Agents now able to return to work - in a fashion. Guidelines attached #covid19 #estateagent

Corona Virus Update from last night and today's news 

Agents have been told they can reopen branches.

The Ministry of Housing has just updated its buying and selling guidance after saying the property market could reopen this morning.

It said estate agents can open for business but should consider how and when to reopen so they can follow Government guidance on safe working,

The guidance said:

• Agents should ask whether any party is showing symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate before going ahead with any viewing, or visits to offices.
• Agents should operate using an appointment system for visits to their offices and when conducting viewings.
• Agents should not carry out any open house viewings.
• Agents should strongly encourage clients to view properties virtually in the first instance and then only physically inspect properties which they have a strong interest in.
• Agents can accompany physical viewings and seek to maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from others wherever possible. Where social distancing is not possible and the visit is within an enclosed space, they should consider wearing a face covering in line with government guidance.
• Where they do not accompany the visit, they should make sure that both buyers and sellers clearly understand how the viewing should be conducted safely.
• Agents should not drive clients to appointments.
• All parties viewing a property should wash their hands with soap and water (or hand sanitiser if not available) immediately after entering the properties, with internal doors opened and surfaces having been wiped down before they enter. Separate towels or paper towels should be used if possible and washed or disposed of safely after use.
• Agents should do what they can to promote flexibility when arranging move dates, for example advising clients to ensure contracts have explicit terms to manage the timing risks presented by coronavirus.
• Agents should work with their clients and other agents to broker a new date to move where sales are due to complete and one of the parties falls ill with coronavirus or has to self-isolate.
• Agents should ensure that any keys are appropriately cleaned before handover.

There is also guidance for sellers when their property is being viewed such as vacating the property, opening all internal doors and allowing access to handwashing facilities, ideally with separate towels.

All parties viewing a property are also advised to wash their hands and avoid touching surfaces.

Social distancing guidelines must be followed during the viewings and there should be minimal contact with the household.

Once the viewing has taken place, the home owner should ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are cleaned with standard household cleaning products and towels disposed of safely or washed as appropriate, the guidance said.

Letting agents and private landlords must follow the same guidance on viewings.

It said:

• Private landlords and letting agents should not conduct viewings in properties where tenants are symptomatic or self-isolating, or where it has been determined that they are clinically extremely vulnerable and are shielding.
• In other cases, where viewings can proceed, they should be conducted in line with the guidance on viewings earlier in this document.
• Any visits to a property must be made in accordance with Government’s guidelines on working in other people’s homes and social distancing.
• If possible, necessary repairs, gas and electrical safety checks should be conducted in the period between a property being vacated and a new tenant moving in. If this is not possible and visits are needed to an occupied property, this should be done by appointment with measures put in place to ensure physical contact is minimised, for example with residents staying in another room during the visit.
• Landlords should make every effort to abide by gas and electrical safety requirements. This may be more difficult due to restrictions associated with the coronavirus outbreak, for example where a tenant has coronavirus symptoms, is self-isolating or shielding. Under such circumstances, provided the landlord can demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to comply, they would not be in breach. Letting agents may also want to consider obtaining landlord and tenant consent for inventory clerk appointments to also occur before a tenant moves in or after a tenant moves out during vacant periods if possible.
• Letting agents and landlords should take steps to ensure any properties are prepared ready for new tenants, this may include cleaning to minimise any potential spread of the virus in line with Government advice.
• Letting agents and landlords should consider how best to conduct tenancy check-ins for new tenancies agreed while broader measures remain in place, taking care to follow Government advice on social distancing to minimise possible spread of coronavirus.
• Letting agents and landlords are reminded of the temporary COVID-19 measures that adjust right to rent checks, temporarily allowing these checks to be conducted remotely. Lettings agents and landlords should consider other areas where in person payments, referencing or checks can be conducted remotely instead and take further advice if required.

We will be reporting shortly to all our clients as to when and how we will be returning to work in the safest possible way for all our staff, clients, tenants, and contractors. 

Watch this space........... 

Buy off market, market off market! Don't miss out! #Spencer #Sheffield #Estateagent

Are you missing out on properties by not talking to the local estate agents? 

