Category: Agent Stories

Rachel Nicholas: Why I Chose to Become Self-Employed in Estate Agency

Posted on by adamh

I’ve worked in corporate estate agency for most of my adult life, and throughout that time I’ve genuinely loved what I do.

There’s something incredibly rewarding about meeting new people, understanding what they’re looking for and helping them find their home — or helping them sell a property that holds so many memories. For me, estate agency has never simply been about property; it’s always been about the people behind the move.

But over the years, I began to feel that there was something missing from the way I was able to work with my clients.

I wanted more flexibility. More time. More control over the decisions I was making on behalf of my clients. Most importantly, I wanted to be able to offer a truly personal service, rather than having to work within the limitations of a traditional corporate model.

So, in 2022, I made the decision to take the leap and become a self-employed estate agent.

And from the very beginning, I knew there was only one brand I wanted to work with: Hortons.

Why Hortons?

I had always admired the way Hortons marketed their properties. Their approach felt different — stylish, authentic and, most importantly, focused on showcasing each home in the best possible way.

The brand really resonated with me, and I felt that their values aligned with the way I wanted to work.

I was lucky enough to secure a meeting with the director at Hortons and, thankfully, was offered the opportunity to join as a self-employed agent.

I haven’t looked back since.

A more personal way of selling

Being self-employed means I can genuinely tailor my approach to every property and every client.

No two homes are the same, so why should their marketing be?

I’m able to look at each property individually and think about what makes it special, who the likely buyer is and how we can present it in a way that really captures their attention.

We’re also incredibly lucky to have an in-house team who truly work magic. They have an amazing ability to showcase homes in an extraordinary way, ensuring that the photography, marketing and presentation really do each property justice.

But for me, it’s about so much more than great marketing.

Being there from beginning to end

One of the biggest advantages of working for myself is that I can be by my sellers’ side throughout the entire journey — from the very first conversation right through to completion.

There are no fixed business hours, which means my clients can contact me when they finish work in the evening or before they start their day in the morning. I can arrange viewings at times that work for buyers, rather than expecting everyone to fit around traditional office hours.

And when a sale needs that extra push, I’m personally invested in making it happen.

I’ll go the extra mile to keep communication flowing, overcome obstacles and do everything I can to get the sale over the line.

Transparency matters

One thing I’ve always promised my clients is that I will be honest and transparent with them.

The property market can be tricky, and there will be times when the conversation isn’t necessarily the easiest one to have. But I strongly believe that your estate agent should tell you what you need to hear, rather than simply what you want to hear.

Pricing and positioning a property correctly is so important. My role is to give honest, considered advice about where I believe a property sits within the current market, and what we need to do to achieve the best possible result.

Ultimately, I want my clients to feel that they can trust me completely.

Why Northamptonshire?

I cover Northamptonshire, an area I’ve now worked in for nearly five years.

Although I’m originally from Leicester, Northamptonshire has become home for me too. I’ve actually moved here with my family, and I genuinely couldn’t imagine looking back.

I’m particularly passionate about rural Northamptonshire and everything it has to offer. From beautiful countryside and charming villages to wonderful communities and fantastic properties, there is so much to love about this part of the country.

Being able to live and work in an area I love makes what I do feel even more special.

And finally…

Becoming self-employed in 2022 was a big decision, but it was absolutely the right one for me.

It has allowed me to build the kind of estate agency service I always wanted to provide — personal, flexible, honest and completely focused on my clients.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my “why”. I hope it’s given you a little more insight into who I am, how I work and why I’m so passionate about helping people move.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in Northamptonshire, I’d love the opportunity to have a conversation with you and see how I can help.

Thank you,

Rachel

Emma Gough: Why did I become a self-employed estate agent?

Posted on by adamh

It may shock people to realise that I have always been self-employed and, in fact, I’ve never really known anything different.

I started my career working for a fast-paced, well-known estate agency, in a self-employed capacity, and it was certainly a great way to learn the job. I learnt extremely quickly because there was very little time to stop and think. Everything was about the next valuation, the next listing and the next sale.

