Meet Jon Huby

Jon Huby

KEIGHLEY & SALTAIRE West Yorkshire

Married, 3 kids, active sportsman- gym, walks

What makes you different from your competitors:

Customer-focused personal approach, great listener maintains a sense of humour.

Jon Huby Lettings Manager & Valuer saltaire@martinco.com keighley@martinco.com 12 years estate agency experience Guild Of Lettings & Management Distinction

Our clients love the fact that they can pick up the phone and speak with a familiar contact. “ “

How did you get into real estate? Do you remember your first day?

I started my own online agency without a single customer so it was fairly daunting. I quickly built up clients through networking and recommendations. Martin & Co Keighley 2 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3S 01535 669588 www.martinco.com Martin & Co Saltaire 1 Daisy Place, Saltaire, BD18 4NA 01274 589132

What makes your branch different from your

competitors:

Although we are a national branded agency, we a more akin to a family business both in size and approachability. Our clients love the fact that they can pick up the phone and speak with a familiar contact. This also helps if we have to have difficult conversations about a tenancy.

What qualities do you need to be a successful estate agent & why?

Resilience, people skills and patience along with a sense of humour.

What do you think of the estate agency phrase ‘People Not Property’?

This is absolutely a people business. Listening to and understanding an individual's needs is essential to progressing in your career.

What do you recommend that a seller or landlord should do prior to calling in an estate agent for a valuation?

Check the online reviews and speak to people who have used the agency to get a feel for the service they can expect. For letting they need to ask themselves how emotionally attached they are to the property on a scale of 1-10.

“ “ People skills & patience along with a sense of humour.

What do you recommend to sellers/landlords in preparing their home prior to marketing?

First impressions count. Make sure your property is clean, well decorated and clutter free.

What are some important questions a seller or a landlord should ask you on a listing presentation & why?

What is the vetting process for tenants? How long does the letting process take? What happens if a tenant doesn’t pay?

Recent comparables and local market knowledge.

Do you find it challenging when properties and untidy/ messy during viewings?

Yes, because a potentially good property is not seen in its best condition and potentially good tenants will be put off.

“We are more akin to a family business both in size & approachability.

What are the key aspects of managing tenants' and landlords' expectations?

Preparation, planning, local knowledge, research and along with listening to what the Landlord’s needs are and tailoring our “pitch” accordingly.

What time scale do you put on selling or letting a home?

We can let very quickly if necessary 1-2 weeks but it’s more important to get the “right tenant”.

“ “ Building trust & confidence with the Landlord.

What are the key aspects when negotiating a house sale/let?

Letting wise it’s about building trust and confidence with the Landlord that we can deliver a service to meet their expectations. Also, it’s about gently educating the Landlord if they are new to letting out their property.

How do you manage seller/landlord expectations when they want to list their home well over the market value?

Show comparable for the local market and similar properties. They may take longer to let or not let it at all.

How important is having a good reputation in this industry?

Essential. Good reviews are more paramount than ever in the online world we live in.

How do you anticipate the property market will perform in your area within the next 12 months? (sales & lettings)

I think the lettings market is going through a transition period at the moment. Rental demand is extremely high and we are seeing some “old school” Landlords leaving the market to be replaced by a younger generation who have educated themselves, to some extent, with property investment strategies. I think this will continue for some time ultimately pushing rents up. The increase in rents has rightly meant that tenants’ expectations of the quality of rental accommodation have also risen too.

What are the main differences in a landlord managing a property on their own as compared to using a managing agent?

Sleepless nights and lost income for the landlords if it all goes wrong due to their lack of experience.

How much of a team effort is it when selling or letting a home?

The team behind the valuer is critical in providing the service that we have discussed or negotiated with the Landlord. Experience counts but the personal customer service and efficiency are what ultimately could win future business through recommendations from the Landlord.

How much emphasis does your agency place on staff training?

Ongoing training in lettings is vital and separates the good from the average agent. CLICK HERE

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