We regularly speak to people who are gutted that they have missed out on a property and yet don't want to be put on our mailing list because they search Rightmove & Zoopla regularly or get alerts from them. 

What a mistake!

If you register with us not only do we send an email out to our applicants first when a house comes to market, we also send out a seasonal newsletter about the Sheffield housing market including houses which are coming soon and let people know about properties that are not being actively marketed online. Recently we dealt with a £1.5 million stunner of a house but we hadn't even taken the photos, let alone put it online, when it sold! This is because we know a handful of people looking for their perfect home at that price bracket so we called them, booked in viewings for them and then worked with the buyers, sellers & solicitors to get the sale through to exchange of contracts & completion.  

This isn't just the case for private buyers but for developers too. We regularly get calls from sellers of blocks of apartments, land, and tenanted properties that they want to sell without the hassle of tons of viewings... you could be missing out on a great investment opportunity if we don't already have your details. 

If you'd like to register, it takes two minutes to call and speak to one of the lovely members of the Spencer team to register your details and to be added to the mailing list so give us a call on 0114 2683682 in office hours or email your details to us at Sales@SpencersEstateAgents.co.uk and make sure you don't miss out on your dream home! 

Don't forget to check us out on social media, you'll be the first to know about new houses and lust over some amazing interiors too. 

www.spencersestateagents.co.uk 

Do you want to be an estate agent?

Do you love property? Do you want to do your best?

Do you have balls and great communication skills?

Do you want to be an estate agent?

Do you want to work for a fabulous, focused, family owned business?

If the answer is YES to all of these questions, then get in touch!!

We have an opening for a Sales Negotiator in our close-knit team and we would love to hear from you if think the role would suit you.

You will be responsible for looking after a property and it’s wonderful vendors from the moment they instruct us to act for them to the day we hand over the keys.

We’re not your average estate agency, we work together as an organised team to get the best possible results for our clients. No two days are the same and we love that!

You’ll get to visit some amazing properties, learn about why Spencer is different to other agents and be part of an amazing team. What’s not to love?!

Email nicola@spencersestateagents.co.uk - thank you! 

www.spencersestateagents.co.uk 

Spencers Estate Agents Online Property Marketing Services #Sheffield

Spencers Online Property Marketing Services

Estate Agency is all about evolving your marketing to suit your clients and the market place, as primarily our service to find a buyer is at its most basic level marketing and PR. In most people’s eyes, this is where an estate agent’s job ends, when a buyer is found, but in an estate agent’s eyes, this is when the hard work begins to get the job over the line.

We are all super-aware of the rise of the internet over the last 20 years and therefore the rise in the desire for clients to be seen in more places online in better and more unique ways. The job of an estate agent only gets more and more complicated as new technologies emerge and we, at Spencers Estate Agents, try our utmost to keep up to speed with what is hot online. Our social media presence sees us as the only Sheffield estate agent in the Zoopla Nationwide Top 100 Agents for online media and we pride ourselves on moving with the times regularly Tweeting / Facebooking / Pinteresting / Instagramming / Blogging.

Now, we are taking a giant leap into the online market place by offering our clients an online marketing package to compete with the likes of other internet marketing agencies. Whether you like or dislike Sarah Beeny and her constantly pregnant self relentlessly promoting her own services, you cannot ignore that her online marketing platform promotion is ensuring that a board is suddenly creeping onto a street near you.

But, is the service any good? What we are aiming to do with our knowledge and our experience in estate agency, as well as marketing and PR, is offer everything that you can get from an internet platform but with genuine local estate agency experience on top!

Why we are better than an online marketing agent ….

We ARE estate agents. Many of the online marketing services advertised are literally just marketing tools

We have extensive local knowledge

We are a trusted local estate agency brand – established 1993

An experienced property valuer will come to you to value your property

Our staff all have excellent property knowledge and sales experience for your viewings, if you want us to do them for you

We book your viewings for you, confirm them on the day, and financially qualify buyers to ensure that you get as few timewasters as possible. Many online marketers send text messages to you as the seller to arrange viewings with buyers direct, putting you and your home at risk to crime.

