Baum is pictured at the recent NAEA / ARLA Presidential dinner
How did you start in the industry?
I grew up around property; my father had a construction company so discussion about property was always around me.
My first experience of estate agency was a week’s work experience at the age of 16. At the age of 17 I visited family in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where at the time my uncle had a real estate management company. I spent more time shadowing him than sightseeing and by the end of the trip I was totally hooked.
When I had to make the decision between an offer to study economics and marketing, or a position as a trainee estate agent, I jumped for the trainee position and it was the best career decision I’ve ever made.
I joined an independent estate agency firm in Loughborough, where I went from trainee to equity partner in nine years, and then left to join competitor Hartleys to launch a new start office, before eventually becoming managing partner.
I met my wife Natasha in an agency, and we were both partners at Hartleys. Outside work, we share a passion for travel, and spent last Christmas in New Zealand.
Would you still go into agency today?
Definitely. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if I had those two offer letters in my hands today, I would make exactly the same decisions as I did when I was 18.
What is your current role, and how will you fit this around your Presidency?
After my business was sold last year, it was important to me to continue my role as an active estate agent, alongside my work with the NAEA. I strongly believe that as the figurehead of estate agents, I should be a ‘hands on’ estate agent. I wanted to continue conducting valuations, and talking to vendors and buyers on a daily basis, so I understand first-hand the challenges our members are facing.
My current role is as sales partner in an independent firm in Loughborough called AJR.
Aidan Reed is the senior partner – also a fellow director of the NFoPP board – and it was he who gave me my first opportunity in the industry as that trainee. He also encouraged me to become a member of the NAEA, so it’s great to be back working with him.
What do you hope to achieve in your year?
I am proud of what the NAEA stands for and the fact that members have chosen to sign up to our code of conduct.
We need to continue to spread the word of the association far and wide, so to do this I need a motivated and hard-working NAEA board around me who represent the whole of the UK, which I have.
As a board we are all focused on working with our members, pointing out the difference between our members and other estate agents, and educating the consumer to the benefits of using an estate agent who has chosen to do things the right way.
We will continue to increase the number of regional conferences, we will continue to increase the number of free master classes to keep our members fully abreast of changes in legislation, and we have – and will continue to – increase public awareness of the organisation. I see this as a major focus moving forwards.
Who is your property hero?
Wow, this is a hard question. Aidan Reed has played a major part in my career and still does. In recent years I have really looked up to the likes of Jan Hytch and Tim Hyatt who have been great industry ambassadors and very supportive to me personally.
However, if I had to name my property hero of the moment I would have to say Stephanie O’Driscoll from May Whetter who won the title of NFoPP Student of the Year.
She is a hero to all of the next generation of property professionals.
What do you think about all the consolidation going on in the sector at the moment?
Consolidation in parts of our sector was always going to happen post-recession, especially a recession that cut so deeply in our industry.
Why was your last firm sold to Countrywide?
The sale of my business was down to the personal circumstances of the senior partner. My wife and I considered very seriously taking over the reins of the whole business. However, my commitment to the NAEA took precedent at that time.
Where do you stand on the great portals debate?
Consumers now have a choice of where their property is marketed. That can only be healthy for the consumer – choice in any market place can only be positive.
What is your view of online agents?
Online agents, traditional agents, hybrid agents. All are terms which only confuse consumers. For me, some so-called ‘traditional’ estate agents have a better online offering than ‘online’ agents. Consumers have a choice, but from all these models there is one point of difference for the consumer:
Those agents who choose to sign up to a code of conduct in the absence of Government regulation and those who don’t.
Consumers should look for the NAEA logo to have peace of mind.
It seems that reputational management is one of the biggest issues facing the industry. What is your opinion?
At our London property forum in February, the housing minister Brandon Lewis clearly stated there was no appetite for the Government to regulate our industry. Disappointing but hardly surprising news, but rather than wallowing in that disappointment it is our job to strive and continue to increase the standard of professionalism within our industry to secure a better future.
