Paul Bott & Co: Loving local

A wealth of experience and a love of the city in which he grew up … those are the key elements that will mark Paul Bott & Co as a truly local estate agent

Paul Bott is, like a stick of seaside rock, Brighton through and through. He is passionate about Kemp Town, the area in which he was brought up and was recently married, too, in the church opposite the location of the premises for the new business which he has launched with his wife.

Paul has been in the business of estate agency now for 20 years. Long enough to have taken on board the massive changes that new technology has brought to the industry, and to assess the value of those changes. At the same time it is also long enough to have realised that somewhere along the way, some people have actually lost sight of the fact that what clients (both vendors and buyers of property) really want is a truly personal service: “All the technology in the world can never replace the real value of a personal relationship, that as an estate agent, you need to build with your clients in order to offer them the very best service possible.”

And service is key to Paul Bott & Co. “In order to be the best, we know that we need to be available to our customers at times to suit them. That means that we offer a seven-day-a-week service with long opening hours, from 7am to 8pm. In the modern world, with many people working long days, we need to able to arrange viewings at times that will fit in with those busy lifestyles.

All the technology in the world can never replace the real value of a personal relationship that, as an estate agent, you need to build with your clients in order to offer them the very best service possible

“Brighton has been an attractive option for commuters for many years, and for buyers in that sector, evening and weekend viewings are the very best option. It is our intention to fit in with the requirements of all of our customers and offer them a service that really suits them.”

Paul’s wife, Kathy, is also at the very heart of this new agency, and brings not only experience in buying and selling property but also experience from years of working with her father, who has run a property business for many years. As she says, “It’s in the blood”.

Determined to bring a truly personal touch to their new business, Bott and family have also created a new office environment that manages to combine a warm and friendly atmosphere with a sense of clear businesslike practice.

The central Kemp Town location, on a corner of a busy traffic junction, gives them a great profile, but it is inside that you see how they have cleverly divided the space into two distinct areas. At the front of the office there are work stations, but to the rear there is a comfortable lounge area. It is here that the team will meet clients, and in those relaxed surroundings with fresh coffee and quality tea, they will get to know who they are working for and start that journey of building a strong and professional relationship.

“We knew from the start that we wanted to make our clients feel at home, but never at the expense of showing that we are property professionals,” says Kathy. “We are really pleased with the way the office has worked; the large city map and the comfortable seating work well, and people feel relaxed here. It helps them to give us the fullest briefing of what they are looking for or what they have to sell.”

Again, we see that for Paul and Kathy, face to face communication is at the very heart of what they have to offer.

Paul is very aware of modern marketing methods when it comes to selling a property too, and the best ways (and indeed days) to launch a new property onto the market. “We will be using the immense power of social networks to promote our business, and individual properties that we are bringing to the market. Facebook and Twitter are certainly bringing something new to this industry, and that is something that we will build on from day one.”

Kathy adds, “We also have a very passionate commitment to the local area, and we love being a part of the Kemp Town community. This is a great area in which to live and local businesses are excellent, especially when it comes to shopping. One of the things that we have already done is create a visual portrait of the local bars, restaurants, shops and services that can be seen on our video window displays, and our website. The character of the area at the heart of our business is one of the very best ways of selling a property here. Showing buyers those elements of the community of Kemp Town is an excellent marketing tool for us. So as well as our our properties, we also offer a guide to where to go and what to do, and when people actually move here we have a list of useful numbers like builders, plumbers, and the kind of service providers that, as a newcomer, you may not have to hand.”

As a local boy, Paul also wants to put something back into the community. “We have launched a ‘local hero’ project. Kemp Town is full of unsung heroes, and we want to give them the credit that they are due. We are asking local people to help us find those local heroes by nominating people that live or work in our community, and add something special; something that makes this district what it is. They can be people who work behind the scenes or people who are always in the public eye. We have already decided that our September local hero will be a diligent street cleaner, Rob, and he will receive a £50 prize.”

That commitment to local community goes even further, and each month Paul Bott & Co will nominate a local charity to which they will donate a percentage of the commission earned. “We have a strong commitment to raising money, and on top of that percentage we will also be actively organising special fundraising events and joining in with other local fund raising projects and schemes.”

At the end of the day, though, what really matters is the team’s commitment to offering their clients a full and professional service, whether buying or selling, whether the property is a simple studio apartment or a luxury home at the very top end of the market.

“We will offer the full deal with a wide range of marketing packages to suit your needs; digital marketing, printed brochures where appropriate, quality photography and plans will all be built into what we offer, and of course that truly personal service that we think is key to making Paul Bott & Co a first class choice when it comes to buying and selling homes.”

To find out more, drop in at any time or go along to Paul Bott & Co’s open day on 6 September. Meet the team,
and meet Molly the office dog!

Our customer promise…

0.5% plus VAT* • Professional photography • Free floor plan
• Open late 7 days a week • Consistent feedback • Lifetime of local experience
*Subject to terms and conditions

Sussex Square, Kemp Town,
£459,950

• Second Floor Regency Conversion
• Two Double Bedrooms
• Two Bathrooms
• Sea Views
• Access To Kemp Town Enclosures
• Grade I* Listed
• Share Of Freehold
• Close To Kemp Town Village

Upper Abbey Road, Kemp Town,
OIEO £500,000

• Three Double Bedroom Period Home
• Mid-Terraced
• Working Fire Place & Stripped Floors
• Large Kitchen/Breakfast Room
• Perfect Family Home
• Sold With Vacant Possession
• Mature And Sunny Lawned Garden
• Kemp Town Location