We write your description and organise your marketing material therefore we are responsible under the terms of the CPR (Consumer Protection Regulations) Do you know consumer rights in respect of the law if you describe your own property?

You ultimately influence your price but we will give you excellent local knowledge and comparables in respect of valuation and current market trends

We can mentor property staging, making sure that your property looks the best it can for your marketing

We are real people with an office where you can come and see us! We are not just a call centre of faceless staff

We can recommend an independent financial professional who will come to your property to offer advice on mortgaging and products. Do you know that most recommended financial professionals are linked to certain lenders or institutions to make higher commissions?

We use and recommend only local solicitors. If you are having a hard time contacting your solicitor it is a nightmare to find out that they are a “chicken factory” out in the middle of nowhere

If you decide that you are too stressed to deal with your sale in this way, you can revert to our full estate agency service and we will take all of the pressure off you, as well as discounting your upfront marketing fee off your final bill!

We market all of our properties in the same professional way, using respected, tried and tested property professionals for your marketing material

Because you might decide that you want a full estate agency service, you can test the online marketing service and upgrade if you choose. If you were to choose an online only marketing tool you would incur double the costs to then switch to a traditional agent

For more advice and information on this service please call Nicola Spencer or Chris Spooner on 0114 2683682 or email us at Sales@SpencersEstateAgents.co.uk

When is the best time to sell my #house? #Property #Sheffield

Chris Spooner Blogs from a Valuer's Viewpoint 

"Over the past four months when meeting new clients, the most common questions I’ve been asked have been; are prices going up?  Is the market moving? How much are your fees? But with out a shadow of doubt, THE most common question would have been; When is the best time to sell my house?

 

"Previously, ‘Spring’ has been the most obvious answer, and many could say the same today, but every estate agent in Sheffield right now, should, and probably will shout loud and clear to put your property up for sale today. I’ve worked in the property industry for over 10 years now but only once or twice before have I ever experienced the frenzy and demand that we are seeing at the moment. As I write this, after a busy and productive Monday, here at Spencers we have recorded 22 offers after a fantastic weekend of viewings! And would you believe the majority of those offers have all been recorded at an asking price level or higher, from buyers who are ready to proceed. Why is it happening? – another common question asked.

"One of the great things about property is that it’s all about opinions and it provokes conversation. My opinion is that after a tough time for all, the confidence in the market and economy on the whole seems to very good. Buyers can only see the market going in one direction and so now is the best time to jump on the bandwagon. In comparison to this demand, we are seeing the lowest level of available property since the height of the previous market back in 2008, which is why we are back to the days of ‘best and final offers’ or ‘sealed bids’.

"Will this activity continue? Today I have shown potential buyers around a house in High Storrs that drew the attention of 30 viewers on Saturday, 40 in total so far. If we sell that house to one person, what are the other 39 going to do? Do I think enough properties will come to market over night to satisfy this demand? Unlikely, but as we approach the summer months, more people will decide to sell and that will not only help to satisfy demand but give the buyers more choice and options. This may mean that prices begin to stabilise and level out which again points to why the best time is right now as a seller.

"With the perfect approach to marketing; professional photography, floor plans and Internet advertising across all of the major property portals, you can be assured of finding a buyer at the best possible price with Spencers. Not all agents are the same. Call or call in to our Ecclesall Road office 0114 2683682 or email us at Sales@SpencersEstateAgents.co.uk to book for us to come and see you." 

Property Management and Estate Agency Accounts Clerk - Another #Spencers Job!

Due to incredible success: Spencers need MORE full time STAFF! 

Estate agency and property management experience is essential to work within this role, which is predominantly an accountancy and book keeping clerk position with additional office and administration duties. Because we are a small independent estate agency, we would prefer applicants with a small business mentality, willing to work within a close team with excellent communication skills. Experience required in Sage Accounting and CFP Winman or Premise property management software (or similar) and a knowledge of property management procedures is essential. 

Please email Nicola@SpencersEstateAgents.co.uk 

Spencers in Sheffield - on the brighter side of life!

At Spencers we believe in being positive. There is little point doom and glooming through life with your head down and your feet dragging. Fortunately, we finally think the rest of the world is starting to join us in our campaign for looking on the brighter side of life.

