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Simon Shinerock
Simon Shinerock
Owner of Choices Estate Agents
34643  Profile Views

About Me

I'm married with three grown up children, I live between London, Bexhill and Marbella. Despite my advancing years I am very active with a lot of sports hobbies ranging from my favourite kite surfing to my most recent, road bike riding and covering many others in between. I have always had a good imagination, some would say it's reflected in my industry views! I had a horror fantasy novel published in 1997 called 'The Dark Lagoon' that is still svailable on Amazon as a digital book, it's only £1.02 so I suggest you buy it right away. I write a blog which contains some of my views on the Industry, Society and many other things, I also like to write poetry which reflects the deeper side of our wants and aspirations. I have a master plan to put my mark on the industry by changing the business model we use in Lettings, Sales and investments. I have used Choices as a test bed for my ideas and I think our overall success endorses my concepts far more than words alone. Finally I decided to explore social media in 2014 and am now an avid user of Twitter, Instagram and Linkein which, when used in conjunction with my Blog have enabled me to create my own distinctive brand which, like Marmite, people seem to love or hate. I really appreciate my supporters and to them I say thank you. In my defence to the haters I would say if you get to know me you will change your mind:)

my expertise in the industry

I founded Choices in 1989 www.choices.co.uk, we are widely regarded as the most innovative estate agent in the industry with a unique Lettings model and a dedicated investments division that has been operating since the turn of the millennium. I am an investor in and contributor to Angels Media which I am happy to say gives me a platform for my views and ideas. I have also been an investor in a well know agency software business which was eventually sold to a bigger player. My background and expertise is in selling, management and finance. I try my best to keep up with all the important changes that are happening in the business at an ever faster pace and I am always on the lookout for my next interesting investment, especially if it's one that I think fits in with my grand plan or to which I can make a positive contribution. If you want any help or advice with your business please feel free to contact me, the first call is always free:)

Simon's Recent Activity

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From: Simon Shinerock 13 September 2023 07:18 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 24 March 2020 08:50 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 23 December 2019 10:44 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 16 December 2019 11:52 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 19 September 2019 08:52 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 19 August 2019 07:50 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 05 August 2019 07:53 AM

Simon Shinerock
I know a lot of agents gave pushed for licensing and regulation for a long time because they believe it will result in less competition and higher fees. Yes I recognise the more laudable arguments but call me cynical if you like if I put them aside. However, as someone who went through the regulation of financial services and saw first hand the mess it made and the implosion of that industry I would say this, beware what you wish for. I note in the report there is special mention of the Financial Conduct Authority and the regime it oversees, giving the clear impression that it is the model on which property regulation will be based. Prior to regulation there were over 200000 individuals selling insurance, investments and pensions, after regulation this went down to about 40000 and has never substantially recovered. The outcome has not really increased consumer confidence or provided a better service, it has however disenfranchised a large part of the population from receiving any advice at all. I liken the FS regulation to regulating car salesmen but not regulating the cars themselves. This may not have a direct parallel with property agency but it will be the same general approach that is applied. I’m all for light touch regulation that places responsibility on the right people and requires some individuals to complete focused and relevant training. The idea that all those engaged in property agency work should be subjected to a regime similar to that imposed on financial advisors is wholly disproportionate and if followed through will result in a similar implosion in the industry. The report doesn’t cover private landlords, not its remit apparently, although there is a recommendation that similar regulation be extended to cover them, ironic when you consider over half of landlords don’t use an agent for anything and the vast majority of problems originate from this part of the sector. Having read the report in full I think the bits that apply to estate and lettings agents are derivative, lack insight and do not feel like the basis for legislation. I am not saying there won’t be regulation of the industry, just that this doesn’t feel heavy weight enough to be its precursor. We already have a highly disparate and clumsy framework to consider and replacing it with a new one size fits all body will be a mammoth task, I wonder whether legislators will have the stomach to see it through given their other priorities. I have no doubt this report will excite a lot of reaction both for and against , we shall just have to see how things unfold.

From: Simon Shinerock 18 July 2019 07:11 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 29 April 2019 08:03 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 13 November 2018 09:11 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 16 July 2018 09:05 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 01 April 2018 11:04 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 11 January 2018 07:46 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 28 December 2017 09:27 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 30 November 2017 07:39 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 01 November 2017 09:05 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 09 February 2017 08:11 AM

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From: Simon Shinerock 16 December 2016 18:49 PM

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From: Simon Shinerock 16 December 2016 18:49 PM

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From: Simon Shinerock 16 December 2016 18:47 PM

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From: Simon Shinerock 22 January 2016 06:04 AM

Simon Shinerock
Very good letter, however I would like to add a couple of points. Many tenants choose to rent to live and buy to live these days because it gives them job mobility and investment flexibility, this is not just good for them but good for the economy and is threatened by these changes. Secondly on the point of pensions, it was not so long ago that a previous government decided to allow residential property to be included in a pension, the proposal was cut before inception over abuse worries. The point is that this government has taken advantage of the average persons financial naievitty in order to carry out a tax grab on pension investments. The thinking would be along the lines of 'if most people don't appreciate the tax relief we give on pensions why give it to the few who do' From a purely pragmatic political point of view this was an easy win. However they have apparently bought their own snake oil and are applying the same approach to buy to let, a sector which could not be more different to traditional pensions in the minds of the voter, especially the Tory voter. Buy to let is literally the last bastion of hope for most aspiring people, hope for financial freedom and independence that is. I know because for the past 16 years my company has been active in this sector and we have experienced first hand the passionate feeling so many people have on this issue. It's almost like this government wants to be so so clever that teacher gives them a gold star but, like so many precocious children, they have gone too far and need some discipline.

From: Simon Shinerock 06 January 2016 07:15 AM

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