Tag Archives: Property Agents

23Jul 2010

Franchise News: Why choose Franchised services?

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By Steve Roulstone.

The Franchising path.

 Any business that fits as a Franchising model, needs to be one that follows a style of business and have methods of operation which can be easily copied across outlet to outlet. A method that can be taught uniformly and adjusted as required as trends change, well with the amount of government legislation that is involved in the rental market (as exampled by this link) we have a natural fit in my Industry. It is consistent methods that ensure that our Landlords get the correct interpretation of these legislative changes and by the needs and experiences of a group that operates and controls its methods through a central spine, best practise can be assured.

 The passion behind the reason.

 But information alone is not the answer, drive and commitment are also needed and I would argue that anybody whose income depends on their own business is not only going to be more committed in their role, but also show that commitment and indeed passion for the Company they represent far better than any employee and that is where the link with Franchising comes home and delivers, for people whose livelihood rests on the success of their Company are going to perform both more successfully and more diligently.

 Let me give you a lift!

 And having been a Franchisee for ten years, I know from practise, that they are far more supportive of others who are trying to achieve the same goal in life. I have worked in the privately owned sector and been told ‘I am not telling everybody else why we do so well, because I will no longer look as good if everybody did it!’ You never get that in Franchising, exactly the opposite, rather Franchisees are quieting up to pass on good news and good ideas, because they understand what everybody who does what they do are trying to achieve and only too happy to help!

 So who do I use?

 I believe the answer is simple, whatever services you require or want to buy, if it is a Franchise, you are liable to get a better service and probably a better product, because to those who run the Company, your business is simply more important!

19Jul 2010

Property Landlord Advice: Advertise on the Web or in the Press?

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By Steve Roulstone

House or Flat to Rent?

How do you advertise on behalf of your Landlord, hopefully in a manner that keeps them happy and feeling that you are looking after their property, but does that mean we have to continue to advertise in traditional ways?

Houses to Rent or Flats to Rent?

Where do you look if you want to rent a property, my point is that so often it is a different source than where you would want to advertise if you have a property to rent! So Landlords and Tenants want to see their properties listed in different sources, Tenants will utilise the web for their search and Landlords so often want to see us present on such portals as Rightmove, but still want to see the property listed in the local papers and here is the dilemma.

Breaking News: Press turns to the Web!

Because I travel the country speaking to National Letting Agency offices, I have the opportunity to ask what local trends in the Residential Lettings market are and more and more where the income from advertising matters, local press are opening their own web sites, because we are all turning away from Paper advertising. The reason is simple, they are far too expensive even set against Rightmove charges (and I do not say that lightly!)

We only want to Rent the House or Rent the Flat, Honest!

And that is the whole point, we need to convince our Landlords that we only have their interest at heart, because if you are in an area where paper advertising still leads the way, we will still advertise in the papers. In the meantime we need to collect facts and figures to give the story behind the trends, and convince our Landlords that papers listings are no longer needed.

The answer is in your Landlord rights

But in doing the right thing our whole aim is blown apart, for it is my belief that our problem lies with where Landlords look for Agents to see who to contact and it is only in our listings of Flats to Rent and Houses to Rent that they find us, so I have just blown my own recommendation out of the water, because while Landlords still answer the question ‘Where did you find our name’ with the answer, ‘in the local paper’ the press will still get my money!!

15Jul 2010

Franchise news: Why choose Franchising?

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By Steve Roulstone

My recommendation. I think it is time I explained why I became a Franchisee, the following is a Blog I posted as the result of a conversation with the Blog host of the Select Your Franchise site Nick Strong. It was my inspiration to this site and explains my reasons; at a stage where all those who consider Franchising have such questions to answer. So I repeat it here for information.

 Starting point.

 In 1999 I needed to take charge of my own future, Why? Because I was no longer confident that my future was secure with the Company I worked for.   The company had been taken over through acquisition and I no longer felt comfortable.  In fact I was completely outside of my comfort zone.

It was time for change!

So why choose Franchising? I now needed to research and quickly found that Franchise Companies were prepared to send me valuable information, not only on the Company concerned but also about the market they operated in. I now had an overview of markets that I was interested in and an immediate feel for how I could operate my own Company and fulfil my own needs for the future, quickly and efficiently.

