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On a couple of occasions recently we’ve lost out on a new instruction that we were on the cusp of winning because a competitor has aggressively under cut our already low fees. I see this as FANTASTIC news! Why? Because I never set out to be the cheapest estate agent for one very simple reason – if you are too cheap then you can’t offer your clients the level of marketing and service that they not only need to get the best price, but quite understandably demand. So the fact that after less than two years High Street agents feel the need to undercut us to win an instruction is just perfect. It shows that we have become established as a real player in the local market. We may lose the odd instruction. But we will win many more as people seem to like the rather different fresher approach…

The new BNI networking group in Hertford and Ware is now fully up and running with a really great group of 25 local businessess plus visitors meeting weekly. Why not come along for breakfast on Thursday morning to meet new business contacts who can help grow your business. Here’s the latest news on Paul Jenning’s Blog (Paul helps people save money on their utilities bills – he helped save me around £25 a month on my mobile and home ‘phone too! Well worth a call) http://bni-endeavour.blogspot.co.uk/

An invitation to grow your business.

You are cordially invited to launch meeting of the brand new Hertford & Ware BNI Breakfast Group on Thursday 16^th August, from 6:45am – 9:30 a.m. It is being held at The Roebuck Hotel, Baldock St, Ware, SG12 9DR, where BNI’s Executive Director Phil Berg, will share BNI’s secrets to success through “word-of-mouth” marketing.

A bit of background in case you have not heard of BNI. It is a business and professional networking organisation whose primary purpose is to exchange qualified business referrals. It is the most successful organisation of its type in the world today, with over 6,100 groups in operation in 48 countries. Last year members of BNI passed 6.5 million referrals, which generated more than £1.5 billion worth of business. So it is a proven marketing tool.

What makes BNIunique is that it allows only one person per profession to join a chapter….

Another interesting article here about an agent, Thirwells, in Teeside who have realised that with the growth of the internet and in particular, mobile phones and iPads, they no longer need – or can justify the expense of – a network of High Street offices. As the article says:

“Partner Wendy Clarke said: “Years ago, we had a queue in the office and people checking adverts on the walls, but people don’t trawl the estate agents any more.

“We were nervous beforehand but there’s been no drop-off in business.”

She says that listings have actually increased in the areas where the two offices have shut.”

The truth is that the cost of finding buyers is falling with Rightmove leading the way to create a much more cost effective way to sell houses in the internet age. Estate agents have been slow to change their business models to meet the new reality. But they…

No matter how carefully one tries to ensure that property is valued realistically it is a fact of life that sometimes a house comes onto the market at too high a price. It’s easy to sense when this happens as the early viewings dry up and the number of potential buyers looking online falls away online. If you do decide the price is wrong the change it sooner rather than later. This will open you up to a whole new group of buyers who probably weren’t aware of your house, or who were, but didn’t come as it was out of range. But never fall into the trap of putting “New Price” in your advert in the local paper or online. Why not? Because it makes your house look like it has a problem and no one wants a house that is unloved and has been left on the…