The boss of national chain Hunters which started with just one branch in York says he wants it to be the John Lewis of estate agency by next year, growing to 500-plus offices within the next five years.
Managing director Kevin Hollinrake said: “Our goal is to become the nation’s favourite estate agent by 2015 – to be the John Lewis of estate agency, whilst retaining the spirit of our organisation and how it all started.”
Hollinrake was speaking to staff at the firm’s annual conference, attended by over 200 people, compared with just 40 three years ago. Other speakers at the York race course venue included Sir Clive Woodward, trainer and author Bernie Desouza, and Lesley Dunn of Zoopla.
Hollinrake spoke of the company’s direction. Established in 1992, Hunters now has a presence in all the UK’s major cities, and has over 30 branches in London and the south-east. Further openings are planned for this year, including Warrington, North Shields, Birmingham and several more sites across London.
Hunters now has over 100 branches and plans 140 by the end of the year.
Hollinrake said: “This is a time for opportunity, a time for optimism and a time to move forward. Both mortgages and confidence are back. This, coupled with the announcement of reforms to pensions in the recent Budget, means a massive impact on the property market.
“For the first time, pension funds can be taken in full upon retirement and used for any purpose. Many people will feel that a property with a rental yield of 5%, the potential for significant capital growth and the opportunity to pass the asset on to their children, will be a much more attractive option than an annuity that will offer more modest returns and will disappear into the insurance companies’ coffers at the end of their life.
“This only strengthens our undimmed ambition for the future as a network.”
Hunters acquired the Bairstow Eves franchise network from Countrywide in 2011, acquiring 90 offices, including 21 in London, and more than doubled in size overnight. At the time of the deal, it had 17 high street offices, all in the north and including 11 franchised offices, plus 33 Personal Agents who were also franchised.
Since then, Hunters has continued to grow apace.
The conference also played host to the Hunters annual awards. Stoke Newington were crowned overall champions for 2013 and won a trip to New York.
Comments (10)
an article. an article, which is descriptive
and rich in content, is bound to keep the readers glued to their seats. the length must not be given much consideration while writing since this can be easily altered depending on the amount of data we possess.another important aspect while
<strong>and you can just about post what</strong>
you like within your site as long as your websites are clean, professional, and can be seen online.you couldn't be further from the truth!if there is one constant on the web, it's the undeniable fact that the general public are wising
<strong>skills have diminished over the years. the</strong>
implementation of the 3-point line has negatively affected the mid-range game of players and the emphasis on guard play, especially in pick-up games, has lessened the emphasis on post play. as a result, the post and perimeter skills that are required
<strong>blog post, unlike an article, you have</strong>
the chance to use images. even if your post is a rather dull block of text, designed for a speciality audience, you can use simple images of quote marks to make the text catch the eye.an image that highlights a particular
Wilko,
It gives consumer confidence that you are part of a 'large and powerful organisation' and one which is flexible and forward-thinking with its workforce/franchisees.
Martin & Co also offer a non-office based franchise now. As you say it is the future, that and serviced offices 🙂
JM
You may as well base the office in Delhi, to cut further costs
😉
Surely if you've been an agent for 20-30 years locally then YOUR name would be a better pull as a home based agent than being part of a "large and powerful organisation"?
Ok Wilko, so your a local based agent that's been working in the area for 20/30 years. You've been charging 1.25%+vat (to keep it simple) at that company and you then set up from home/a serviced office. What fee will you charge prospective clients baring in mind they all know you, some have sold or bought through you before and all would be happy to use your services? You can offer the same service(bar the office)will you keep the fees at 1.25% knowing they will all use you regardless or drop the fees and if so why?
Their "home based agent" franchise warrents some merit as this will probably , in time , be how a good % of property sales are conducted. However, I can't see why someone would want to pay for the privelage of being a home agent when you might as well just set up from home on your own and not pay a % to them.
What does becoming the 'John Lewis of estate agency' mean? Expensive? Owned solely by partners? Online being the biggest area of growth?
It is a little like stating "Flash Gordon approaching"….and the response being, "What do you mean….Flash Gordon approaching"?
JM