Baxter Estate Agents has expanded into Holmfirth and Huddersfield.
Director Ami Baxter opened Baxter Estate Agents in Elland, a market town in Calderdale, in September 2015 after working in the industry since she was 16.
But two years ago Baxter, who has 20 years experience working as an agent, decided to close the office and work from home instead – a move that has proved far more profitable, she says.
“We no longer have timewasters walking through the office door and that has enabled us to generate more property sales,” said Baxter. “The money we save on rent goes towards added marketing spend on Rightmove, and other platforms, so that our clients reap the rewards.”
The agency, which specialises in residential sales, lettings, commercial and auctions, is one built on giving back to a cause that is close to Baxter’s heart.
Baxter explained: “Since my mum died seven years ago, we decided to donate £5 to Stroke research every time we sell a property. The total amount raised to date is fast approaching £4,000.”
She added: “I am not interested in making millions of pounds. After working in the estate agency business since I was 16, I found a gap in the market for a company that offers excellent customer service.
“Our customers are extremely important to me and I do all I can to ensure that their journey goes smoothly.”
Comments (9)
doesn’t do her any favours when she describes customers like this
“We no longer have timewasters walking through the office door and that has enabled us to generate more property sales,”
Really? There is no such thing as a time waster! If they walked through your door, there was a reason. The advent of digital technology basically got rid of time wasters who can now sit at home in the comfort of their armchair and not only look at your properties, but everyone’s.
Closing your door, closed your opportunities. For every seller, there is normally a buyer out of them. You fall on your sword closing your office, market awareness and reputation and referrals will decline, proven time and gain by all the on-liners who have gone bust with I can save money on my overheads but end up with no real business.
Estate Agency requires effort and when you don’t put it in, that is what leads to poor reputation within the industry.
Effort? Why are you accusing her of no effort? She’s carved out a model that works for her and it clearly works.
Comparing budget online agencies office choice is such a meek argument as the issue there has never been the office type/location, it’s been the budget low fees that’s been their downfall. I would be amazed if she was doing her model on budget fees.
There are many agents who do very well for themselves with no traditional office set up.
I didn’t see Woodentop accusing a single person of no effort – I would say he was generalising.
And he’s absolutely on point.
There are agents who work from their spare bedroom but the point is, ‘out of sight out of mind’ syndrome will and does cause a restriction on your potential. Even agents with an office go bust. One has just closed in my area, a network branch. Ask anyone and including myself will tell you, because they had the wrong staff in the office and never built a reputation, yet the agent who had been there before for decades (retired) was possibly the areas leading independent. People business need people who are seen to be putting in the effort and easy accessible (generalisation of the industry).
You never know who is watching, who is talking about you, but you will when they stop using your business and the decline starts, for the ones who have clued up will knock the socks off those that are seen as unapproachable at the whim of the customer.
When the going gets tough, then you will be in real trouble. Shortage of properties means less sales and the best will be the ones that pick up the business. Proven time after time.
“I would be amazed if she was doing her model on budget fees.”
Please correct me if the information I have been given is wrong, OnlineEA – but I am given to believe that is exactly the case.
“There is no such thing as a time waster! If they walked through your door, there was a reason. The advent of digital technology basically got rid of time wasters who can now sit at home in the comfort of their armchair and not only look at your properties, but everyone’s.
Closing your door, closed your opportunities. For every seller, there is normally a buyer out of them. You fall on your sword closing your office, market awareness and reputation and referrals will decline, proven time and gain by all the on-liners who have gone bust with I can save money on my overheads but end up with no real business.
Estate Agency requires effort and when you don’t put it in, that is what leads to poor reputation within the industry.”
Please note – entries for POST OF THE YEAR are now closed. Any attempt to beat the above would be futile.
Ah yes the classic referring case of referring to clients as time wasters. No wonder people’s thoughts of estate agents is in line with that of politicians and bankers
Typical attempt at trying to justify abandoning the High Street gone sadly, badly wrong.
One of those things that can’t be unsaid – a naive mistake which will probably cost her dearly in the long run.
Many who have taken the time and effort to cross her threshold in past could well take justified offence at that comment – I certainly would – and instruct another Agent when they wish to sell.