SUBSCRIBERprofi le
Keeping it in the Family
Sheila Manchester talks to Kate Boyes about
the joys of business in Tunbridge Wells.
T
unbridge Wells. The reader’s because of the valuation not matching the
immediate thought is of those borrower’s needs. On the lettings front,
Daily Telegraph reading, tweed many of our tenants have sold in London
clad, ex-military types who send and move here for the lifestyle and the
letters to the press, signed “Disgusted of brilliant state schools. They rent until they
Tunbridge Wells”. decide exactly where to live – school
Well, maybe they are disgusted by low catchment areas are important and they
standards, poor service and muddled are in no great hurry to buy.”
ethics because where they live is rather
pleasant. Close enough to London to be PD So who are your landlords?
a commuter town but set in beautiful
Most of our business
“We have a large number of landlords
rolling countryside, it offers the best who live abroad and have either let their
of both worlds. main home while away or have chosen
Kate Boyes, Partner at Alexandre Boyes,
comes from personal
to invest in Tunbridge Wells. They like
likes it too. A local girl, Kate left
recommendation;
Alexandre Boyes because of the personal
Tunbridge Wells to take a degree in service, if, for example, Rob is their
Land Management at Reading University,
we know all our
dedicated property manager they can
finishing three years later with a First. be sure they will be able to speak to him
“Only because I loved it,” says Kate, clients on the lettings when they want to, no call centre, no
“I wasn’t a spectacular student but because corporate system to wade through.”
I enjoyed the course so much it went very
side very well.’
well for me.”
KATE BOYES
PD What is your market position
PARTNER ALEXANDRE BOYES
The next step to becoming a Chartered on property prices and types?
Surveyor was the APC (Assessment of “We are middle to high-end I would say.
Professional Competence), the practical Not so much on price, you can have a
training which leads to RICS small cottage or apartment that is
membership. Kate spent a year with inexpensive but perfectly saleable, we don’t,
the London commercial firm, Nelson like some agents, have a minimum rent or
Bakewell, which she says, introduced her sale price, but all our properties in both
to the real world of property. “I spent sales and lettings are of good quality and
a good deal of time reading leases, we provide the service to match.”
negotiating terms, learning the
foundations of the business, giving me PD And plans for next year?
a good standing for my second year”. “We are very optimistic! We are planning
Her second year took her back home to open a branch in Sevenoaks next year
to the family firm, Alexandre Boyes, and knowledge. We are a small family firm, and will continue to develop all sides of the
started by her father and uncle in 1998. old enough to be established but certainly business. I am, of course, concerned about
“I preferred the more personal not stuffy. Most of our business comes the market, we feel as if we may be in a
relationships that you build in residential from personal recommendation; we know bubble here as business is still very positive,
property, especially in lettings,” says Kate. all our clients on the lettings side very well, but no-one really knows whether we’ll get
Six years on, Kate heads the lettings side they trust us and they stay with us. We also a double dip and if interest rates start to
and her brother Dan is in charge of sales. give full advice to prospective landlords – rise people will find mortgages a strain.
“It’s great having both sides of the business they often say that we are far more For landlords, some are already feeling the
and it works really well. The lettings thorough than other agents.” pinch as rents have not really risen – and
division has grown by 60 per cent in the They certainly have a lively office, with are unlikely to do so. Whatever happens
last year so we are delighted with that!” more than half their letting portfolio under people still need somewhere to live!”
There are around 75 sales/letting agents full management and sales steady Other development plans in place
in Tunbridge Wells, including some of the throughout this difficult year. “Most sales include the birth of Kate’s second baby,
major players, all keen to get their share complete without trouble. We have had due in February; so good luck with new
of a prosperous market. How does very few fall-throughs because most clients baby, new branch and everything else!
Alexandre Boyes stand out? are in an established position, trading up
“It is all down to personal service, or down, without massive mortgage
Subscribe to the mag and be our next Profile.
continuity, professionalism, qualifications requirements. The few we have had are
www.propertydrum.com/subscribe
18 FEBRUARY 2010 PROPERTYdrum
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68