Justin Lloyd: Time 4 Change
Justin Lloyd talks to Andrew Kay about the timely and stylish relaunch of 4Sale and 2Let as Justin Lloyd
What is your professional background?
I have over 20 years’ experience in the industry, with a focus on high-end residential sales. I have held management positions with top London agents in prime central London locations that included Mayfair and Hyde Park and I am a Fellow of the NAEA.
When did you buy 4Sale and 2Let?
I bought the business in 2007 and have built a highly professional team since then. Over 80 per cent of the team are university graduates.
Why have you decided to change the name of the business to Justin Lloyd?
4Sale was a very successful business and I wanted to build on that success. Now I have the right team in place, with the right IT systems and working practices I am proud to put my own name to the business.
Tell me about your new branding…
It’s a very powerful new image that will appeal to a wide range of clients. A new image will work well with our ambitious growth plans – we have already opened our third office in Church Road, Hove, and have plans for more in the future.
So what will be different about Justin Lloyd?
Our new look that reflects our target markets.
We are very much a local agent, but we run the business to national standards. Also our values – integrity will always be at the heart of what we do. We do not have a minimum contract period because we know clients will be happy with what we do so we don’t need to tie you in. We also want to be at the heart of our local community; we love Brighton and are proud of our city.
And what will remain the same after the change?
We will be the same great team with the same ownership and management.
What are you doing for the community in Brighton?
We have established a fund to support local schools and charity events. We encourage our team to do volunteer work, and are planning a team volunteering event for the summer.
What do you expect will happen to the Brighton property market in 2011?
We saw price increases in the early part of 2010, followed by a small reduction in the second half. I expect the sales market to stabilise in 2011. Interest rates should remain low, the economy is showing signs of improvement in terms of consumer spending and manufacturing output.
However, I don’t expect anything more than modest increases in prices as mortgage availability remains constrained.
On the lettings front I expect demand to remain high and rents to increase by five to ten per cent for the better properties. There is a shortage of affordable homes to rent in Brighton and Hove and it is an extremely popular location for young families, professionals and for students.
Why have you decided to open a third office?
The new Hove office gives us complete local coverage across Brighton and Hove. It complements our existing Kemp Town and city offices. The Hove office is located in a very busy area, just opposite the Tesco superstore in Church Road, so we expect significant footfall. To get the new office off to a flying start, we are offering fees of just 0.5 per cent on sole agency for properties in BN3.
[For new instructions in February 2011 only.]
How do you ensure the highest quality for your clients?
We have invested in the latest IT systems. We have put a cap on the number of instructions each office deals with to ensure the quality of service each client will get is consistant. Vendors are provided with a direct dial number for the person responsible for selling their house – usually one of the company directors – and they will get regular feedback. Also our marketing is second to none and we use the very best methods and media to promote property sales.
What is changing in the estate agency business and how are you responding to it?
We survey every vendor and landlord that we have dealt with and the feedback has confirmed that we are getting it right. Our clients tell us that they value our honesty and professionalism.
Although competitive fees are important, clients equally value quality of service and we believe we have found the right balance. This is another reason why we don’t feel the need to lock clients into minimum contract periods.
What do you offer landlords that is different?
We offer a ‘no added fees’ guarantee. Many agents quote a low rate then load the price with extras. We think this is unfair, so we offer one competitive management rate with inventories, inspections, contracts etc all included in that price. Again, each landlord gets a named property manager with a direct dial number – and again a local service but to national standards – you won’t have to waste your time with the faceless call centres that many agents use.
What key messages would you like to leave our readers with?
We are professional, friendly, family-focused, knowledgeable and have great integrity and strong values that mark us out as different from the rest.
Justin Lloyd
118 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1TH,
111 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1DD,
176 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2DJ
01273 692424, www.justinlloyd.co.uk
Kids’ dream home competition
Design your dream home and win £50 for you and £200 for your school!
A swimming pool full of chocolate? A shark tank? It is up to you – let your imagination run wild. All you have to do is draw a picture of your dream home and provide some details – a bit like Justin Lloyd’s property particulars.
The winning entries will be displayed in the windows of Justin Lloyd’s fantastic new Hove office on Church Road. Winners and their parents will be invited to the office to see their work on display, and have their photo taken for Latest Homes magazine.
There are two categories – ages 8 and under, and ages 11 and under.
Good luck!
Rules
Maximum one entry per child. To be completed on one A3 sheet (landscape format), which must include the Justin Lloyd logo! We’ve included a cut out and keep version (right) to get you started.
The judges decision will be final. Entries to be received by 28 February 2011 at the Justin Lloyd office in Church Road, Hove. Sorry – entries cannot be returned.
