2012 brochure
GREAT • WRITING
NEVER • RESTING Hello After a fantastic 2011, in which our office remained Brighton’s most successful property seller, and finished the year with an award from the Sunday Times, we’ve got exciting things going on at Brand Vaughan in 2012. We’ve recruited two professional copywriters, and will be using expert photography to really bring your property to life and help buyers see themselves living there. Then there’s our new website to market your property online – especially valuable for attracting buyers from London and elsewhere. We’re also proud to announce our new Brand Vaughan Exceptional service, for properties that deserve that little bit extra. Finally, for our fifth birthday, there’s a new brandidentity to better reflect the energy, dedication and all-round gusto that we put into selling properties. What most excites us about these innovations is how they improve the likelihood of selling your property quickly and for the right figure. Please read on, and we hope to talk again about how we can help you achieve your property-sale ambitions in 2012. With best wishes
Jason Brand Director mobile: 07803 190670 jb@brandvaughan.co.uk
David Vaughan Director mobile: 07771 644799 dv@brandvaughan.co.uk
RECESSION • BUSTING Here at Brand Vaughan, it’s the energy and dedication we put into selling your property that makes the difference...
TOP • SELLING
Throughout 2011 our office sold more property in Brighton than any other, putting us in pole position when it comes to selling yours. (source: Vizzihome)
BRIGHTON’S TOP SELLING OFFICE, 2011 203
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Properties sold by a single office in BN1 & BN2 2011
HIGHER • OFFERING
Selling a property is great, but ensuring the highest value is also important. In 2011, the properties we sold achieved 95.5% of asking prices on average. Compared to the UK average of 92.6%, that means we achieved an incredible £9,000 more for our typical vendors than the average UK agent would do.
WE ACHIEVE
£9000
MORE
AWARD • WINNING We ended 2011 as the only Brighton or Hove agency to be shortlisted in the Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year awards. We’re pleased, but we’re working hard on our service to win gold in 2012!
NEW
BEST • MARKETING
FOR
2012
Years of experience, coupled with some new thinking, means nobody will market your property like Brand Vaughan…
PROFESSIONAL • WRITING
Dull, formulaic property descriptions, loved by agents, loathed by buyers, are forbidden here! We’re the first agent in the area to employ professional copywriters whose sole job is to write bright, engaging narratives which bring your property to life so buyers can better visualise themselves living there. They also write a two-word headline to grab the reader’s attention in press ads and online. See the examples sheets in the back of this brochure, or at www.brandvaughan.co.uk/pdf
We’re the first in Brighton to employ professional copywriters
STRAIGHT • TALKING
Here’s a clever thing that only we do. Imagine your property is, say, on a busy road, which might put off some buyers before they’ve even viewed it. So to avoid this, we mention this ‘downside’ on the property details, giving us a chance to ‘handle their objection’ and put forward some positives – that the property is less expensive as a result, for example, than it would be if not on the busy road. Take a look at some example properties at www.brandvaughan.co.uk/pdf
EXPERT • PHOTOGRAPHING
We offer really good photography, which is so important in marketing a property. So we have an expert to do ours, taking the time to choose the best angles, use lighting well, and even add a blue sky to the image if nature falls short that day!
CLEAR • PLANNING
These days, no property brochure is complete without a floorplan, to give buyers a clear picture of the shape, layout and size of the rooms – helping them imagine how they would live there. London buyers especially like to know the square footage, which we provide on all our details.
“The brochure that accompanied our property and the
level of professionalism from staff [particularly pleased me]. Plus the admin staff seemed to go above and beyond what I’d expected. ”
L. Lawson
LONDON • SELLING With London continuing to be the engine room of the UK’s property market, it’s good to know that we’re well set-up for attracting London buyers.
60%
In fact, recent stats show that over 60% of our buyers were from outside Brighton & Hove.
WIDE • PROMOTING These days, having a wide internet presence is the single most powerful tool for finding buyers – especially those from outside the area – and vastly more important than being part of a chain of offices. So we’ll promote your home on all the biggest property websites, and email full downloadable details to all buyers on our database who are looking for a property like yours – usually around 1000 people – and telephone the really ‘hot’ ones.
To give your property even more of a boost consider Brand Vaughan Exceptional...