From the constantly depressing depths of the media to a general desire to be grumpy, we have seen people jumping on a band wagon of destruction for the property market. Borrowing has been difficult and prices have dropped but since the Diamond Jubilee the good old fashioned British spirit to brush ‘oneself’ off and to pick ‘oneself’ up seems to be prevailing. I don’t know if the sight of our poor Queen on that God-awful boat with the rain dripping down her cheeks was the turning point or not, I only care that the rest of the nation suddenly seem to be saying “sod it” and getting on with moving.

We have seen a good increase so far this year of instructions of very good properties, achieving very good prices from buyers who have got themselves into proceedable, organised positions, and we are putting part of the success down to our incredibly positive outlook as well as our new branding, which has had the most wonderful feedback.

In difficult times in business it is easy to think that the best thing to do is to batten down the hatches, spend little, and cut back; that is so last year! 2013 is our 20^th year at our offices on Ecclesall Road and the party is going to be epic. Our rental department has reopened and we are doing really well with wonderful clients flocking through the doors wanting to deal with good people in a local independent agency.

My dad, Jim Spencer, is still working with us and is currently learning social media expelling all myths that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, watch out for the blog. What we have learned from being independent is that honesty is key to the longevity of your good reputation. Our clients bring in cakes, cards, wine and most importantly “Thank you” messages every week to acknowledge that we care about doing the very best job for them to get them the most out of their transaction and their assets.

So, if you are looking for good old-fashioned honest advice with an opportunity to become a long-standing client and friend of ours we would be very excited to meet you to discuss why Spencers Estate Agents have been thriving for the last 20 years and intend to do so for the next 20 too. Thank you very much to all of our loyal clients, we really do appreciate your business. 

What's it all about? #Spencers #Sheffield

Shall we "put you right", as they say in Yorkshire?!

Spencers Surveyors Ltd sold their Property Management Portfolio to Countrywide in 2011. Spencers Agents continued as Property Sales Agents specialising in the south and south west of the city from our office at 469 Ecclesall Road, where we have been for twenty years. Anne Spencer retired. Geoff Ackroyd retired. Jim Spencer still works at 469 Ecclesall Road.

Spencers Agents are now able to re-join the Rental / Property Management market and so we are welcoming with open arms clients, new and old. Spencers are a completely independent agency with strong family values and with a genuine care for our clients’ needs. We know that there are those who prefer volumes of offices, and many different departments stretched nationally and even internationally, but then there are people who like to know exactly where we are, where we have always been. Our office has grown to six times the size of the office that opened twenty years ago although the address has never changed. We are still here, working for you, under one roof, where you can get hold of us.

Our extended new office houses a show flat, for you to come and hang out with us. We all have a best friend with a comfy sofa who makes a cracking cup of tea, and on this basis we decided that all of our clients; vendors, buyers, tenants, landlords, should be able to join us with their feet up to chat about their property / life / situation in comfort in a friendly environment. There is nothing worse than ringing round trying to speak to the right person if you never get the same person twice and if you need to confide in someone over why you can’t pay your rent, we have solutions that start with an honest conversation.

Add to the tea making that we have over a hundred and twenty years of property experience in our one office, as well as a twenty-year facelift and rebrand underway, state of the art technology with 24hour landlord login facility, online rent and deposit payments, high quality marketing materials (outsourced professional inventories, professional photos, brochures, and floorplans for all our properties), a social media expert in-house, no hidden small print charges,  and an excellent relationship with some sensational journalists. This year so far we have been featured in the Guardian five times, the Sunday Mirror, Period Homes and Interiors Magazine, The Property Drum, The Negotiator, local press and so the list goes on.

We are your local independent with big ideas, massive dreams, and a proven track record.

Spencers will never be the biggest on the block. Thank goodness. We want our business to continue to maintain our reputation, and to grow steadily. We are surrounded by good people, are doing well, and are having the most wonderful time. Join us.

