertising on their website that they're 2010 winner.. are they that good an estate agent that they dont know which year they won!!)
Ellis and Co
Hanover Residential London
Jacksons Balham
Jacksons Tooting Bec
Jacksons Wandsworth
London Residential
My London Home
Paramount
Richard James Mill Hill
And would an estate agent of the year be advertising the fact that all homeowners need a HIP on their website?
And yes Mr Anonymous, 15 properties on their books does mean that you can't be that good because if they were, they would have more properties listed!!
If you send PR articles into Estate Agent Today, expect to get criticism.
I think the meaning of the award has lost a concept. There is a difference between providing the best customer service and being the best estate agent.
Stoneshaw Estate also came third in the lettings awards!! What a surprise!!
I wonder if more than three estate agents actually applied?
No one here has said that the winners of the best estate agent in the uk are not any good at what they do......just that they haven't sold enough properties in the qualifying year to win the top prize.
With the handicap system that is operated they would have needed to sell alot more units in the qualifying year to have beaten their rivals.....and they didn't....it really is as simple as that.
To some of the complainers here - you say that because the winner only has 15 properties on their books they can't be good???? Does having 50 or 100 properties that have been over valued and can't be sold make you a better agent ????
As you say they may have sold only 15% of the agent who came second but if the other agents clients have rated them poorly then what do you expect?
Maybe the agents here who are complaining should look at themselves first before moaning about what other have done!
Congratulations to all the winners !
The grand prix winners have only sold a handful of props(according to rightmove member archives) over the year 2010 so not sure how they won best in uk?
Nationally it means nothing. Generally a complete waste of time except, possibly, only as an advertising "puff" for a short period within the 'winners' catchment area.
I'm sorry,but this result must be incorrect.
A mistake MUST have been made.
Through current technology we,as agents, can see exactly what we have all sold over a set period of time.It is not difficult for us all to check what the "winners" have sold.
Currently,as already mentioned, they only have 15 properties for sale(1 in France!) and 5 sold.
More importantly during the period in question From Jan to Dec 2010 they have dealt with a mere 15% of the numbers dealt with by the office that came 2nd in the sales grand prix and only 20% of the company that came third.
These awards have always prided themselves on transparency and the fact that they reflect the customers opinions on service.
But even with the fair handicap system that the organisers have these numbers just DONT add up this year.
I think an explaination from the organisers is required on behalf of the record ammount of entries this year.
Simply the ammount of sales the winners did during the qualifying period would suffice as this,as we all know,can be checked by us and land registry sites.If a mistake has been made then it is important to rectify this.
Ah, that's my neck of the woods...
I've probably viewed a good 10-15 properties in the area and not one through these guys; the main players are Spicer McColl, Woolens and B'stard Thieves.
@ anonymous,
If they have sold them all, they need to get a new valuer because they would be getting a lot more properties on the market. According to rightmove, they have sold 7.
All awards are a bit of a con. You get nominated then pay through the nose to attend the awards bash.
If you don't pay you get make the shortlist.
Suckers the lot ..............
How many agents apply, we dont total waste of time. I reckon 5% of UK estate agents apply.
In fact one letting company in Glasgow with only 30 LET properties made the final, and they have been trading 2 years !!!
No one cares, it is just a money making scheme for the Estas. They make a fortune out of this,
@ Absolute Joke
Maybe they have sold them all, maybe thats the point.
It seems to be the case every year. Looks like the best agency is the one with the fewest houses on their books!!
Perhaps it is because they have the time to provide a better service?
No sour grapes, I am not jealous. It is buy no fault of the winners and I do congratulate them for being presented with an award.
I appreciate that excellent customer servcie should be rewarded. However, you would presume that if their service was that good, they would have far more properties on their books.
I am not having a go at the agency, I just fail to see how the best estate agent in the country has 14 properties on their books.
Although i agree with "What a Joke" i detect some sour grapes and may have missed out on the award?
Don't judge the Agency by its' size, 'Absolute Joke' - judge it by the evident lack of support for its' competitors!
Congratulations to the winners.
Well done to Darren and the team! It goes to show what can be achieved in a difficult market. Congratulations from all of us at Obligo.
So you are telling us that an Estate Agent with 14 available properties is Estate Agent of the Year??? What an absolute farce.
I know they says its about quality not quantity but that is absolutely ridiculous.
How many questionnaires could they have even sent out???
What a joke!!