Spot the Muppet!

I am late writing my weekly blog which means I have been busy. I am not the only one who has been busy, the Government in their wisdom have decided to repeal the property Misdescriptions Act and replace it with some legislation which allows Intermediary Agents only not to comply with Estate Agents legislation and therefore not be responsible for the statements they make about the properties they offer. The idea is supposed to be greater competition in the market place and lower cost to the consumer but the reality is the government have just legalised conning people. How will customers know if they are dealing with someone who has to tell the truth about what they are selling or someone who can make anything up and lie without consequence or recourse. The Property Ombudsman has today reported that buying a house could become like buying a second hand car from a dodgy second hand car dealer! If the Ombudsman is not happy surely the Government must see they have made a massive mistake. But hey, they also think abolishing the need for planning permission will help the economy and the property market.

As you can see there are a few things going on that are annoying me and will hinder our recovery from recession not aid it. The man behind the changes is Vince Cable and all I can say is what a Muppet! Although I think he has proved that on other occasions previously.

In Bradleys we had a decent sales week last week with a few more buyers showing their faces and despite the very best attempts of our Government to ruin our industry I very much hope the current momentum continues for the rest of September and on into the Autumn.

You haven't heard much about my house build recently so the update is we are getting close to moving in which is considerably different to getting close to finished but I am very pleased with how it is turning out and Will be painting over the weekend.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Good Service Counts

Firstly apologies about the lack of blogging over the last few weeks, I’ll try to keep up the weekly blog whilst juggling Ante-natal classes and midwife appointments, but more on that later.

 

I have always been a big believer in providing an excellent customer service, no matter  where I have been employed over the years, and I’m pleased to report that the company MD has signed Bradleys up to a website called All Agents. This is a trip advisor for Estate Agents if you like, where you can leave your reviews, both good and bad, for all to see. Have a look for yourselves and check out some of the reviews for the Brixham Office www.allagents.co.uk/bradleys-estate-agents/.

I’m pleased to report that the market in Brixham seems to have returned to some of its seasonal normality after the hectic sporting summer that we have just experienced with a good number of sales booked in September. It is shaping up to be one of, if not, the best sales month the office has ever had, something I put down to good customer service.

Elsewhere my wife Jodie has entered her third trimester and we are now both experiencing Ante-natal classes for the first time – which have been a bit of an eye opener to say the least! But I’m sure we’ll learn a few handy tips for when the day arrives.

Chris Mitchell

Manager

Homes are for nesting, not investing...

The summer of Sport is drawing to a close and we wonder about the the winter ahead and the prospects for all businesses not just our own. I read over the weekend that the lack of confidence of buyers has been a self-propelled prophesy which is something I have believed for a long time. Buyers need to get on with their lives, mortgages are available at very reasonable costs and it is no good wondering if the market will fall 1% or rise 2% in the next year. One famous analyst once quoted 'homes are for nesting, not investing' and that is still the case today, so if you want to buy your first home or move up or down, just do it, because if everybody just did it then there would be no problem!

Last week was the Monthly Board Meeting, this week we have Area Managers Meetings to pass on the decisions and direction from the Board. I look forward to the Area Meetings as it gives me the chance to catch up with everybody very quickly. I have a meeting with a company who want to give Bradleys some alternative conveyancing options on Wednesday and that will be interesting I am sure.

Finally more flooring was laid over the weekend so I am having trouble walking today but not too long to go now.

 

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

One month closer to Christmas!

And another month passes. We didn't sell as many houses as we would have liked but then we exchanged contracts on more than we thought we would, so its swings and roundabouts again in the market. There is a popular feeling among the Bradleys Managers that things are going to get a bit busier in September. I haven't got a clue what that is based on but do hope they are right as it would be really nice to have a few better sales weeks! My feeling is that we have seen a larger slow up than normal through this summer with all the various goings on and distractions and I think we generally do experience an uplift in Sales from the middle of September through to the end of October. Hopefully this year will have a bit bigger uplift to make up for the slightly larger than average slow up!

