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Getting a property on the market has become more efficient but agents still require the same people and sales skills that they did 50 years ago, an industry veteran claims.
Speaking ahead of his retirement this year, Connells Group chairman Stephen Shipperley, looked back on his first property sale and how the industry has changed since he started back in 1977.
He said putting a home on the market was “pretty tiresome” when he first entered the agency world as it involved getting a property stencil drawn up, sent to a vendor, rewritten and then approved, while the digital world has made it “massively more efficient.”
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Shipperley told Estate Agent Today: “The thing that make the real difference in estate agency branches are hardly any different today, it the people.
“(In the 1970s), The Bucks Herald would come out on a Wednesday and people would phone up having seen a property.
“Today people do that on that on Rightmove or Zoopla but the point of contact is similar
“What happens next determines the good agent from the order taker.
“How you deal with that enquiry translates it into a viewing or sale.
“That is still a key differentiator in the market.”
Shipperley, who will retire and step down from the Connells board at the end of this year, began his career in 1977 at the Temple Street branch in Aylesbury that is still in use.
He said first sale was a Victorian three-bed semi-detached house for £9,750 and he earned £10 commission, which was only paid after the property completed and a month after the business got its money.
Recounting his first sale in a video interview with Estate Agent Today, Shipperley said: “I was relieved as most my colleagues seemed to be selling houses like they were going out of fashion.
“It was a great sensation. Any sale makes you feel good, that first sale was really good though.”
Shipperley said he will remain as a consultancy with Connells, helping with is land and new homes business but he plans to travel and play more golf.
Great interview - as one of a small group of people that have enjoyed a similar length career to Stephen I can identify with everything on what he says.
I directly worked for Stephen for 12 years and would like to think that he gained from that relationship as much as I did. I remember personally acquiring the Connells domain name (I did hand it over!) as, at the time, the business had not yet embraced the emerging digital world. Within a few years we became founders of Rightmove!
Stephen has led Connells superbly and I wish him (and perhaps more importantly Janet!) well in his retirement.
Good interview
Us "old timers" still know the best way to market and sell a property
My 50 years (in April 23) tells me the same
Good luck in your retirement Stephen
Hope to you you one day soon!
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Great interview - as one of a small group of people that have enjoyed a similar length career to Stephen I can identify with everything on what he says.
I directly worked for Stephen for 12 years and would like to think that he gained from that relationship as much as I did. I remember personally acquiring the Connells domain name (I did hand it over!) as, at the time, the business had not yet embraced the emerging digital world. Within a few years we became founders of Rightmove!
Stephen has led Connells superbly and I wish him (and perhaps more importantly Janet!) well in his retirement.
Good interview
Us "old timers" still know the best way to market and sell a property
My 50 years (in April 23) tells me the same
Good luck in your retirement Stephen
Hope to you you one day soon!
No doubt about it - customer service is KING and jumping on every enquiry and following it up!
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