Estate agency group raises the bar
Stamford estate agent Jason Treadwell has been named top performing franchisee of the year in Newton Fallowell’s annual awards.
The award for best property sales performance went to Newton Fallowell’s Newark franchisees Neil and Jude Sime, with Grantham Lettings franchisees Jackie and Iain Angus securing the award for top performing lettings office; both recording their third successive win.
The announcements were made at a black tie dinner for members of the fast-growing Midlands estate agency network, which now stretches from the West Midlands to the east coast of Lincolnshire.
Staff from across the group came together to celebrate record growth across the brand, which has seen a 60% increase in the number of franchises since the last annual conference.
Speaking after the awards, top franchisee Jason Treadwell said: “From a cold start opening in Stamford in 2014, when we went head-to-head against 19 high street-based estate agents who were already selling in the town, we are now out-selling our nearest competitor by double the number of sales. Independent figures show we are now responsible for 1 in 4 property sales locally, with 28.4% of the sold market. Our nearest competitor stands at 14.2%.”
He added: “It’s been an amazing journey, and we have already opened a further franchise in nearby Oakham, also from a cold start, and after just four months we are ranked second in the town for sales and new listings. This award bears my name, but it’s not just about me, the team have been crucial, as well as the backing of my family.”
Said franchise director David Spackman: “This year was our biggest ever conference, with our newly extended family coming together for the first time since the West Midlands’ based Goodchilds chain joined us. We now have 45 branches, and the conference is a great opportunity for everyone to share and learn from what’s happening elsewhere in the group, as well as a route to setting out the strategy for the year ahead.”
Founded in 1999 by CEO Mark Newton, Newton Fallowell quickly became the largest independent estate agency across the East Midlands, providing property sales and letting, surveying, in–house conveyancing and mortgage advice. It has been part of the Belvoir Lettings PLC property group since 2015.
All the winners:
| Best New Franchise 2016 | Leicester Forest East |
| Most Improved Lettings Franchise 2016 | Retford |
| Most Improved Sales Franchise 2016 | Market Deeping |
| Lettings Franchise of the Year 2016 | Grantham |
| Sales Franchise of the Year 2016 | Newark |
| Goodchilds Lettings Franchise of the Year 2016 | Bloxwich |
| Goodchilds Sales Franchise of the Year 2016 | Stoke on Trent |
| Franchisee of the Year 2016 | Jason Treadwell |
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & MarketingDirect line: 0207 846 0096 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
David Newton, Director of IT & Marketing, Newton Fallowell
Direct line: 01476 584163 Mobile: 07986 555496 Email: david.newton@newtonfallowell.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About Newton Fallowell
Founded in 1999 by CEO Mark Newton, an estate agent and industry specialist since 1976, Newton Fallowell now has 45 branches and is part of the Belvoir PLC property group with branches from Telford to Boston, and from Retford down to Leicester. Services include property sales and letting, surveying, in–house conveyancing and mortgage advice.
Newton Fallowell’s growth spurt adds four more franchises
In the press: bit.ly/1wy4Rbk bit.ly/1trXK48
Four new franchise areas are signed up by fast-growing East Midlands’ estate agency Newton Fallowell, making a total of 10 so far this year
Click here to download high res version of this image from Flickr
Newton Fallowell has announced the completion of four further franchise agreements, as part of the long term growth strategy by the fast-growing East Midlands estate agency to extend its geographic footprint.
The franchises have been signed for Loughborough, Syston, East Leake and Rothley, all in Leicestershire. And two of the new signings are with existing franchisees, looking to grow their own footprint through additional branch offices.
Founded in 1999 by CEO Mark Newton (pictured, second left), Newton Fallowell is the largest independent estate agency across the East Midlands with a network of 27 branches providing property sales and letting, surveying, in–house conveyancing and mortgage advice. A family business, it has branches from Burton on Trent to Boston, and from Retford down to Leicester.
Said Mark Newton: “It’s great to see this organic growth in our franchisees – it’s a real endorsement that we’re getting it right for them. This takes us to ten new franchise areas this year, and we continue to push forward on our strategy to open new offices in the few areas of the East Midlands that aren’t yet wearing our colours.”
Franchisee Simon Hewitt, now involved in four Newton Fallowell franchises, added: “The initial draw of Newton Fallowell for me was the opportunity to grow and take on new branches. Head Office is actively looking for the right people to take on new areas and so if you’re ambitious, the opportunity and the support are there waiting. With so many aspects of the business already set up, it really gives you a head start and, most importantly, people already know and trust the brand.”
Richard Morris, who has taken on franchises at Loughborough and East Leake, said: “What’s great is being able to demonstrate to potential clients the best of both worlds – the strength of delivering a personal service, as this is my own independent business, combined with Newton Fallowell’s extensive coverage and partner network.”
Picture caption: Pictured, left to right, following the signing of the new franchise areas, David Newton, director of IT & marketing, Mark Newton, chief executive, Andrew Derry, finance director, Gary Hartley, director, David Spackman, franchise director, with franchisees Craig Stephens, Simon Hewitt and Richard Morris
ENDS [350 words]
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
David Newton, Director of IT & Marketing, Newton Fallowell
Direct line: 01476 584163 Mobile: 07986 555496 Email: david.newton@newtonfallowell.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About Newton Fallowell
Founded in 1999 by CEO Mark Newton, an estate agent and industry specialist since 1976, Newton Fallowell is a family business extending to a network of 27 branches. The largest independent estate agency across the East Midlands, it has branches from Burton on Trent to Boston, and from Retford down to Leicester. Services include property sales and letting, surveying, in–house conveyancing and mortgage advice.
