Countrywide Signs evolving during COVID-19
We have all had to change the way we work and live under the COVID-19 lock-down, none more so than companies that work in a sectors which appear not to be able to profitably function at this time. However, it is not all doom and gloom for Countrywide Signs who have seen their busiest recruitment period for quite a while.
When speaking to their prospective franchisees they have discovered that people are using this ‘enforced’ downtime to re-evaluate their work-life balance; deciding what is most important to them and, for some, choosing to move to self-employment from employment. Those looking for a fresh start, a new challenge & the freedom to take the direction they want are finding that Countrywide Signs is perfect franchise. The full support and training; working in the fresh air; physical work and freedom to expand where possible is really fitting the bill.
Some of their new prospective franchisees had looked into the franchise previously but never made that leap of faith – but now they appear to have a new perspective… and here’s why:
- UK property market is continually playing catch up regarding supply & demand – therefore whatever dip the market may have taken, we would expect a bounce back and industry articles seem to back this up e.g.
Estate Agent Today states the following on their website:
- House sales edged down only slightly in March compared with February according to HM revenue & Customs, despite the lockdown in the final week of the month.
- Across the UK, 99,440 residential property sales took place in March – that was 0.2 per cent down on February but 0.3 per cent higher than the same month a year earlier.
- Agents are taking an optimistic assessment of the figures, indicating how strong the market may well be when the lockdown finally ends.
Property Industry Eye also reports that:
- London agent Chestertons reports that it has kept busy over the lock-down period and has registered 2,369 new tenants needing to move, conducted 3,432 virtual viewings, received 396 offers and agreed 199 new tenancy agreements over the past four weeks.
- In the same period, it has also conducted well over 500 video market appraisals for landlords and brought nearly 800 properties to the market for rent.
- The company hasn’t carried out any physical viewings or market appraisals since the 23rd March, when the Government announced the lock-down rules, but prepared for the lock-down by getting video tours of around 50% of its properties before the restrictions were put in place and was quick to introduce virtual market appraisals, which it has been relying on since.
The estate agency and property industry are proactively reacting to this changing world with innovations that will undoubtedly continue after lockdown is lifted as they remain efficient while employing different ways of doing business.