SUNDAY • OPENING We go to great lengths to help buyers from out of the area. We quite often meet them at the station, and show off the area before a viewing. And because we’re open on Sundays too, we’re available to help buyers on a weekend property-hunting trip.
Introducing Brand Vaughan Exceptional We hope you’ll agree that our marketing and service are a degree better than the average. Brand Vaughan Exceptional takes it to a higher level still. Created for properties that are just that little bit more special, by investing upfront in additional marketing and advertising, and with the highest level of service on offer, we aim to put your property into a prime position to sell for the highest figure, in the best time. EVERYTHING FROM OUR STANDARD SERVICE, PLUS…
EXCEPTIONAL • ADVERTISING Included in the Exceptional fee • larger advert in Latest Homes • premium listing on Rightmove and other property websites • featured property on our website
Plus choose from one of these… • 1/2 page ad in Sussex Life • 1/2 page ad in Absolute Brighton • 1/2 page ad in So Brighton • 8cm x 2 col ad in The Evening Standard (additional £100) • 8cm x 2 col ad in The Sunday Times (additional £400)
EXCEPTIONAL • PHOTOGRAPHING Using pro-grade equipment and lighting, and even digitally retouching if necessary, our photographer will capture your home’s true beauty, bringing it to life on the page. We can even arrange an aerial photograph if appropriate.
EXCEPTIONAL • PRINTING
DISCREET • SELLING
No other agent’s brochure comes close to the stunning eight-page one that we’ll compile for your property, presenting it to bring out its very best.
Some clients prefer a degree of privacy when selling their home. With Brand Vaughan Discreet, your property will not appear in the press, or online, and there will be no ‘for sale’ board.
EXCEPTIONAL • HANDLING
Instead, we contact only the people on our large database looking for a property like yours. Ask us for more details…
Your property sale will be personally handled by a director or senior negotiator, ensuring the highest level of knowledge at all times.
To talk more about Brand Vaughan Exceptional, call Jason Brand or David Vaughan on 01273 683111. See a selection of our sold properties at www.brandvaughan.co.uk/sold
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Jason • Brand Director
CLIENT • DELIGHTING REGULAR • UPDATING
We’ll make sure you’re properly updated all the way. We’ll email you after each viewing to pass on the applicants’ feedback, and we’ll call you regularly to discuss progress. You’ll also have Jason Brand or David Vaughan’s mobile numbers should you want to discuss anything.
SALE • PROGRESSING
Meet Amazing Annie – our own Sales Progression Manager. Having worked for a local property solicitor, she knows the conveyancing process inside out so has the tough job of chasing and cajoling any buyers, sellers, solicitors, mortgage brokers and so on in a propertychain to make very sure your property sale completes on time.
J
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David • Vaughan
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Director
1. Danny • Hillier
95%
72%
95% of our customers would recommend us compared to the industry average of 72%
Sales Negotiator
2. Biddy • Burgess Admin Guru
3. Oliver • Dall Sales Negotiator
4. Annie • Karlsson
Sales Progression Manager
5. Lee • Reed
“David and Annie were excellent. Always got back to me when requested to do so.” A. McTernan “Great communication, all viewings confirmed by email, viewing feedbacks email very soon after the viewing.” C. Deaud
Sales Negotiator
6. Mike • Barnett Weekend Viewing Assistant
7 Fran • Creffield
Property Copywriter
8. Jo • Livesey
Property Copywriter
9. Alex • Barns
Weekend Viewing Assistant
THOROUGH • SELLING Here is our guide to what you can expect from the selling process…
Valuing your property Jason Brand or David Vaughan will provide a realistic valuation of your property, taking into account your timescales and aspirations for its value. They will also advise on the best marketing strategy and offer any advice to get the property looking its best.
Getting ready for marketing Energy performance certificate (EPC) To comply with current legislation, an energy performance certificate (EPC) is required before selling or letting. We can arrange an independent company to provide this if you wish. Floorplan This essential item is undertaken when the EPC is drawn up. Photo ID We will need a photo ID to comply with current legislation. Property details We expertly photograph your property and our professional copywriters will bring it to life to give potential buyers a real feel for living there. We put all this together into our unique, magazine-style property details – specially designed to make your property come alive on the page. We’re sure you’ll be happy with your details but we ask you to approve them before marketing.
