Preston Baker new independent estate agency

Oct. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Former Bairstow Eves franchisees Ian Preston and James Baker have announced the launch of their independent estate agency Preston Baker.  The business partners took the decision to go independent  in the wake of the Countrywide’s sale of its Bairstow Eve franchises to the Yorkshire firm Hunters in September this year. The new firm will continue with its offices in York, Selby and Oakwood and Headingley in Leeds.

“The decision to become independent was an easy one to make,” said managing director Ian Preston. “Without the restrictions and limitations of a franchise operation, we are in a better position to respond proactively to the needs of our clients and to better serve our customer base.”

Ian Preston was the area manager for ten Countrywide branches in North and West Yorkshire until 2008, when the national agency decided to close some of these branches, while James Baker was a branch manager.  “James Baker and I knew at the time that this was a mistake and that the opportunities  in York and Selby for a dynamic proactive and well-managed agency were strong. We had 100 percent confidence in the local market and in our ability to operate successfully, despite difficult times. So we took the decision to become a Bairstow Eves Countrywide franchise.” Despite the subsequent recession and property market slump in the second half of 2008 and the ongoing stagnant market, Preston and Baker’s Bairstow Eve franchise grew from one to four offices.

Says Baker, “It’s our total commitment to customer service and client communication that has contributed to our success, along with our recruitment and retention of a first-class selling team of negotiators. We’re as confident about going independent now as we were about becoming franchisees in 2008.”

Also directors of the new agency are Chris and Rebecca Rosindale, who bring a combined 15 years of experience in estate agency sales and management.

“The prices within the region have not seen the falls that many have predicted due to a contraction in the supply of property.  We expect supply conditions to stay tight with realistic pricing being the key to achieving volume sales,” says Ian Preston. The relaunch and rebranding includes a state-of-the-art website www.prestonbaker.co.uk.

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