But, for me, something was missing.

There was very little time to consider the emotions involved for the customer, and ultimately, I felt that the level of customer service was lacking across the board, unfortunately including my own delivery of it. Coming from a background where I had always prided myself on providing great customer service, I found it quite demotivating to work in that way.

Don’t get me wrong, it taught me a huge amount and gave me a fantastic grounding in the industry. But it also taught me something equally important… that wasn’t the way I wanted to work.

I didn’t want to simply list properties and pass the customer on to the next person. I wanted to be involved in the whole journey.

I didn’t want to be drowning in valuations and listings, constantly moving on to the next property. I wanted to have the time to actually get to know my clients, understand what was important to them and be there throughout the process.

I wanted my career in estate agency to feel more like a consultative experience for my customers. Selling a home isn’t just about putting a property on the market. For most people, it’s a huge decision, and there are often a lot of emotions attached to it. I wanted to be able to give my clients the time, advice and service that I felt they deserved.

I also wanted to build my reputation as an estate agent in Castle Bromwich, Water Orton, Coleshill and the surrounding areas by putting customer service first and giving people a genuinely personal experience.

That was when I realised I needed to do things differently.

I decided to partner with Hortons because I quickly realised that they had the same work ethic and values that I did. We share the same vision for how estate agency should feel for the customer, and that became very clear from my very first conversation with Adam Horton.

For me, it wasn’t simply about finding somewhere to work. It was about finding a business that shared my way of thinking and gave me the opportunity to deliver the kind of service I had always wanted to provide. I am very pleased to say that is exactly what I found in my partnership with Hortons, and I am immensely proud to be a part of this team.

So, what does doing things differently actually mean?

There are a number of ways that my service differs from a traditional estate agency, and I think more and more people are starting to understand those differences.

From the very first contact, right through to handing the keys over, I am with my customer every step of the way.

There is no waiting on hold trying to contact me, only to find out I’m out of the office, or being told that someone will call you back and then never hearing from them.

If you contact me, I will always come back to you.

From day one, your market appraisal will be as honest as I can possibly make it. There is no inflating a property’s value just to win the business, no over-promising and no making promises that simply cannot be kept.

The one thing I always say to my customers is…

“The one thing I will promise is that I will do my absolute very best to sell your home to the best possible buyer.”

That’s the promise I can make, because it’s completely within my control.

I will always be on hand to offer advice, give my honest opinion and tell you what I think, even if it isn’t necessarily what you want to hear.

Ultimately, my customers’ best interests will always be at the centre of every transaction.

That doesn’t stop with the sale itself. If I recommend other professionals to you, whether that’s a conveyancer, surveyor, mortgage adviser or home mover, I will only ever recommend people that I know, trust and would be happy to use myself.

For me, it’s about taking away as much of the stress and uncertainty as possible and making sure my customers feel looked after, informed and supported throughout the process.

The areas I cover…

Some are not just areas, they’re part of my story. I grew up in Water Orton and went to school in Coleshill, so these areas and the surrounding villages mean a lot to me. I’m also extremely knowledgeable about them. I know the differences between roads, the communities and the small details that only really come from living and growing up in a place.

I specialise in helping people buy and sell homes in Castle Bromwich, Coleshill, Water Orton, Kingsbury, Tamworth and the surrounding villages. Having grown up in the area, I understand the different roads, communities and what makes each location unique.

My work often stretches further afield too. Those instructions usually come through recommendations from people who already know me, trust me and want me to represent their home with the same care and commitment I bring to every sale.

Whether you’re selling your first home, upsizing, downsizing or simply looking for honest advice about the local property market, I’d be delighted to help. If you’re looking for an estate agent in Castle Bromwich, Coleshill, Water Orton or the surrounding areas, please feel free to get in touch for an informal chat.

Thank you for taking the time to get a little insight into my “Why.”

Emma x