Why Century 21 franchise continues growth

CENTURY 21 UK is part of an experienced property services group that has been hugely successful and immersed in the UK market for decades

CENTURY 21 UK has continued its expansion plans across the UK, with four new branches opening in the space of one month - Chiswick in Greater London, Liverpool South, Milngavie in Scotland and Westminster in the City of London.

The sector is seeing a considerable amount of interest from potential franchisees across the country, as the market is boosted by government schemes such as Help to Buy, an increase in finance availability and growing demand for rental property. CENTURY 21 has been the proposition of choice for many over the past year, and the franchise continues to grow from strength to strength.

Big plans
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CENTURY 21 UK is now rapidly accelerating the appointment of new franchisees all over the UK. The company’s goal is to mirror the success seen by the CENTURY 21 family overseas and become the UK’s brand of choice for estate agency.

This period of expansion began in April 2013, when Shepherd Direct acquired the master franchise licence. Shepherd Direct is the overarching brand given to seven businesses that serve the property and mortgage industry. CENTURY 21 UK is now part of a mature and experienced property services group that has been hugely successful and immersed in the UK market for decades.

Enhanced support
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This relationship significantly enhances the support structure available to CENTURY 21 franchisees, with the added resource of over 200 Shepherd Direct staff members. The key implications of this partnership are:

* An enhanced training and development programme delivered by the CENTURY 21 UK Professional Development Team.

* A dedicated marketing resource (including graphic designers employed on a full-time basis by Shepherd Direct).

* Unrivalled in-the-field support driven by a dedicated Director of CENTURY 21 UK.

* New opportunities to earn additional income from day one through the Shepherd Direct family

Franchisee feedback
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Before becoming the owner of CENTURY 21 Westminster, Paul Corcut had owned and traded property in the Westminster area for years, but wanted to start an agency properly equipped to offer the right kind of service to clients in arguably the most desirable residential location in London.

He explains: “CENTURY 21 Westminster is located opposite the Royal Mews on Buckingham Palace Road. This is an area with a high proportion of international buyers - around 45 to 62 per cent of London’s most desirable areas are owned by high net worth individuals from abroad - so a strong brand overseas is a real advantage.

“Being part of the CENTURY 21 system means belonging to the largest residential estate agency organisation in the world. This is very important for our business in Westminster, as there are many overseas companies and individuals seeking to buy, sell, let and rent properties, plus a high call for property management services in the Westminster district.

“In fact, just a few weeks after our office opened in August we had a call from San Francisco. I asked how they had heard of us and they said simply: ‘You’re CENTURY 21’. This brand is such an advantage to us.

“We at CENTURY 21 Westminster have been very happy with the levels of support given to us by the Franchisee Training and Development Team and the Marketing Support Team. They are very experienced in their subject matter, highly knowledgeable and only too pleased to help. Tremendous service delivered with warmth and friendliness - they are really on our side.”

CENTURY 21 Liverpool South franchisees Ian Ambrose and Dan Pennington wanted to open a number of estate agency branches in Merseyside, but felt it would be too difficult to do as independent agents. “After researching the CENTURY 21 UK proposition and looking into the brand’s worldwide reach, it was apparent this global competitor was what we needed to hit the ground running,” Ian says.

“Dan had been very heavily involved in the international investment property market over the last few years, so already knew CENTURY 21 as a brand, having dealt in the US property market.” Ian’s background is not in estate agency, but in running a number of successful start-up businesses. He explains: “Despite opening a franchise, this very much feels like our business. With the help and experience of the franchisor, we feel we can have a major impact quickly in the Liverpool area.

“There is also the added advantage of the relationship with Shepherd Direct, which aside from marketing and training resource, will allow us to access a large number of existing rental properties in the Liverpool area. This will provide a big impact over a short period of time and will give us some great exposure as we grow in our first year.

“The Franchise Development Team have been so supportive and helpful.

Their knowledge of the industry has been great for us. We’re able to get quick answers and help on a variety of issues. The team is very easy to work with and have shown great belief in us. This has given us the confidence to push things forward. We are really excited about the CENTURY 21 journey.”

Who can join CENTURY 21?
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This opportunity is not available to just anyone. CENTURY 21 is looking for people who have the ability to grow their own businesses, whether they are seasoned property professionals or completely new to estate agency. The company’s most successful franchisees all have one thing in common - the right attitude. There are certain characteristics it believes a person needs to have to run their business the CENTURY 21 way:

* A passion for people, property and postcode.

* Entrepreneurial flair.

* Drive and determination.

* Commitment and accountability.

* Willing to listen, learn and grow.

Differentiated service
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CENTURY 21 UK delivers a differentiated service to clients across the UK, where one point of contact is responsible for the sale or let of a property from start to finish and will be on hand to provide one-on-one support and advice throughout the process.

That is the CENTURY 21 way and is delivered by some 100,000 CENTURY 21 agents worldwide. It’s why this powerhouse brand is recognised and valued all over the world.