I spent the whole week in Head Office last week which was excellent for catching up with everybody and everything. This week will be dominated by the September Board Meeting where we will tweak our plans for the end of the year to ensure we are all doing as well as we can be. Today I am in Head Office with the end of month figures and they will look quite reasonable when complete as good exchanges always help.

I am very pleased to see us continue to climb the Allagents rankings which is the public's ranking system for the effectiveness of estate agents. Bradleys are now independently ranked as the 17th best agent in the country and with our continued good service to our customers I very much hope to see us continue to climb those rankings. If you are a customer of Bradleys and reading this please go onto Allagents and see what has been written about us. If you then feel inclined then give us a review of your own, it would be much appreciated.

Not much to report on the house build this week, just a bit of painting and then a friends sons christening on Sunday which resulted in a good celebration afterwards!

 

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Give the staircase a rest!

In my last entry I said I was busy visiting offices and I was very pleased when I got there. I saw offices that were busy and working exceptionally hard in a market that is generally accepted as very slow. Proactive sales skills were being used to generate interest and obtain offers for our vendors consideration. Since then I have had a week off and spent another full week building on my never ending project which really does have to end soon! 2 Oak floors were laid and now I have an issue with backache! I gave the staircase a rest as I can't do any more on that until all the finished floors are in place.

Sales picked up while I was away and I was pleased with the results so as mentioned previously I think as we move away from the Olympics and out of holiday time I think we will see an increase in market activity generally. I have a very rare week this week being based in Head Office for the whole week which will give me a chance to catch up with everybody.

 

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

...and now get buying!

The Olympics are over and didn't Team GB do brilliantly. I really hope there is enough feel good factor about to put a little more life into the property market. Our sales slowed a little last week and I am sure that was because of the interest in the Olympics combined with some exceptionally good weather meant buyers did other things than buy a new house. I hope this week will be a little different!

My week was quite Head Office orientated last week. This week I am out visiting offices each day in all of our major centres in Exeter, Torbay, Plymouth and far west to Penzance as well as fitting in a few Head Office appointments so will be racking up the miles but I am really looking forward to seeing how some of the offices I am visiting are doing. One thing for certain is I will be seeing teams doing everything that can be done to get buyers through doors and if I can give any help or advice along the way then my visits will be worthwhile.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Bradleys Take Gold!

So one month closes and we start another. As ever we look at the figures which determine if it was a success or not. Watching  the Olympics over the weekend it is very apparent who is great and who is not and it is clear who has the talent and who when talent has been combined with hard work blow the competition away. Usain Bolt and Ben Ainsley spring straight to mind. I started to draw comparisons between what makes a great athlete and what makes a great estate agent. There are so many similarities! such as dedication, persistence, hard work, team work, stamina, strategy, communication etc. and then I wondered why there are no gold medals for estate agents?

Clearly there is no justice in the world but then competing estate agents is not really very interesting is it! If there was an estate agent games then I am sure Bradleys would have a few gold medallists as I am extremely proud of the efforts everyone is making in the current tough market. In the absence of estate agent games then there is something which is the closest we will get and it is called Allagents. This is basically Trip Advisor for estate agents so if you are reading this and have had a good service from us please give the office who impressed you a gold medal and give them a review on Allagents.  Just type Allagents in to Google and complete a review of your favourite office.

As you can tell I have been watching the Olympics instead of building this weekend so nothing to report there so what about the week ahead. I have Directors 1:1's on Monday, Office visits on Tuesday as well as an interview with one of our competitors Managers who is interested in working for us. Wednesday is the August Board Meeting and Thursday I have a meeting with the business that is destroying our industry…………Rightmove. Friday an office visit and then the afternoon on the phone with offices and Directors rounding off the week and seeing if any more gold medals are due!

August is usually a quiet month for estate agents, I think there is a good chance that the public spirit is increased and there is not much bad news about so this August we just might see better sales, let's see if I am right.

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group