NEWSbeat
RESEARCH
Nick Barnes to head new research team
Chesterton Humberts has appointed Nick Barnes, a highly respected
AWARDS Estas announce individual awards
The Estate & Letting Agent Awards, better known as the ESTAS, will be recognising the efforts
of individuals within agencies next year. “The ESTAS has always been, and will continue to be a team competition, but we also believe that staff who’ve been integral to the customer service experience should be recognised” said Simon Brown, owner of the awards. Ailsa Mather from Northumbria & Cumbria Estate Agents who received a highly commended award said “The ESTAS are a team effort, but to be singled out as an individual award winner, I was in total shock! It has taken a while for it to sink in, and it’s an honour and a privilege to have won such a prestigious award in such a challenging market. In our
LEASEHOLD MANAGEMENT Online tool could trigger leasehold tenant takeovers
Consumer Focus is launching a new web tool which allows leaseholders to see if they could work
with their neighbours to take over the management of their building. The Consumer Focus
Investigations team has produced an online questionnaire, which breaks down the eligibility criteria in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 into a series of yes-no questions. Gemma Bowen, head of
Consumer Focus Investigations, said, “Some of the legal specifics around whether leaseholders can or can’t come together to take over the management of their building can seem be off-putting.
12 AUGUST 2011 PROPERTYdrum
This online tool takes people through the first few steps and see whether the Right to Manage is something that would be of real interest to them.” The Commonhold and
Leasehold Reform Act 2002 established a right for leaseholders to take over the management of their building, subject to a number
of criteria. While guidance is available through the Leasehold Advisory Service (Lease), this is the first time that leaseholders have been able to find their own way through the legal maze with a simple series of questions. The tool is backed by the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) who will make it available on its website. David Hewett, chief executive of ARMA, said, “Our Association has supported the concept of Right to Manage from the start. To get started with RTM can be a bit daunting so we very much welcome Consumer Focus’ initiative.”
http://righttomanage.cflabs.org.uk
profession a minority of poor agents give our industry a bad name, so it’s important that these awards highlight the amount of good work that good estate agents do.” The ESTAS, sponsored by
Zoopla, rate the level of customer service provided by agents by asking customers to complete a questionnaire. In 2011 there were 400 agent entries and 26,000 client questionnaires; 200 agents have already signed up for 2012. Nick Leeming, Business
Development Director at Zoopla said, “The growing number of ESTA agents and entries is proof that the industry is keen to gain valuable insight into how the public rate their businesses. The awards are aligned with our own business objectives and we’re
delighted to again be the headline sponsor”. Simon Brown said, “With tough market conditions agents are already thinking about their marketing strategy for 2012 and how they can differentiate themselves. Being part of the ESTAS gives agents an immediate USP they can build on”. The ESTAS will be presented by
Phil Spencer on 20 April at the Hilton, Park Lane, London. Phil said, “The ESTAS are the most important and valuable awards in our industry. An ESTA is not an easy accolade to pick up, to win one requires a lot of hard work, over a very long period of time.” Agents must sign up for the
ESTAS by 1st September 2011 if they wish their staff to be eligible for the individual awards.
www.theestas.com
expert in international property research, to head up a new in-house research department, which will be opening in August. Having held the position
of head of international commercial research at DTZ and head of international residential research at Knight Frank before starting his own consultancy in 2009, Barnes brings over 20 years of experience to the company and will oversee the production of regular research reports. Robert Bartlett, CEO of
Chesterton Humberts, says that research is increasingly being seen as an essential part of estate agency, “This appointment represents a major step forward for Chesterton Humberts. With Nick on board, we will be better positioned to keep our clients and the wider public informed of what exactly is happening in the exciting market in which we operate. “We have recently
completed a strategic review of staffing and are focusing on reinforcing key growth areas of the business. We have also brought in a new IT director to further strengthen technology capabilities, an in-house PR professional, and will be opening a number of new London branches.” Nick Barnes says, “The
residential property market remains characterised by considerable uncertainty and buyers and sellers are demonstrating increased appetite for reliable factually supported market information. “Chesterton Humberts has a vast amount of untapped data and I am looking forward to utilising this to produce some high quality and insightful research for the benefit of our clients.”
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