Call Nicola Spencer on 0114 2683682 or Sally Potter on the same number or email Rent@SpencersEstateAgents.co.uk for more info

More results from the Spencers Estate Agents Customer Survey

WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM US ALL AT SPENCERS - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

NICOLA, LEE, JIM, SALLY, JAMES, BEN, MAGGIE, PETER AND DAVID XXXXX

Spencers Customer Service Survey Results #Sheffield

Last month we conducted a customer satisfaction survey that went out to over 2000 people on our database and to clients past and present. We know that people get sick to the back teeth of receiving these surveys through on email and we are eternally grateful to those that took the time to go through the seven questions to give their feedback on their opinions of Spencers. Questions included; what springs to mind when they think of our company, what makes us unique, how do we rank compared to competitors, what people want most from their agent, and what can we do in the future for you. Quite incredibly we only got one negative response, but as it turned out, they had confused us with a competitor and apologised profusely! The rest of the comments that we received we feel so proud of that we are happy to directly quote a selection of them within our blog. We have chosen just a few as we don't want to give away all our secrets of what we do so well! Thank you so much to everyone who participated. 

When you hear our business's name, what main idea comes to mind (something we stand for)?

	Trusted local name
	Both helpful and honest.
	Class and trust
	Individual and helpful..
	Honesty
	advertising boards  Local small firm
	Fairness
	You sell houses
	Well established
	Pragmatic and straight forward
	An established business, quality and reliability
	Family business. Good service.
	The name brings to mind a family oriented business
	Trustworthy. Honest comments whether they be good or bad.
	Good customer service
	Good service.  Not too pushy
	Young enthusiastic people, personal knowledge of the area
	Honestly, clear thinking.  Concise communication.
	Polite professional service
	Loyal
	Quality, service. personal longevity local and trusted
	Caring and thoughtful.  Sound advice.  Sense of humour
	Higher end property
	Treating property sales like they are your own, rather than just a number A local Firm with a good reputation.
	Independent professionals
	Solid Sheffield business
	Traditional
	Professionalism
	Good inner city and nearby information
	Pleasant efficiency.
	Estate agent active in area of Sheffield I am interested in.
	Quality but expensive?
	Honest and hard working.
	Good customer service. Sometimes slightly overpricing properties - there have been a number of properties that have been on the market a while that have stayed at the same price, where other similar properties on with different estate agents have begun to reduce their asking price.  I appreciate this may be the vendors decision, not Spencers.
What do we do that makes us unique?
	Non franchised family business small enough to know about every property on the books .
	Show an interest in the property sale / purchase and work hard to make things happen!
	Social Media!
	Family firm
	Not act like slimey sales people
	Small. independent
	I have not dealt with anyone else so have no comparisons to make
	Small family
	Being independent
	Great friendly service, I appreciate being told what is really felt about the properties so if there is an issue i can try to sort the problem.
	One office, don't get passed around. Speak to same people/person each time you call.
	I thought you were very polite and helpful.  I was really impressed at how quickly your responded to phone calls and emails. Your website is easy to use and you provide plenty of detail about properties.  The floorplans are especially clear We appreciated the honesty and openness of the agents that we dealt with, especially their openness around other bids and the bidders situations
	You respond to the needs of customers rather than expecting customers to fit in with a rigid system which may not be appropriate. You have experienced staff who know what they are talking about.
	Clean graphics, colourful signage warm response when entering the office and warm response on the phone
	Make sense!! Easy to contact.
	Keeping your customers informed (very important to me)
	Personal and thorough are two strengths that stand out.
	Personal and local
	Very good brochure. Sends visitors who are really interested in the property
	Thorough reporting on viewings, good communication, nice, personable and professional staff.
	Friendly, light touch but available to assist when required.
	Independent local company looking after its market area properly
	You have kept in touch by e-mail - I like that. Creative approach to marketing.
	Comprehensive weekly reporting
	More likely to communicate relevant info other agents often uncommunicative
	Integrity.
	Fantastic photographs of the properties for sale and  plenty of customer contact
	Treat customers as individuals.
	Attention to detail/customer service/communication. As a company you seem to be much more pro-active and 'visible'

SO - THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE THAT TOOK PART IN THE SURVEY. WE FEEL SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE RESULTS.

OH! AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

WWW.SPENCERSESTATEAGENTS.CO.UK