Tag Archives: Franchise News

12Jul 2010

UK Lettings Franchise market insight

⋅ Leave a Comment

 

By Nick strong MD Select Your Franchise

In spite of the economic downturn the * lettings franchise market in the UK has grown and remains strong.

According to Steve Roulstone, Managing Director of Castle Estates, “the market is robust even in recession as the interest payments charged to landlords by lenders reduces significantly as in recession making the market both attractive and viable for landlords.  It is also harder for first time buyers to enter the housing market at the moment which fuels the need and demand for well presented letting stock.”

UK properties are valued well for market entry for new and existing landlords which helps fuel business and sector growth.

The number of new franchisees is growing in the * UK lettings franchise market.  Castle Estates has seen a significant uplift of enquiries during late spring and early summer of 2010.

This is great news for people wishing to build their future prosperity via the housing market. 

The Castle Estates franchise system is well positioned to help new franchisee owners advance in the UK lettings franchise marketplace.  With over 30 years of know how the Castle Estates system offers one of the most mature and robust franchise models available to franchise buyers in the UK today.

Steve Roulstone recently acquired the Castle Estates franchise.  As a successful franchisee Steve saw the potential of the brand and system to grow even stronger by building on the existing proven system by working with new franchise owners in towns across the country.
 
Steve is working closely with Nick Strong, Managing Director of  Select Your Franchise UK Ltd, to build the brand and help new franchise owners successfully enter the Castle Estates system.

Nick said, “I am delighted to be working with Steve.  I have been impressed by his focus on ethics and quality.  He is totally focused on the win-win philosophy that make the relationship between franchise brand and system owner and local franchise owner such a rewarding experience for both parties.”

09Jul 2010

Franchise News: Information, Information, Information!

⋅ Leave a Comment

By Steve Roulstone

No matter what industry you want to review, whether it be Business to Business, Business to Public, retail, office, or home based or a man with a van style Franchise, when considering your future in Franchising, you need to be well informed.

The initial Package.

The difficulty for Franchisors, especially if the industry concerned is a complex one like my Company, Castle Estates with varied and many areas of legislation as well as being an industry that provides different levels and styles of service, is the initial package of information sent to Prospective Franchisees, can only give a brush stroke image and never the full picture.

Grasping the message.

All Franchisors make every effort to provide quality literature, especially those who are members of the BFA but if we try to give too much information, then it is very difficult for the Franchisee to take it all on board from the written word. The answer has to be to offer an open day where the story can be told using a structured approach, giving the prospect the opportunity to ask those all important questions.

Franchise Opportunities

This is why so many organisations involved with Franchising both offer or recommend a visit to the respective Head Office and a few hours to understand method, purpose, Industry, path, and so much more. So when you get asked to attend an Open Day, do not be concerned, it means that the Company providing the Franchise wants to ensure that before you make that all important Franchise Investment, you have all the information you need. In my Industry the term Location, Location, Location, is well known, but I want to be sure that anybody who contacts Castle Estates, is in a position to receive Information, Information , Information as well!

23Jun 2010

Franchise News: Agent Registration To be or not to be – That is the question?

⋅ 17 Comments

By Steve Roulstone

 

Agent Legislation – A missed opportunity?

Our new Government have announced that they will not be pursuing the recommendations of the Rugg Review from last year and there will be no professional registration for Letting Agents. The recommendation that all Landlords be required to register will also be dropped.

Door still open for lack of Knowledge.

This could be a lost opportunity as at the very least, other Agents who look to the rental sector for income when other income falls away, would have at least be forced to carry out the role with a minimum of qualification and letting agents who do cut corners would be held to account.

Professional Agents.

But will this change effect the Professional Agents in our Industry, certainly for us at  Castle Estates as we saw this situation, as a possibility to be seen as professional leaders within our Industry? This aim will not change, but we will now wait with interest to see exactly how our Professional bodies react and for this I will be looking at ARLA and NALS for positive leadership.

Government reaction

It was stated by the Housing Minister Grant Shapps that he was ‘Putting Councils on alert’ that they should pursue Landlords and Agents who do not look after their Tenants or Properties and act unethically and that Councils should ‘Use the range of powers already at their disposal’ in doing so.

Time to step to the mark.

But will they? And what will our Governing bodies do to promote such action? This is definitely where I will be placing my time in both speaking with my own Council, with whom I have had both contact and a working relationship for many years, in particular during the introduction of HMO regulations and ARLA and NALS in asking what policy they will pursue in ensuring that Councils carry out their role and police the Rental sector as directed.

08Jun 2010

Why Choose a Property Franchise?

⋅ 4 Comments

 By Steve Roulstone

OK, so you want a buy a Franchise! But in what Industry? Let me list some of the reasons I chose a Property Franchise.

Market.

Well let’s face it the Property Market could not be any bigger could it? Everybody needs somewhere to live and modern patterns dictate that we move more often and the Nation is following the European way and moving towards Property Rental more and more.

Legal matters!

The Property Law is complicated and confusing and is an excellent base for running a business. Surely the more complex the more room the market gives for professional services? Is this not why we all have a Solicitor? So yes Legal does matter and is the basis for running a professional Property Management Company.

The all important £.

It is not just that each property can give a return of four figures per year, but also that it gives that return without being prompted! The Property Rental market is set up so that Letting Agents are paid quickly and efficiently, so Cash Flow is always positive. I know how important that was to me.

Time on the Job.

I found that so many Franchises offer a return based on how much you can do in a day. Property Management is so different. Yes, the more you manage, the more you have available, but, it is also true that the more you manage, the less need involvement every day, leaving you free to develop new business, whilst the existing business looks after itself.

Put it all together and I found Castle Estates!

I chose a Property Franchise because of these reasons if you think you agree that a large professional market, offering a reasonable return for each unit of sales quickly and without delay, whilst still offering the opportunity to develop further income then property Management could also be for you!

20May 2010

Many routes to Franchise Business Opportunities

⋅ 8 Comments
Steve Roulstone - Director, Castle Estates

By Steve Roulstone

The traditional route of starting a business on your own is not always the route taken to Franchising, for example, the Business Franchise can be stated in many ways. In certain markets, existing offices where the Franchisee is retiring or changing direction are available for sale and can offer an instant trading return.

Other Franchise opportunities

There are also specialist agencies who market existing portfolios in certain industries, such as the Lettings Industry, that can give the same trading start, but offer the possibility of giving the existing brand fresh impetus that a recognised Franchise name can deliver and be very profitable. Sometimes, with careful research, this can be the best way forward for any entrepreneur.

Business to Business opportunities

It is also noticeable that more existing independent Letting Agent brands are approaching Franchising to ensure they are well informed and trading at the front of an industry where such information and advice has been expensively purchased in the past and Franchising now becomes a value for money method of ensuring compliance.

Being aware of what Franchise Opportunities exist

Has to be a part of any Franchisor’s strategy, At Castle Estates we make sure that we listen to every potential Franchisee’s so we can make them aware of what is available to them in this ever evolving market of ours. Partnerships, existing offices for re-sale, opportunities with existing Companies and existing portfolios, all need to be considered. What we should do is make sure our customers are aware as well.