Author: Benjamin

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Ben Madden I keep coming back to Grant Cardone’s line ‘Best known always beats best’, and as painful as it is to admit it, he’s right. You could be the best agent on the planet, but if nobody knows it, what’s the point. Likewise, you could be wildly mediocre but extraordinarily well known, and the chances are, you’re going to be doing reasonable business. It’s never been easier, or harder, to build your awareness locally. Easier, because you have a powerful content studio in your pocket, your phone. Harder, because the playbook is crowded with confusion, overthinking, and second-guessing.…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Empty and second homes are not the answer to Scottish housing shortages, according to DJ Alexander. The Scottish estate agency said that the announcement by housing secretary, Mairi McAllan, that she was acting to prevent “unacceptable” levels of empty homes in Scotland is worthy but will not come close to resolving the current housing emergency. McAllan said that she was going to fund more empty homes officers to bring privately owned houses back into use. These officers work on the £2m a year Scottish government investment in the Scottish Empty…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: For decades, conveyancing has been characterised by manual processes, duplicated effort, and protracted communication. In today’s fast-paced and digitally connected world, there is consensus that this model is unsustainable. There is mounting pressure from clients for ever-better service, regulators for compliance improvements, and competitors for technical innovation.   The conveyancing legal technology sector, which was once solely focused on case management, is now at the heart of a law firm CTO or partner’s agenda to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and meet expectations. Thomas Maerz, CEO of tmGroup, considers the major advances…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: A legal bid to block stricter rules for landlords in part of Scunthorpe has failed. A landlords’ association had launched a judicial review against North Lincolnshire Council’s plan to introduce selective licensing in areas covering parts of Crosby and Park, and Town Wards. Selective licensing allows councils to impose higher housing standards on private landlords and charge a fee to fund the scheme. The challenge delayed the original rollout, which was set for March 20. However, the landlords’ association has now confirmed to Scunthorpe Live that the legal action was…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Antony Roberts appoints new lettings manager for East Sheen office Giselle Geoghegan Richmon0d-based agency, Antony Roberts, has appointed Giselle Geoghegan (née Harper-Smith) as lettings manager in its East Sheen office, as part of its expansion of the lettings team. Geoghegan has over 25 years’ experience in the lettings market – including a number of years as a lettings manager dedicated to the East Sheen area – and has been working in the Antony Roberts’ property management team since early 2024. Amy Reynolds, head of sales at Antony Roberts, commented: “Giselle…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Panorama has gone undercover at one of the UK’s biggest estate agencies to investigate claims it is not acting in the best interests of customers. In tonight’s episode of the BBC of the investigative documentary series, to be aired at 8pm, reporter Lucy Vallance uncovers evidence the company favours buyers taking out mortgages brokered by the company itself, over the interests of other potential buyers. Vallance also speaks to a whistleblower who worked at another big estate agency, where staff were under pressure to sell add-on services…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Sandy Bastin This month’s dispute was presented as a seemingly straightforward claim which covered the power washing of a patio. The dispute  This is quite a common claim area as often this form of external cleaning is neglected or forgotten about by the tenant. However, the tenant had responded to this claim by unusually stating that the landlord was claiming for the removal of clean areas from the patio area. The evidence The patio area wasn’t particularly clean at the start of the tenancy, with a thin layer of algae and dirt present, not a great start for the landlord’s claim. At the end of the tenancy, it…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: New research carried out by Jackson-Stops has revealed that stamp duty relief for downsizers would almost certainly deliver an immediate boost to housing supply and wider economic activity.  The estate agency looked at the impact of the prohibitive property tax on older homeowners and found that over a fifth (22%) of over-55’s never plan to downsize. However, among those who do intend to move, 15% said they would do so within the next year if stamp duty were reduced or removed on their onward purchase – the equivalent of 505,000…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Paul Smith There’s been no shortage of hype about artificial intelligence lately – but cut through the noise and you’ll find AI has something incredibly practical to offer estate agents: the power to understand our customers better and faster than ever before. We know that first impressions count, so imagine walking into a potential seller’s home already knowing how best to build rapport, what kind of language to use, and what their motivations might be. This kind of technology is available right now, so why aren’t more agents using it?…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Danielle Phillips Hortons welcomes Danielle Phillips as a partner Hortons has announced a new partnership with Danielle Phillips, marking a significant step in the brand’s growth, as she leads the expansion into Essex. The self-employed brokerage model’s launch in Essex comes on the back of recent expansions into Sussex, Surrey, and London – as the company eyes growth nationwide. According to Hortons, more new partners are currently set to join the company, with further growth planned across London, Essex, and into the North. “We’re really excited to welcome Danielle as…