Property Natter - Estate Agency…it’s a people thi...

You’ll know by now that I’m a fully signed up member of the PropTech fan club. And I’ve had an exciting week with friends and colleagues from The ValPal Network (which, like our Today titles, is also owned by Angels Media) looking at some really exciting developments which we’ll be able to tell you about in the coming days and weeks.

But despite my interest in technology and the advantages it brings in automation and efficiency, I fundamentally believe that ours is a people business and I’d like to talk about some of the success stories that have come across my desk this week celebrating the people that make this industry so rewarding.

The Estate agency business folk put on their best bib and tucker and turned out in their droves for the ESTAS awards last Friday – just as they do every year.

And I wanted to make special mention of the first ever WiEA (Women in Estate Agency) Award.

Chair Veronica Frankish thanked everyone who has supported the group which had its inaugural conference only last March but is now firmly established with its own awards category at the ESTAS bash.

Five women were honoured: Wendy Barwell from Sinclair Estate Agents in Sileby, Jayne Holland from Goodfellows Heaton, Stephanie Kipenakis from Addison Townsend in Southgate, Sophie Roberts from Hunters York, and Shelley Webster from Miles & Barr Deal.

Congratulations to you all – great job. (And congratulations too to all our friends at PayProp who picked up their gong for the Best in Sector – Payment Services accolade for the sixth year in a row – fabulous achievement.)

It’s the generation game

Someone else who deserves a pat on the back is David Adams of Cavendish Rentals. David had big shoes to fill when he stepped up as MD of the letting agency he worked for. Because he was not only taking over from his father, he’s also the fifth generation of agents in his family. The fifth!

That’s not a family business. That’s a dynastic achievement.

David has grown the agency so much in the past 12 months that he’s been invited to speak at this year’s Agent Rainmaker Live event.

35 not out…

And talking about longevity in the business, David Plumtree, Group Chief Executive, Estate Agency, of Connells Group celebrated an impressive 35 years with the business this week.

He joined the company in 1988 starting his career in one of the Group’s estate agency branches in East Anglia.

David rose through the ranks, achieving huge success at branch, area and divisional level before becoming the Chief Executive of Sequence in 2006 and then taking overall responsibility for the whole of Connells Group’s branch network as Group Estate Agency Chief Executive in 2013.

David says: “When I started in this business at the tender age of 19, I soon realised that I’d made a fantastic decision. Being a fiercely competitive person I thrived in an environment which provided recognition, reward and progression to those who delivered first class results and displayed the right attitude and behaviours. A true meritocracy with best-in-class training and development support to enable everyone to grow their careers and be the best version of themselves.

“That’s what got the best out of me all of those years ago and 35 years later I aim to maintain that environment and culture for all who work within our branch network.”

During that time Connells Group has become the market leader in UK housing with around 10% share of the sales market as well as having the largest share of the intermediary mortgage market and the largest lettings business. David and his team have overseen huge growth in the business.

What a career he’s built.

It’s a bug’s life

And on the subject of building, Oakwood Homes, just along the road in East Kent has partnered with Broadstairs Town Shed to commission 50 bug homes for local primary schools. All built from up-cycled materials as part of their ‘Go Green’ project.

No wonder Oakwood is the current holder of the ‘Most Sustainable Agent of the Year’ Award.

Natalie Wyborn, who heads up the Oakwood Homes Sustainability Team said, ‘We are thrilled that Broadstairs Town Shed agreed to work with us on this project. These bug homes offer an amazing opportunity for children to actively watch and learn from real wildlife activities right on their doorstep.

‘We have also planted an Oak Tree in Ellington Park this year as part of our community sustainability programme and continue to plant trees every month for every sale and let that completes through our branches. So far, we have planted over 2,000 trees.’

Now that’s what I call a growth industry.

Until next time.