Nicholas Humphreys Estate Agent

I had worked for Nicholas Humphreys in the Loughborough Office as a student and loved the fast paced and fun nature of the company. I have lived in Durham for over 20 years and upon graduating I started to think that Durham and the student market here would be the ideal place to set up a Nicholas Humphreys franchise, as we have no estate agent like it up here. Previously, I was a student studying psychology at Loughborough University and then I got a job as a medical records analyst for a private company dealing with claims of clinical negligence. Franchisees receive 4 full weeks of training. This was done partly in the franchise branch in Loughborough and partly visiting other branches such as Leicester. Now we have launched, our main focus I Taking up a franchise with Nicholas Humphreys has definitely changed my life. I have a lot more freedom to fit in my social life around work but there is also a lot of hard work involved in the running of the franchise. My previous job was very dull and structured; running our franchise is very challenging and flexible. I would say the main differences between us and our competitors is that we have a fun and face-paced focus. A lot of the agents in Durham are very well established and almost complacent. Nicholas Humphreys is young and energetic and is perfect for attracting the student market. In my opinion what makes a successful franchisee is that you need to be very determined and have a lot of self-belief. In the beginning you will get a lot of ‘no’ but you just have to learn to take it on the chin and move on; I am learning that slowly! If you are buying your first franchise I would say just do it! It is very challenging but rewarding at the same time. Our long term goal is to build up our own property portfolio (which we have already started) and we are looking to move into a shop front office in the centre of Durham. Over the last 2 years we have let over 150 properties and have earnt an income of over £114,000 and we won Best Newcomer in 2015!

I had been looking at ways to start a property based business for a very long time. Prior to purchasing the Portsmouth territory with Nicholas Humphreys, I had completed an undergraduate degree in business management and a masters degree in human resources. I have previously worked in a number of roles in the retail, professional services and not for profit sectors. I chose the franchise route as I felt that having the backing and support of a national brand would be valuable when initially The start of the training process involved training on business generation, building and improving SEO, using software and training on the entire lettings process. In terms of initial support when I was deciding on the territory, the franchise team arranged a market research day for the territory and explained some of the comments made by agents in the territory, as well as some of the market trends. I’ve asked a lot of questions, and the franchise team have always responded promptly with detailed answers. I completed my due diligence and looked at many of the other franchise offerings on the market, and compared the support, training and equipment that they provide to the Nicholas Humphreys franchise. Once I’ve established the business in Portsmouth my aim is to expand into other territories and eventually start to acquire properties and create my own portfolio.

I took a Nicholas Humphreys franchise to move away from the corporate sector into a steady industry to make a decent income to support a family. Having made an income of £80,813.64 in my first 12 months of trading, my dream is becoming a reality.

I wanted to work for myself and make a real difference in the market. Nicholas Humphreys made it possible for me to do this. I chose Nicholas Humphreys over other property franchises because the franchise fee is reinvested in me and my business with a strong support network for now and into the future. My vision for the future is to be the trusted estate agency in Sheffield, most customer focussed and be the agency that delivers results to Landlords and helps tenants find their new homes. My overall goal is to be the most respected and leading business in Sheffield. I want to continue enjoying the work that I do and jump out of bed every morning without an alarm clock. Job satisfaction is so important to me. I want to earn a great income (I have been trading 2 months and have already earnt an income of £6,166.39) and support my family but put something back into the community at the same time. My advice to a prospective franchisee is to put your faith in those within the franchise who support you. There's no need to make mistakes as they have already been done by somebody else. Be proud of the brand and believe that you and your business can make a real difference. Be persistent and never let a bad day get you down. This is a great opportunity.

I received 4 weeks of intensive training in house and within branches in the midlands. I then received 8 weeks of launch support, with a team of franchise staff working hard to help you achieve your goal. In my first 18 months I earnt an income of £116,049.66 and I won best newcomer at the Franchisee Awards in 2016.

Throughout the whole process of purchasing the franchise I have been mightily impressed with the support, attention to detail and personal approach right from the initial discussion, the help with researching the market place, the assistance in funding and the overall launch of my business. If you are wanting to set up your own business I would thoroughly recommend taking a Nicholas Humphreys franchise.