My hope is that as one of the youngest ever presidents of this organisation, that I, my presidential team and our NAEA board of regional executives can engage with the next generation of property professionals.
Those ‘would be’ members who are currently apprentices, negotiators, trainee valuers who will all one day will become business owners, partners, principles and directors.
Engage with these professionals now, show them the benefits of our qualifications, explain why taking pride in their work and doing things the right way by becoming a member of the NAEA and signing up to our code of conduct is the best way to show credibility to their consumers in the absence of government regulation.
In a year’s time, what legacy would you like to have left behind?
Twelve months from now I would like to have built on the excellent foundation put in place by the past three presidents, Mark Hayward, Jan Hytch and Simon Gerrard, to represent an industry of increasing standards.
I want to give the presidential teams of the future the opportunity to have a growing membership and therefore an association that is moving forward – therefore in turn an industry that is increasing in professional standards.
Consumers should look for the NAEA logo to have peace of mind.
What does that even mean???!!! What is the difference using an NAEA agent or not?
All it means is you get a logo (which the public are not even aware of).
An estate agent not a member of the NAEA can offer just the same service / ethics as one that is.
As I gave stated in a previous story what are you going to do about your members that broke not only your code of conduct but the law regarding money laundering?
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If only you had a clue!!
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Enlighten me, if i have got it wrong tell me!
What benefit is it to any agent signing up to NAEA?
What benefit is there to the public considering the expo a couple of nights ago that agents really dont take it seriously.
And what are the NAEA doing about not only the “code” the agents have broken but also the law?
NAEA is like buying an award – means nothing!
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My only comment is that Martyn has to find a way of un-NFoPPing NAEA and attach some meaning and pride to the National association of Estate Agents. There are too many respected Agents and industry talents outside NAEA who find it impossible to communicate in any meaningful way with Arbon House.
13 month is too long to wait for a return phone call and important matters should not be gate guarded and delegated down by junior staff.
There is a lot of resentment about the Bolton-King attempts to commercialise the association and that betrayed an awful lot of effort that had been put into and support for the association away from limelight of a place on the executive board.
If Martyn is serious about rebuilding the association perhaps a good place to start is understanding that “vocal malcontent Fellows” weren’t vocal malcontents for no reason. From personal experience as both a Fellow and an Ex Fellow , high handed arrogance from Arbon House isn’t a great foundation for the inclusive and respected association Martyn is hoping to re-establish.
I wish him well he reminds me a lot of Melfyn Williams who I have great respect for!
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A lot of sense. I have to agree with the FPoPP/NAEA bit especially.There are rumblings again from NAEA members.
PBK did a great job but I think is much better off with RICS!
Martyn now replaces Melfyn as the youngest ever president. We all wish him luck, particularly with the difficult problem to giving NAEA its own personality separate from NAVA, ARLA, ICBA etc.
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NAEA – bunch of back slapping average estate agents pleased with themselves for no apparent reason. Public hasn’t a clue about the association and doesn’t care. Nor do most proactive agents……
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Sums it up perfectly, think they should use that on their next advert!
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We have two significant contacts with NFoPP over the last week. The first was an on-site client money protection and best practice audit which was extremely helpful and positive. The second was assistance from Arbon House finance department which was fast and efficient. Just saying!
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Nice interview Roz. There are some very negative people out there with lots of half empty glasses!
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Offering to help Lou Turnbull with Propertylive on 2010 wasn’t being negative, supporting and paying membership to NAEA for almost twice as many years as I was a practising agent was a demonstration of commitment to the Association.
To be told that written examinations at a level higher than any of the existing qualifications are no longer relevant and that 20 years as a service supplier that required an in-depth knowledge of the subject enough to train the industry’s trainers means nothing at all just has to be regarded as illogical.
It isn’t right or proper to treat senior and long serving members of the association with apparent contempt but it feels as if anyone with an opinion that didn’t fit is not welcome.
Whatever the agenda with NAEA it is simply discourteous not to return phone calls or reply to emails.
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