Posted:22-March-2023
Build a Successful Estate Agency Franchise with Propertynest
By Vincent Anthony, Managing Director of Propertynest
Q) Propertynest is new but not new, what does that mean?
Propertynest is an established estate agency business. We launched the brand in 2016 but the company was originally created well before then. Our success has led us to enable others to share in our growth and we have recently launched as a franchise in the UK.
However, two of our franchisees have been successfully working under the Propertynest umbrella for several years and the concept is already proven over that timeframe. We are now inviting applications from new franchisees to join us on our journey to become the best franchised estate agency in the UK.
Q) What’s the secret to building an estate agency franchise
Building any business requires focus and investment. Investment in time and also funds for marketing and promotion to get it off the ground successfully.
With franchising you are not ‘buying a job’ you are purchasing a proven system which will enable you to set up and develop your own business. Franchisees need to ensure they have the drive and motivation to push their franchised business from a standing start to success. It won’t be easy! There will be tough days, but the most resilient, tenacious, and energetic people will succeed providing they follow the proven franchise system they have bought into.
When it comes to being an estate agent, no previous experience is necessary. I’m living proof of that! I started out with no experience in property and yet, with the right support, quickly built up my estate agency. However, a skill set that includes face-to-face sales and strong customer facing ability is essential. You also must be a people person and enjoy working with customers from every walk of life to help them through the moving process.
Q) What support and training are offered?
The great thing about joining a franchise is the support and training that is offered. We are particularly fortunate at Propertynest, as we have an incredible team to support our franchisees which includes Paul Sheard who, with around 30 years in the industry, is responsible for training. Myself and my wife Vicki, are also hands on within the business. We work directly with our franchisees and are invested in their success, plus we also have other experienced team members ready to support franchisees.
I’m personally always available at any time, to help any of our franchisees if they need it, even out of hours. For us this is more than a business, but a big Propertynest family, with a great culture and set of core values, and I think our support is one thing that really sets us apart from the big corporates. Our franchisees will never be a number on a spreadsheet. Their success is our success, and they trust us to have their best interests at heart, always.
Q) What else sets Propertynest apart?
At Propertynest we set ourselves apart by providing our customers with a bespoke personal service, with one dedicated and experienced agent from valuation to completion. A personal approach to sales, along with a strong focus on negotiation, can help our vendors achieve the best outcomes. This, in turn, means that our agents can charge appropriately for their time and expertise, rather than having their services devalued in a volume driven environment.
We strive to make the moving process as smooth as possible for our vendors. Our agents are to spend more time with their clients on an individual basis and we believe this creates a win-win situation for everyone involved. Our agents can earn more by providing a premium service, and their vendors can enjoy better customer satisfaction and outcomes.
We provide our agents with the best available systems on the market for lead generation and managing their business, and have focused a lot on the technical aspect of running the agency. This allows our agents to spend more time on client facing activities, such as negotiations, and property viewings.
Q) How does Propertynest help franchised agents with marketing?
All our franchised agents receive a marketing pack which includes for sale boards, stationery, brochures, promotional products, leaflets, business cards, and much more. Our agents can easily manage and order their stock requirements through our dedicated online marketing portal at any time. We work with a professional design agency, so all marketing materials look great and are on brand. Our training also covers marketing and lead generation and how to take advantage of our CRM system in great detail.
Social media has become increasingly important when it comes to marketing properties and prospecting for clients. We work with a very good social media partner, to set up and manage the social media strategy for our agents. Full training is also provided.
We also work with a PR industry specialist who helps gain national trade press coverage to promote the brand and all our new franchisees have a launch press release which can help gain local media coverage to get them off to a great start.
Q) Is Property a recession proof business?
The property market is a stable sector to work in. It often hits the headlines but there is always continued demand, as everyone needs to live somewhere. Having worked through the 2008 crash, we believe the key to thriving during any ups and downs is to develop a lettings portfolio as well as selling property.
The lettings market has a reputation for being recession proof due to further growth in times of a slower sales market, whereas the sales market improves in times of economic growth – the perfect hedge. Therefore, we encourage franchisees to service both sides of the market. Our agents are agile enough to support customers whatever direction the market takes.
Building a solid lettings and management business, provides consistent, reoccurring monthly income which is helpful for managing cashflow, and will increase the value of your business overtime. At Propertynest we offer all the training and systems needed to set up a successful lettings business alongside a property sales agency.
Q) What’s the next step?
For those interested in becoming a Propertynest estate agent there is the chance to generate a great income while enjoying what you do. The opportunity will suit determined individuals who thrive in the face-to-face, customer focused sales environment. If you’re interested in taking the next step towards starting your own estate agency, we invite you to book a discovery call. During this call, we’ll learn more about your aspirations, and discuss how our opportunity can help you to achieve them.
Interested and want to know more about Propertynest?
The Propertynest profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
