Connells has embarked on a programme to double the size of its lettings network in the next two years with the acquisition of Soul Residential Lettings in Wiltshire.
The purchase, for an undisclosed sum, marks the first step in a programme of planned branch openings and acquisitions across the UK.
Soul Residential is an independent lettings and property management agency based in Trowbridge.
The Connells Group, which already has a well established Connells branch in the town, is looking to snap up similar independent firms.
Lettings managing director Stephen Nation said: “This acquisition is part of a much wider programme for our UK lettings network.
“The lettings market has been growing exponentially in recent years, and despite the recent revival in property sales we expect demand from tenants and the number of rental homes across the UK to increase massively.”
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Comments
James McSnore ... my humblest apologies Sir ;-)
Kind regards
James
Yes James, we get it. Thanks but no thanks.
Well 'Small but Good' and 'Confused' .. if you are good enough, your side of the fence, then if you can convert the landlords when they walk through your door, I could teach you how to make them walk through your door.
... that of of course if you could cope with the extra business?
If you could .. have a look at my website .. I work freelance in London for some agents but taking on extra staff in the new year .. so could expand
www.landlordfinders.com
Connells are hopeless. They approached my firm, letter full of spelling mistakes and followed up by a jobs worth who did not have a clue. Typical corporate, lots of cash and no idea. It’s great for professional independents when we have a consolidator in town, the more they buy the more we grow! We need to be careful, with Countrywide, Connells & Leaders in town, we will soon be a corporate ourselves, without buying anything.
@ Let me Properties
Why cant big chains give personal service? Big chains still employ people and its the people that give the service. I work for a chain but can tell you we are much more sought after than any of our independant rivals and we also give a very personal service.
Do you think landlords want to use large chains instead of independent letting agencies? For those landlords who own property right across the country I can see it being attractive to rent all their properties through one big chain, however when it comes to personal service, I don't think landlords with a few properties in close proximity to each other, can get better service than that given by smaller independent letting agents like us - http://letmeproperties.co.uk
Independents have had a rough time in lettings since the corporates jumped on the bandwagon in 2009 when the sales market went belly up.
Instead of trying to play the corporates at their own game, you independents should play to your strengths.. you are the boss.. the buck stops with you. Every client of mine says, if you can just get me in front of the landlord, i will get them every time. Its just there is simply too many agents and every landlord thinks we are all the same.
If anyone is needing a different way to attract sellers and landlords to their estate agency and lettings agency , you might be interested in what we do?
You see, I work freelance for around 25 agents in the South and London (+ a couple in the North). We are capacity at the moment, so cant take on any new clients until January/Feb time when we take on a new person.
However, our service allows our client letting agents to choose a housing estate or apartment block that THEY want more rental business in. Then we send all the landlords, who own a rental property in that estate or block a property report about the state of the rental and sales market in their block/ estate (and only that block or estate) .. deadly interesting.. a different one each month ( all branded up in our clients logo). It gets inside the landlords head and you gain their interest and trust. We send it to where the landlord really lives (not the rental property). Once you have their trust, you invite them into your offices.. takes a few months but works. very professional and subtle
The service initially attracts landlords to bring their properties to the agents I work for, but the it also attracts sellers as well for free valuations if you do sales as you send the same report to the home owners
I can assure you this 100% bonafida, and it uses techniques many agents have lost over the last 25 years
www.landlordfinders.com
Now, back to the question.. always had a soft spot for Connells .. good luck to them. lets see if they can think outside the box and get market share
Connells are behind the curve - again- their Lettings division is in the dark ages - they are coming to the party too way to late and as this proclaimation about a one branch acquisition demonstrates, without any real conviction. They've gone backwards in recent years and I predict Skipton will sell out via na IPO within next 12 months
Going to take some time then if they acquire one off little offcies like this?