Feature
Lowery explains that it is standard practise for them to issue detailed reports on a property, whereas other agents who he has dealt with only off er one page documents. “Our reports are incredibly detailed and cover everything from the ceilings to the coving through to the shrubs in the garden. I believe our methods are paying off because at least 50 per cent of our business is referrals.” As a franchise business, Lowery says that
as long as they stay within the guidelines they are free to do what they wish to make their branch as successful as possible. They prefer to keep their portfolios to a manageable size to give each property their full attention so the quality doesn’t drop. “We also receive advice and guidance from our franchisor when we ask but the business is really our vision and comes from learning through past experiences with other agents.” Both directors believe that
communication with the landlord is crucial in maintaining good relationships as Lowery explains: “The nature of the business means we only ever really speak to the landlord when there is a problem but that doesn’t mean that we just bombard them with issues. We advise them on the best course of action to take as well as listening to them about how they would like to proceed. Keeping landlords informed at all times and going out of our way to fi nd good quality tenants are things that landlords really appreciate as it will make their life that much easier.”
NATIONAL: KNIGHT FRANK Knight Frank has grown to become the world’s largest privately owned global property agency and consultancy. Its global network, including US based
Newmark Knight Frank, encompasses 242 offi ces in 43 countries across six continents. More than 7,000 professionals handle
around £500bn worth of commercial, agricultural and residential property annually, advising clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. Operating as a Limited Liability
Partnership, the fi rm’s 57 Proprietary Partners are free to run the business in such a way to create a culture that helps it recruit and retain the best people who are the essence of the fi rm. Being a national agent with a recognised name plays a big part in the appeal of Knight Frank according to Mark Potter, head of the Basingstoke offi ce. But the most important element in how the agency operates is the diff erent departments within Knight Frank, as
Knight Frank Basingstoke offi ce.
Potter explains, “I may be called to view a property that can either be sold as a residential home or perhaps a hotel or other venue. I can then call upon the various diff erent departments in Knight Frank to come along with me and off er their expertise. This creates a ‘one-stop shop’ for busy people and is greatly appreciated.” The diff erent departments in Knight Frank
pretty much cover every property need both in the UK and overseas and for an area such as Basingstoke, which off ers plenty of country properties, these are ideal. Services off ered include Country Sales, Farms and Country Estates, The Buying Solution, Country House Consultancy, Equestrian Property Services, Agricultural Valuations, Digital Mapping and Surveying and Rural Building Consultancy. “The level of knowledge and expertise we
can off er in these niche areas is really benefi cial to clients and gives them a fully comprehensive service that enables us to meet all their needs,” says Potter. Although Knight Frank’s presence
internationally is important, they don’t attract the same level of overseas buyers as the more London centric offi ces. “We get a few buyers from Europe but our largest number of overseas buyers are expats who recognise the Knight Frank name and when they decide to move back to the UK, our name is familiar to them.” From the UK, Potter estimates that at least 60 per cent of buyers come from London as the commute is very easy to Basingstoke.
“Each vendor is employing the whole of the Knight Frank network, not just Knight
Frank Basingstoke.” Mark Potter, head of the Basingstoke Knight Frank offi ce
22 ● July 2012 ● TheNegotiator
“The fact that we are in Basingstoke but have offi ces in Central London is very important to these buyers. Busy London professionals can speak with our London offi ce to sell their home, and with us to buy their new country home. Both the London offi ce and our offi ce will work very closely together to ensure a smooth transaction in both the sale and purchase of the new property, which makes the whole process much more straightforward.” The extensive coverage that a national
agent such as Knight Frank off ers is equally as important to vendors in Hampshire as it is to London vendors. “As well as the sheer number of offi ces we have, Knight Frank has also developed ipad and iphone apps, which has made it even easier to search properties wherever you are,” says Potter. “No matter where you live, this new technology has made house hunting so much more accessible.” The Basingstoke offi ce looks after a range
of countryside properties worth anything from £500,000 for a two-bedroom cottage to £16 million for a country estate. Each property will receive the same marketing treatment and Potter insists the lower value properties will not get lost in a big system. “Each vendor is employing the whole of the Knight Frank network, not just Knight Frank Basingstoke. Each property will benefi t from the marketing expertise of the entire network.” In terms of how the branch is run, Potter explains that each branch cannot do anything that will aff ect the Knight Frank brand. “Each offi ce is run how the branch manager sees fi t but we all adhere to similar rules such as displaying properties in a certain manner and advertising in certain publications. But this is part of our identity and not following these rules would dilute our brand and ultimately mean that we wouldn’t achieve the same high level of results as we do now.” ●
www.thenegotiator.co.uk
Knight Frank
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