A new franchising business is to launch in the next few weeks, called Belong.
It is the brainchild of a career estate agent, James White, who believes it is the right time to launch.
He says he has zero interest in disrupting the industry, but does point out that medium to large agents seem to be struggling with high overheads, and that online agents have huge advertising bills.
“I don’t want to re-invent the profession,” he emphasises. He does however feel that the time is ripe for a franchise model offering a fuller than usual service to customers, and higher than usual fees.
Notably, it is the property franchise companies that have recently delivered the strongest results and which are still in growth mode.
White started in the industry as a 16-year-old school-leaver and rose to become a partner, for 15 years, at a well known brand.
After leaving the business, he took time out to travel, write some children’s books and do a degree.
White launched Belong in spring 2016, and is now keen to take the concept national, by franchising.
He currently offers the choice between a full service – called a concierge service – and a cheaper ‘retail’ service which offers savings for sellers wanting to handle some parts of the transaction themselves.
However, only the more expensive service will be offered in future, as vendors have shown themselves uninterested in the ‘pick and mix’ retail option.
White said: “We have found that by offering a full service with almost all of our viewings being accompanied by us, we are able to attain higher fees.
“The brand attracts busy middle market clients, so we don’t spend a lot of time running around after low fee level properties.
“Our concierge service is the one selected by almost all of our clients.
“The retail service has not proved popular, so we are dropping this when our new website is launched in a few weeks’ time.
“We use 3D virtual reality to display our houses, have our own YouTube channel and promote houses using individual paid-for social media campaigns which drive thousands of clicks through to our website monthly.
“As far as we can judge, the public like our unique style, and in particular it is attractive to the middle market which is what we were hoping for.”
White said: “We hope to appeal to professional minded estate agents who are frustrated with corporate life – those who would like to strike out on their own, but perhaps don’t have the vision or confidence to make the first step.
“We are hopeful that the brand will appeal to both women and men who want to provide a full service offering; however, we realise that women are under-represented at boardroom level in corporate estate agency, and this may be an appealing brand to them.”
White’s concept emphasises experience. He said: “In the first instance we will not be making any up-front charges to our early adopters, but they must be from an experienced agency background and be able to demonstrate their commitment to professionalism, honesty and integrity.
“An industry qualification would be a significant advantage.
“Franchisees really will be able to call their own shots with the ability to choose their offering and fee levels.
“A monthly franchise fee will be payable once they are established.
“In return we will provide a range of services including training, compliance, marketing support and genuine guidance.
“We have no intention to disrupt or re-invent a profession; we would simply like to share our brand with well-meaning agency professionals.
“We envisage the brand appealing to anyone looking to work from home, serviced offices or the high street.”
With all due respect to the guy ( I like that he is not claiming to be a disrupter etc), this is an unknown brand and it appears to offer nothing that is unique or which cannot be easily replicated or obtained. Why would you want to set up and then pay to promote someone else’s brand? Good luck, but I can’t see it catching on.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Everyone has to start somewhere.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Next
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
I think it sounds very interesting, as long as they’re not called LPE’s??
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
I wouldn’t have thought that there is ever a ‘ripe’ time to launch with self confessedly high fees.
Good luck to him though – the industry needs all the enthusiasm it can get at the moment and he sounds very enthusiastic..
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
“I belong to Glasgow, dear old Glasgow Town…..”
It’s Friday, lets wish him well because its Friday, come Monday however……
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
There is a market for him with his “concierge service”. There are many very wealthy vendors who god for bid had to step inside an estate agents office or be tainted with using bucket fee on-liners! Good luck to him, plenty of champagne flowing at the accompanied viewings in a Rolls, 5 star hotel and airport service. Question is, is this not a limited market that is unlikely to work with volume to support a franchise … unless the fee is that big for one of two sales to cover you through the year. Now while some may laugh at that idea, I can recall many high end agents who only needed to sell one property a month and did very well and the vendors didn’t baulk at the £40k plus fee for the diamond studded service.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Can I quote Brenda from Bristol who famously said ‘Not another one!’ Good luck to him, i guess if it works in this market then he should be on to something!
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Really……… Good luck with that!
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register