Market Focus
the complete core skills to become small business owners and, most importantly, we are now fully-fledged professional estate and letting agents. Definitely, location is a big factor as we are now able to work closer to home and choosing a location within a 20-minute journey has made a real difference either end of the day. As it has been the two of us, we have had the flexibility of working days and we both now benefit from working four days a week – instead of six previously!
What’s the most important thing you have learnt so far? To always knock! Even if a property is meant to be empty, there could always be a surprise waiting for you…
Why would you recommend investing in a property franchise? As an independent estate agent, you have a personal focus and ambition to succeed backed by the support of head office. With Country Properties, the franchisee start-up fee is probably the lowest in this field by a long way and the reason for this is that they do not accept just anyone. Country Properties pride themselves on growing organically as a family and each new franchise should have the best start possible and not be burdened by a large set-up figure when this can be used elsewhere to improve an office, purchase better equipment, or hire the correct staff from the off. Financially, we have gained from this investment, giving us a profitable asset for the future. Ultimately, you reap what you sow!
EstatesDirect.com
He says his new career allows him the freedom to run another business.
What were you doing before you took on your franchise?
I have been in a multitude of businesses, all self-employed, including clothing manufacturing, wholesaling, and import and export. At the moment, I still run a banqueting and hospitality business.
How did you first hear of
EstatesDirect.com and why did you choose them? I came across EstatesDirect. com when I went to The National Franchise Exhibition held at the NEC in Birmingham last October. I was actually looking for a business in which to invest some money, especially ventures with new ideas.
EstatesDirect.com has great staff, they have a great unique concept, way ahead of the competition and, equally importantly, they appeared to be very honest and fair. Their franchise fee was a low investment and I could see exactly where the franchise fee was spent. In fact, I got more back than I invested.
EstatesDirect.com is a fully equipped franchise, so I can start work in my territory without any real further investment. The franchise is great value and gives me opportunity for future growth. Another main attraction was that this franchise allows me to work from home, providing me, and my team, with a flexible lifestyle.
How easy was it to set up the franchise?
Raj Sirpal, 51, has recently bought four franchises across Birmingham.
Setting up the franchise was child’s play once I had made my mind up to go with this fantastic selling model. It offers great value to all homeowners, who are charged zero commission.
EstateDirect.com’s lettings proposition is very competitive with a fully managed fee of £45 regardless of the size of property. I found almost all daily administration is taken care of in a very professional manner, with my employees having dedicated Local Property Assistants helping them every step of the way. No call from a potential client is unanswered. Of course, there are always challenges in the beginning of any business venture that you start and I’m an experienced businessman.
EstatesDirect.com has made this so much easier as most learning aids are available with intensive help from the head office team and through training programmes.
Tell us how you’re investing in your future
I have invested in
EstatesDirect.com as a master franchisee and have purchased four territories, with a view to increasing my territory in the very near future. I am actually on training this week to see exactly what my staff go through and, by doing the training myself, I know exactly how the model works, so I can support my team.
What’s the best part about running your own franchise? This is a proven model so I don’t have to invent a new system. All the hard work has been done by EstatesDirect. com so, if I just follow what the company does and keep to the model, I should be successful as well, although it’s early days. Although I have bought a franchise, I am still an independent businessman, who is in control of my own destiny so, for me, this is one of the best parts of running a franchise. If I need help,
EstatesDirect.com is there to support and encourage me and my team. I am also a part of something unique, innovative and have joined right at the beginning so that’s quite exciting, too. I have learnt how to value properties correctly and professionally. I am very detailed now in my approach and have learnt an enormous amount about the property market, particularly what it takes to look after a client in a caring, understanding and proactive way.
Are you building a nest egg for your retirement? Absolutely,
EstatesDirect.com is going to go far and I want to be a part of it. [My franchise is] also going to be a big nest egg, for sure. If you look at the three directors who started this business, you know you have invested your money wisely. They are experienced, successful and want to be the best. As a successful businessman in my own right, I wouldn’t have invested my money if I didn’t trust Darren, Ben, Jamie and their team. n
April 2012 |
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