that there is a need for more residential investment and interesting opportunities for the industry to demonstrate to large investors that residential property offers great returns; bricks and mortar remains the very safest place for their money. Since last year’s PROPERTYdrum


lettings conference and our dedicated social media event in June, Tracy Falke has rapidly become an industry guru. Once again, her lively presentation provided excitement around the whole field of social media along with a major dose of urgency for those not yet onboard the Twitter train, without a mobile enabled website and with a total lack of knowledge about using new technologies to communicate with clients. Advertising and marketing is a major


Founding member of the ‘Former Future Prime Ministers Club’ The Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo, keynote speaker.


together. Huge changes are already underway with the way we work, the way we communicate and the way we want to live our lives. All of these will increasingly affect where we live and what we live in – which is clearly very relevant to everyone in the property industry. A fascinating session that certainly kick-started the day. From a leading futurologist onto a


leading business chief. Grenville Turner is CEO of Countrywide, the UK’s largest estate agency and property group. Grenville’s presentation was surprisingly open as he shared experiences, ideas, recommendations and some very wise words. How to approach prospective acquisitions, when to take a step back, how to manage all the elements of a business purchase or opening a new branch, it was all fascinating, but the best advice was that


when, during an acquisition, your lawyers arrive with a team of six – as they do – send half of them home; you don’t need them all and you shouldn’t pay for them! Nigel Lewis is Head of Content at


Digital Property Group. Nigel’s role is not, as one delegate believed, to ‘make everyone feel happy’. The Content he works on is the content of the Primelocation and Findaproperty websites; his presentation focused on what agents can do to make the content on their own websites work and how to make the most of the vast content, information and data available to agencies now with the new systems and technologies. Alan Collett, Chairman of ARIM and


President Elect, RICS, is a man with a vast experience of residential property and investment. His aim was to show agents


cost centres for all agents. Charlie Varley, Planning Director at Carat Media, was brimful of some very serious information about the changes in advertising media, the demise of the regional press and the value of investing in the right online tools and services to reach your target audience. Raised eyebrows all round! Flexibility has become the key to survival and success for agencies as the balance between home ownership and renting shifts, with opportunities for moving into new markets such as lettings, auctions or international sales. Confidence and support is needed and Peter Bolton King, CEO NFoPP, joined by Tim Hyatt, President, ARLA and Wendy Evans-Scott, President, NAEA, explained how the professional organisations can help members make the most of the opportunities in a secure way. Finally, a Question Time session rounded


off the day with Miles Shipside, Commercial Director, Rightmove, Jon Cook, MD at LSLi, Nick Leeming, New Business Director at Zoopla and Peter Bolton King taking a variety of questions from the floor, ably hosted by Dr James Bellini.


All in all, a really fascinating day and a very enjoyable one! See you next year!


Wise words and industry expertise: Dr James Bellini, Charlie Varley, Nigel Lewis and Tracy Falke. PROPERTYdrum NOVEMBER 2011 11


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