Eye on Property
REEDS RAINS OPENS SEVENTH LOCAL OFFICE
For Ryan Andrews, the acquisition by the Reeds Rains Northern Ireland chain of East Belfast estate agency Johnstons marked a significant personal milestone.
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young – or even younger – Ryan Andrews started his career back in the summer of 2001 with Philip Johnston, then the driving force behind Philip Johnston & Company and one of the leading players in the Belfast residential agency scene. “So it was a bit like coming full circle,” he says. “It was all so familiar coming back into what used to be Philip’s office upstairs from the main agency here in Ballyhackamore.” Since Johnston sold the business, it saw life as MCW Residential and latterly as Johnstons (but under different ownership) before its
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rebrand to the distinctive dark blue livery of Reeds Rains. The fivestrong staff have made the move over from one owner to the other. And the Ballyhackamore office joins a network of six others under the GB-based Reeds Rains brand, run as a franchise here in Northern Ireland by Andrews and his business partner Michael Graham. The other offices are in Bangor, Newtownards, Carrickfergus, Glengormley, Lisburn and Lisburn Road, Belfast. “Reeds Rains is a big player in the residential marketplace in GB,” says Ryan. “We were happy to be able to adopt such as established brand name and adapt it for the Northern Ireland market. As everyone knows, local knowledge is vital in this business.” The company operates across the spectrum here. It covers all the residential property sales bases, it’s a specialist in
new homes, it is active in the rentals market and each of its branches offers financial services expertise and advice. “We think it’s important to offer a full service to our customers right from house sales to mortgage advice. We’ve a dedicated team of four mortgage advisers working with clients across our network.” In East Belfast, Reeds Rains will be battling it out in a highly competitive marketplace. Within a stone’s throw of each other in Ballyhackamore are the offices of John Minnis, Simon Brien, Ulster Property Sales, Templeton Robinson, Bennett & Lisk and Armstrong Anderson. “We’re well used to competition,” adds Ryan Andrews. “And, as someone who cut his teeth
here in East Belfast and was born and brought up here, I’m really looking forward to the challenge of showing what we as a company can do.” The blue Reeds Rains sale boards are already in evidence around the area and the brand is being established, helped by a strategic sponsorship or two, including that of the vibrant mini rugby activities at CIYMS Rugby Club. “It’s not a bad market at the moment,” Andrews reckons. “Interest rates remain at a historic low, mortgage finance is available and properties are selling well, especially at certain levels. “We’re confident that we can make a positive contribution to a healthy residential sales market in the East Belfast area.”