Robert Reed Head of Tarporley Office, Wright Marshall

Q. How did you get in to the property industry?

My career in the property industry actually started out as a holiday job between terms when I was studying Law at Durham University. Just before I started University my parents were looking to move to a new house and I couldn’t help but notice that many estate agents just weren’t offering the service expected, so I decided to send my CV to a few of the better agents and it all started from there.

I started on the photocopier, and well and truly caught the bug – I loved it from day one. At the end of my degree I turned down an offer of going into corporate law and decided to pursue my passion to become an estate agent.

Q. What’s your favourite part of working with Wright Marshall?

There are so many aspects of working at Wright Marshall which I love. First of all is the diversity of homes we have on our portfolio.

One day we could be selling a distressed terraced property at auction, the next we could be conducting viewings in a multi-million pound country estate - few firms have this breadth.

Secondly is the freedom to be myself. I have autonomy in my work and the ability to make quick business decisions.

Finally, I love the people I work with – I can truly say that I trust and appreciate my colleagues.

Q. What makes the North West a special place to live?

In one word? Accessibility.

We have incredible links to the country’s commercial hubs – whether it’s Manchester via road, London by rail (less than two hours from Crewe in Cheshire) or even further afield to Edinburgh or Dublin with quick internal flights from Liverpool.

However, even with such excellent access to UK’s biggest cities, the North West is also home to some of the most stunning countryside. Views over the plains of Cheshire stretch for miles, and North Wales is right on our doorstep offering beautiful mountain ranges and AONBs.

And, of course, the countryside offers more than just views – the communities of the North West are, in the main, extremely friendly.

Q. What are your top three property predictions for 2018?

It may not be the dramatic, sweeping prediction expected, but I believe that the market will remain steady this year in terms of transactions and values. I also think that we’ll be seeing an increase in properties sold via auction, with vendors looking for quick sales and a growing market of buyers looking for the best deals. Finally, I predict that all estate agents will see more queries and complaints about increasingly punitive levels of Stamp Duty.

Q. Finally, how can the traditional estate agents take on the rise of online-only companies?

For me, it’s all about service. Traditional high street agents need to carve out a more distinctive narrative and provide, not just talk about, better service.

And, of course, it’s all about the price achieved for a sale at the end of the day – it should be about the end outcome, what price you are achieving, not just what fee you are paying.

Don’t compete on fees, compete on service!

www.wrightmarshall.co.uk