The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
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Asset Skills
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48 New North Road
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EX4 4EP
info@assetskills.org
Whilst studying at college, Karen began her estate agency career working weekends at Whitegates Estate agents in Keighley, when her college course hours reduced Karen increased her time with the agency, discovering a role she was really beginning to enjoy.
After completing her studies Karen decided to take a gap year. On her return, she was offered a Negotiator position with Whitegates in Bingley. Within six months of taking up the post the agency was sold by Legal and General and became a franchise, the new owner then promoted Karen to the position of Branch Manager and Valuer.
During her four years with Whitegates Karen studied hard to gain relevant agency qualifications including NVQ Levels 2 and 3 which were predominately work based, involving on the job experience including market appraisals, customer relations and building and construction. She then completed the course by undertaking the NAEA Technical Award exam in Sale of Residential Property.
Karen's NVQ Assessor put her forward for the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) Young Estate Agent of the Year Award for her area. Karen won her category and wnnt on to the National final where she had to write a newspaper article and advert as well as a short summary on the importance of "Why Estate Agents should be qualified" Her winning response was:
"A new industry is emerging. Estate agents have always been widely criticised by the press and public for delivering poor standards of service and paying little regard to estate agency law. It is no longer good enough to be good, you have to be distinctive, be different, and be qualified."
During the summer of 2005, Karen was approached by investors who were keen to set up an estate agency in the area, they recognised that whilst they had plenty of business experience, they had no real knowledge of the world of estate agency and Karen's knowledge, determination and achievement in winning "Young Estate Agent of the Year" would help to give them the edge. In November of the same year Maxwells Residential Limited was born.
Karen oversees the management of the branch, and is gaining business experience from her partners, who in turn are learning the ropes of estate agency from her. She employs three part time staff, one of whom is her mother, who is now in the process of undertaking an NVQ herself.
As for Karen, the studying hasn't stopped and she is planning to undertake a residential sales diploma and hopefully train to be able to include conveyancing services as part of the company's portfolio.
Karen's advice for anyone wishing to begin a career in estate agency is to "join a well established agency, start from the bottom, gain experience and put yourself forward for relevant courses. Understanding and dealing with your customers is important, you must be a people person"
The next few years will certainly be a busy time for Karen and she is hopeful that through her dedication and hard work the business will grow enough for another branch to be opened within the next two years.