On course to help firms let better...

The property world is dynamic and creates local jobs and vital revenues for Government coffers

Report by JUDITH EDWARDS jedwards@berksmedia.co.uk

Berkshire, as the fulcrum of the Thames Valley business hub, is a base for some of the UK’s most successful property firms. The sector has its established names and star players and in Reading, in the lettings sector in particular, few individuals are better known than Jon Hallett. Jon has been a big name in property in the Reading area for over 20 years, and still is. In 1991 he set up Romans lettings from a standing-start, having worked in the lettings field for three years. That was when Romans was a modest-size estate agency with just three offices and in August 2010 Jon’s lettings agency, Jon Hallett The Property Agents was acquired by the burgeoning property conglomerate that Romans has become. With his entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for property, Jon has quickly regrouped following the takeover and has launched a new venture, Jon Hallett & Co supported by a new website www.jon-hallett.com.

Essentially, Jon Hallett & Co is a lettings consultancy which enables agency owners to benefit from Jon’s extensive knowledge of the property industry and the systems which are an intrinsic inherentin this field. Jon said: “All agents deal with landlords, tenants, purchasers and home owners yet few agents share knowledge and information for fear of losing their competitive edge. Every business needs to review its practices and refine it systems. The move from paper to digital is in progress and the successful transition is down to training. Many firms take on new software packages but do not invest in staff training.”

A particular consultancy service offered by Jon-Hallett.com is anonline independent ratings strategy to improve the rankings of lettings agents on independent property sites such as Allagents, the property equivalent of TripAdvisor. Jon’s company was ranked number two in the UK on the Allagents portal and the firms that he works with have seen their rankings soar, in some instances by thousands of places. Jon said; “Romans is a particular case and the agency now enjoys the number one ratings spot having been way down the rankings at the pre-merger stage.” For Jon, the process pivots on a willingness to embrace change. He said: “Change is difficult for everyone but as a consultant I mentor the business owner and work with them to make their life easier. The objective is to make that organisation slicker, quicker and more responsive.”

Often adopting a phased process of reviewing each facet of the business, Jon has created a detailed health-check, an overview of the entire work-in-progress elements of a business geared to identify areas which can be more responsive and a proposal as to how that can be achieved. Jon said: “The objective is to offer a client a good return on investment, to give them and their staff shortcuts they won’t find elsewhere. Sometimes it is a phased process analysing internet rankings, software and working methods. Sometimes the systems may not have the appropriate functionality, or the firm may not use what is available to their best advantage.” Jon works with firms which employ 20+ people to those with over 2,500 employees. He said: “The variety is fantastic. I work closely with the business owners and directors, sometimes for a week or so, or on an ongoing basis. Even when I sold my business to Romans I knew that I wanted to stay in the property industry and to help other companies in this field evolve.” From his Maidenhead office, Jon’s consultancy clients include Dexter, Romans and Aston Mead. With over 10,000 property agencies in the UK, he knows the market for his services is extensive and his strategy is to work with those companies who want to succeed. By degrees, Jon plans to expand his property training business and recruit specialist trainers. He said: “I am in a good postilionto test drive new systems, and help organisations to grow – also to help clients avoid making mistakes.”

While each client and project is given the assurance of a dedicated bespoke approach, Jon also recommends specialist suppliers, such as web developers, branding companies, social media and management consultants. An inveterate fan of social media, Jon is never more than a click away from LinkedIn, Face book, Twitter and any number of networking hubs. In the context of property relocation, another field in which he remains active, he is also a fixer, and notable clients include past, present and imminent footballers at Reading FC, at which he is a patron. To these clients he is the man with inside knowledge, he sources removals firms, recommends restaurants, will get tickets and provide information on property and schools. The best place to get an idea of what Jon Hallett is all about is to visit his website jon-hallett.com. It is a clean, crisp, intuitive site with a colour palette which unashamedly draws inspiration from his home team, the Royals.

Twitter: jonhallett1. LinkedIn: Jon Hallett MARLA.