LETTINGSnews


GROWTH


Key acquisition for Leaders


Leaders has acquired JSM Property Management Limited and its six branches in Norwich,


Lowestoft, Ipswich, Woodbridge and Cambridge, extending Leaders’ network to 54 branches. JSM has been owned and run by


the Prior family for 20 years and has a substantial share of the East Anglia market. Leaders’ MD Paul Weller, said, “We are very excited about JSM joining Leaders; this is a significant milestone. Not only is this a substantial acquisition – comprising 3,000 managed tenancies – it also provides us with a new region, East Anglia. “It is our intention to develop this region by acquiring businesses as well as portfolios that we can absorb into our existing branches. We have substantial capital for further growth. “We are delighted that JSM’s


Operations Director, Emma Wells, has joined Leaders as our new Regional Director for East Anglia, overseeing our new JSM branches and playing a key role in helping us to expand across this new region. We are also fortunate to welcome 53 JSM employees with a wide range of expertise.” JSM’s MD, Jeremy Prior, will


work with Leaders in a consultancy role to advise on further acquisition opportunities. Having grown JSM into the biggest letting agent in East Anglia, Jeremy is


TECHNOLOGY Digital inventory system launched


Imfuna Let is a new digital inventory system, developed to intuitively take the


user through the entire process of collection, reporting, editing, sharing and ultimately storing the full history of a property. It is designed to take the frustrations and challenges out of the process and provide the user with a simple yet highly professional experience. Jax Kneppers, founder of Imfuna Let comments, “This


56 JUNE 2011 PROPERTYdrum


will transform the inventory process, providing an opportunity to leave behind the cumbersome paper-based approach, changing the way that landlords market and manage their properties, through the provision of a full historical record of a property. It will also become a vital tool in the settling of disputes. This standardisation of data collection and the reporting method are key to our vision. “The appetite amongst


letting agents to improve the system is certainly there, recent research told us that nearly 50 per cent of letting agents feel that automating the process will free up their time to invest in more strategic activity, ultimately growing the business.” The Imfuna Let application


can be downloaded to any iPhone or Android mobile device. The user is then able to collect data at the property in a uniform and standardised


format as well as take unlimited digital photographs. However, unlike other inventory software solutions, Imfuna Let includes dictation and transcription within the application. Imfuna Let can be


downloaded for £1.79 from imfuna.co.uk and the Apple store and users receive 5 free reports. Following this each report is priced at £9.50 which includes 30 minutes of dictation.


keen to see its’ continued success. “I am thrilled that JSM has


joined the Leaders network; although I was approached by other parties, I chose to sell to Leaders because of their professionalism, high standards and reputation as an excellent acquisitor, and I am certain that our clients and staff will be well looked after and enjoy great success with Leaders in the future. I have been incredibly impressed by the way in which Leaders carried out the acquisition - the management team were experienced and pragmatic and the acquisition was completed quickly and smoothly, with minimal fuss and disruption to our business. They are clearly experts at making the process as painless as possible for business vendors.” Leaders has followed a strategy


of rapid growth by acquisition, extending its network from Sussex, Surrey Hampshire and Dorset into Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The firm has developed a cutting-edge IT and operational infrastructure to enable it to assimilate and capitalise on acquisitions and seeks to buy further letting businesses across a wider geographical area – both large or small - that fit in with the company’s philosophy of providing a high quality and trustworthy service.


Jeremy Prior of JSM with Paul Weller of Leaders


Paul Weller, Emma Wells & Jeremy Prior


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