The answer to the question I have posed

I chose Franchising because it was a way of working with people who understood what I was trying to achieve. I also liked the security of working with a tried and tested system in the industry of my choice.  I was trained by professionals and worked with other franchisees who had chosen the same route.

Why did I choose a Castle Estates franchise?

The principal always has been that Franchising offers entrepreneurial people specialised assistance, systems and training in a successful proven route.  After investigating many routes to market I found that Castle Estates offered the best way forward for me.

It is a fact that 90% of Franchisees become profitable within two years whereas four out of five people who start on their own, fail within the same period.  I can say with confidence that I am one of the happy 90%.  So much so that I have now bought the company!!!

14Jul 2010

Franchise News: The importance of looking the part!

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By Steve Roulstone

That all important first impression.

Every Company providing services today and Letting Agents are no different, need to make a good impression from the start. This means when Tenants are looking for a property to rent they will make a decision about your Company, the moment they walk through your front door. This is human nature!

Landlords know as well.

 And Landlords know that Tenants (as the customer in the triangle) will make this judgement, so they are doing the same. So what do we need to do to look the part and give a good impression? Well I do not apologise for my recommendation here, because tried and tested methods are exactly what they say on the tin; tried and tested!

 Want to let your house?

 Then present the office in the same way! An office can be full of modern furniture and new technology, but unless it looks tidy and well presented, will it make a good first impression? I say no, simple rules of tidiness such as empty desks when staff are out and just like a well presented property at a viewing (did you see the link coming?) you will get that good impression. And I have not forgotten that what applies to the office applies to your staff as well, but let’s concentrate on the office today.

 Not magnolia again!

 Oh yes, the reason we letting Agents recommend neutral colours stands just as well in our offices, we do not need to make bold statements with challenging colours, or different colour schemes with furniture that does not match. Why? Because we need it to look good, in exactly the same way we look to market a property. So if you want to give the right impression, keep it clean, keep it tidy, and present it ‘neutral’.

 Old rules are good rules.

 We do not need to re-invent the wheel when making an office look professional, we just need to do our job. If we tell Landlords how their property should look to achieve a good Tenant, after all ‘The better the home looks the better the Tenant will appreciate the home’ then we should do the same and again, I believe this simple rule applies to both.

10Jul 2010

Property Landlord Advice: When is an HMO not an HMO?

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By Steve Roulstone
 
Never! 

 There has been a lot of confusion caused by the Housing Act of 2004, where HMO property is concerned as introduced in April 2006 surrounding licensed buildings, but the changes are actually simpler than they first appear.

 To license or not to license?

 This is the real question for Landlords and the real crux behind the changes. It is also where a clear definition of what represents a House of Multiple Occupation. Conversely, it is also this area that has given rise to the biggest area of confusion amongst Landlords and the mistaken belief that if there house does not match these criteria, that HMO regulations can be ignored.

 Two families and the Council decide.

What all Landlords need to be aware of and appreciate is that any property that has more than two families living at the property (More than two families represented who are not co-habiting) as their permanent address, then as far as the Council are concerned, it is an HMO! Maybe not one that needs a license, but as far as safety is concerned and this can mean Fire doors and surrounds, Fire walls and escape windows, then the Council will in all probability order that such safety measures are installed for the safety of the Tenants.

The Council decides, or not!

And here is the next problem facing all Landlords. Not all Councils take the same view or level of safety when considering identical styles of property! Prior to its introduction I spoke to and worked with my Council, who independently of other areas, decided to take a review of all property that they believed was operating as an HMO through there register of student homes in the Town. This gave me both an insight and early approach to both the knowledge needed and ensuring my Landlords, existing and new, were well informed.

Confident letting.

 So what my advice to all Landlords is, if you are renting to more than two family units, then your local Council will definitely consider it to be a House of Multiple Occupation. Unless it requires licensing by number of stories or people residing, then you could be forced to take appropriate changes to the safety of the building as your Council sees fit, so take advice first and speak to the Council before you find out the hard way!

Steve Roulstone