Tip: to maximise the value from the marketing please make sure your property is as tidy and clutter-free as possible! If you have any large items that you can live without for a bit, consider putting them in storage while you are selling.
The marketing begins Once you have approved your property details for marketing: Our negotiators visit your property so they’re fully briefed on it. Uniquely we also compile a ‘Property Briefing Sheet’ – so all our staff are fully informed on every last detail of your property. We upload your property to our website and the many other sites on which we advertise. We email full downloadable details to all buyers on our database who are looking for a property like yours – usually around 1000 people – and telephone the really ‘hot’ ones. We advertise your property in our weekly advert in Latest Homes. If you wish, and where the Council permits, we put up one of our distinctive ‘For Sale’ boards – still an important medium despite the power of the internet today! We often also drop cards through other doors in your street – often a buyer is more local than you’d think! We can arrange an ‘Open House’ if appropriate also, with viewings regularly scheduled throughout the day.
Tip: Once a property is visibly for sale, you’ll often get letters from other agents claiming to have “interested buyers”. If this happens, please redirect the agent to us so we can work with them to your advantage.
Selling We always call and email you before a viewing to check it’s convenient, and never come round unannounced. If there are any times or days you’d prefer, we’ll accommodate those..
Tip: Interest in your property should build quickly, and viewings will start happening soon. It is a good idea to let us have a set of keys, which we of course keep securely, so that we can bring round potential buyers if you’re not there. Please make sure we’re briefed on any alarms or pets!
We always accompany all potential buyers on viewings, for security, but also so we can explain any benefits not immediately obvious, and counter any worries they may have.
Tip: In our experience, buyers often find it easier to see themselves living in a property if its current owners are not present at a viewing. However if you’d prefer to do the viewings yourself, that’s fine. We call all applicants to hear their thoughts soon after a viewing, and discuss any ‘objections’ they might have. We’ll email you the next working day, and call you regularly to discuss interest and progress.
Agreeing the sale
WE RECOMMEND Solicitors Sherwoods Solicitors The Little Globe 153 Edward Street Brighton BN2 0JG T: 01273 608221 E: mail@sherwood-solicitors.co.uk W: www.sherwood-solicitors.co.uk/
Mortgage advisors Jim Maye JSDP Mortgage Solutions 3 Park View Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 1DF T: 01444 456662 E: info@jsdp.co.uk W: www.jsdp.co.uk
When we receive offers, we will call you with the details, including the applicants’ intended timescales, financial position and any chain. This ensures you’re fully informed to make the right decision. Once you’re happy to agree to an offer, we contact all parties’ solicitors, and aim to set a target moving date.
Tip: Now is a good time to start getting quotes from removals companies.
Keeping the sale on course We are virtually unique in having a dedicated ‘Sale Progression Manager’ who regularly chases all parties in your chain to ensure good communication, and so maximise the chance of the sale completing – and on time.
Lettings Cambridge Residential 117-118 Western Road Hove BN3 1DB T: 01273 204037 E: info@cambridge-residential.co.uk W: www.cambridge-residential.co.uk
Tip: It’s a good idea to make sure you speak to or email your solicitor at least once a week to check progress. After a few weeks, usually 4-8, the contracts will be ready for exchange. Your buyer will usually pay a 5-10% deposit, and the sale becomes legally binding
Moving The moment you’ve waited for is almost here! Completion of the sale is normally around two weeks after exchange.
Removals & Surveyors Please call the Brand Vaughan office for more information and recommendations.
SAFE • HANDLING
“I’ve been an estate agent in “For me, the buzz of estate the area for over 25 years, giving me a very thorough understanding of marketing and selling property locally, and experience of just about every situation imaginable!
agency comes from working hard to ensure the best price for our clients’ properties. ‘Quite good’ never leaves me fully satisfied!
Jason Brand
David Vaughan
mobile: 07803 190670
mobile: 07771 644799
jb@brandvaughan.co.uk
dv@brandvaughan.co.uk
HERE • WAITING 01273 • 683111
Whenever you’re ready to contact us, we’ll be here waiting:
110 St Georges Road Kemp Town, Brighton, BN2 1EA E: info@brandvaughan.co.uk W: brandvaughan.co.uk
@brandvaughan brandvaughan.co.uk/facebook
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