Twitter: @MarkOnProperty
Mark Newton comments for the Daily Express
Mark Newton, Chief Executive of Newton Fallowell has been commenting on the news that national statistics show that higher number of property sales are failing to complete. He said:
"We suffered high fall-through rates for a period of about three months, although things appear to be back to normal now.
"The normal fall-through rate comprises three distinct phases:
- Buyer remorse within a few days of agreement “what have I done?”
- At survey, if and when problems are found
- At the ‘altar’, when final negotiations take place
"During May/June/August the fall-through rate increased from the usual 25% to around 40%, but was not due in my opinion to picky buyers and sellers, but two other factors:
1. Mortgage Market Review (MMR) which put a whole new set of hurdles in the way of buyers
2. Conveyancers who were overwhelmed by the increase in the market and hadn’t scaled up
Mark's top tips:
- Check that whoever you choose to do your conveyancing has the capacity to deliver
- For buyers, get a nod on your mortgage before making an offer and for sellers, make sure your agents is pushy in finding out buyer credentials and whether they can afford to buy
- Don’t be too quick to nail up the ‘sold’ sign when you get an offer - if you have to take it back down, it can make other buyers think there’s something wrong with your property, so better to wait and see if the offer holds firm
- If you know there are problems likely to come up during survey, don’t bury your head in the sand
- Another important thing is to make sure you have all the paperwork in order before you go on the market as conveyancers acting for buyers are increasingly zealous in demanding certificates for work done - e.g. FENSA for windows or CORGI for a new boiler
About Newton Fallowell
Newton Fallowell is the largest independent estate agency across the East Midlands, with a network of 25 branch offices. Founded in 1999 by CEO Mark Newton, services include property sales and letting, surveying, in–house conveyancing and mortgage advice. The company has grown through a franchise model.
Twitter: @MarkOnProperty
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
David Newton, Director of IT & Marketing, Newton Fallowell Direct line: 01476 584163 Mobile: 07986 555496 Email: david.newton@newtonfallowell.co.uk
Property agents join forces for bigger bite of residential pie
Tie up between two independent leaders widens the gap in the East Midlands as Newton Fallowell merge with Hartleys
Newton Fallowell has merged with Hartleys, reinforcing the firm’s position as the largest independent estate agency across the East Midlands, and now fielding a combined network of 25 branch offices.
Against a backdrop of the region’s strengthening property market, the two companies have struck the strategic alliance to fuel future expansion in residential markets, pointing to the natural geographic fit of the combined network of offices.
Now stretching across Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, the collaboration between the two firms will bring operational efficiencies and a wider customer base for sellers, although both will continue to trade under their current branding and will retain all staff at existing branches.
Hartleys has been the dominant property agent in the Loughborough and Charnwood areas for the last five years, with a core market ranging from semi detached properties up to £1m individual village houses.
Under the deal, Gary Hartley, eponymous founder of the Hartley chain in 1995 and a former England rugby international, will become an executive director of Newton Fallowell, bringing four branches and 25 sales staff into the merged group.
Newton Fallowell, founded by chief executive Mark Newton in 1999, has 21 branches and 150 staff across the region. The merger has grown out of a long standing relationship between Hartley and Newton, who worked together as chartered surveyors in the 1980s, before each setting up their respective businesses, which have gone on to grow side by side.
“We have a team of young and ambitious branch managers, all looking to go places. This merger will provide major opportunities for growth, thanks to the resources of the combined group and the bigger geographic territory, and enable our managers to take greater ownership at branch level, within a strong and supportive infrastructure,” explained Gary Hartley.
He added: “Customers won’t see any change in the people they deal with, or the style of delivery - just in the results we are able to achieve. The message is ‘business as usual’ – it’s not a buy-out, it’s not a takeover – we’re just part of a bigger family.”
The Hartleys lettings business is not included in the agreement, and will continue to trade as a stand-alone business, with Gary Hartley remaining as senior partner.
Newton Fallowell chief executive Mark Newton added: “This deal is about creating a win-win opportunity for both firms. Unwinding the residential sales operation from Hartleys to merge with us at Newton Fallowell will give extra muscle for future expansion and keep us ahead of the game. Market conditions have improved considerably in the region, but it’s still tough and there are major changes in the mortgage market for buyers to contend with.
“We’ve increased our footprint by 25% overnight and the bigger network is going to bring benefits for both buyers and sellers, by opening the door to a much increased customer base.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
David Newton, Director of IT & Marketing, Newton Fallowell Email: david.newton@newtonfallowell.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About Newton Fallowell
Founded in 1999 by CEO Mark Newton, an estate agent and industry specialist since 1976, Newton Fallowell is a family business extending to a network of 21 branches, before this merger announcement, from Burton on Trent to Boston, and from Retford down to Bourne. Services include property sales and letting, surveying, in–house conveyancing and mortgage advice.
Twitter: @MarkOnProperty
About Hartleys
An independent practice of Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents established in 1995 by Managing Director Gary Hartley, has become a multi disciplined practice covering residential sales and lettings, land and new homes, mortgage advice and professional surveying. The firm’s flagship property showroom is based in the market town of Loughborough, serving the property market across Charnwood and Leicestershire, with other village branches based in their individual local communities, including Rothley, East Leake, Syston and Woodhouse Eaves.
www.hartleys-ea.co.uk
Twitter: @HartleysEA