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Real Estate franchises in the UK

Showing 1-7 of 7 Real Estate franchises

Progressive Property

Progressive Property

Discover How Thousands Of Ordinary Brits Are Quietly Getting Rich Using None Of Their Own Money!
No Letting Go

No Letting Go

An ambitious and successful franchise of property inventory management specialists.
Eezee Estate Agents

Eezee Estate Agents

Eezee Estate Agents allows its agents to run a low-cost business model from home, working the hours you want, how you want and setting your own targets for your business. Min. Investment: £500
RE/MAX England & Wales

RE/MAX England & Wales

The opportunity to join a global franchise that is already operating in 110 countries and growing!
Direct Estates

Direct Estates

At Direct Estates we do not believe in penalizing success, therefore all the profits that your office makes are yours.
Platinum Property Partners

Platinum Property Partners

By utilising your existing finances, we will help you to build a low-risk specialist property portfolio of appreciating assets. Min. Investment: £50,000
The Property Franchise Group

The Property Franchise Group

With five high street brands, a ‘hybrid’ brand & 20 years’ franchising experience - join the UK’s largest multi-brand property franchise! Min. Investment: £35,000

Franchise Spotlight: Real Estate

Read more about this growing industry!

As a topic of public interest, the state of the UK property market often vies with the weather for top billing. And like the weather itself, the extremes make the headlines.

Everyone needs a home and the population, plus single-person households, are rising inexorably. In response, the government intends to build one million new homes within five years.

Those considering entering the estate agency and lettings business – and even those already in the market – should consider the merits of a real estate franchise: proven business model; security of an umbrella organisation; help with training, marketing and admin; and business mentor support, to list just a few.

Sector overview

  • Demand is huge and growing: everyone needs a home and demand is set to exceed supply for years to come
  • A 1,836% real-term rise in house prices since 1975 has propelled growing commissions
  • Rentals have a growing share of the housing market and the average renter moves frequently: after less than two years in a property
  • 45 million square feet of commercial property, which represents 10% of the UK’s net wealth, is built every year
  • Franchises offer a low-risk path into the sector and a route to faster growth for established independents

Estate agency franchises have benefited from the seemingly unstoppable rise in UK house prices.

Of course, house prices don’t rise uniformly, with prices contracting during the 2007-2009 financial crisis, for instance, and (at the time of writing) Brexit blamed for a sharp slowdown.

But the long-term trend is clear. Adjusted for inflation house prices have soared from £10,846 in 1975 to £209,971 in 2018 – a rise of 1,836%. That’s good news for estate agents, who take a percentage of the sale price in commission.

But a key driver for this upward trajectory – demand outstripping supply – benefits the lettings market too. With home ownership increasingly beyond the financial reach of young people, a quarter of homes are expected to be privately rented by 2021.

Fortunately, most real estate franchises operate as both estate and lettings agents. If there’s a slowdown in sales, the rental segment can pick up the slack.

Whether sales or lettings are in the ascendant, the property market seems perennially buoyant.

However, some franchises do specialise in lettings alone, benefitting from the fact that the average renter moves on after less than two years in a property.

Others specialise in commercial property, which can be a particularly lucrative segment since values at the top of the market dwarf those in residential.

Is a real estate franchise for me?

Experience in real estate is not often a pre-requisite for aspiring franchisees. That said, commercial property franchise SVN does favour candidates with “a proven track record” within the industry.

Earnings are potentially high. Everyone needs a home and commissions rise in line with house prices.

The fundamentals of commercial property are sound too, with 45 million square feet of commercial space built every year.

Successful franchisees are outgoing and amiable; possess sales, negotiation, marketing, IT and customer service skills; and have a sound understanding of the property market.

The structure of real estate franchises

Your role as an estate agency franchisee will include marketing properties for sale, advising clients and helping buyers reach decisions, handling negotiations, liaising with solicitors, surveyors and mortgage brokers, and keeping abreast of the property market.

Commercial real estate has many similarities, but might offer higher earnings and mean you can finish earlier midweek and avoid working weekends.

Lettings agents generally offer a two-tier service. A 'let-only' agreement involves screening tenants, completing paperwork and collecting the deposit and first rental payment. A 'full management' agreement also means collecting rent and managing the property on an ongoing basis.

Established in 1992 and franchised since 2005, Hunters is now the UK’s sixth largest estate agency in a crowded UK market with more than 150 offices.

It attributes its success to excellence in marketing, technology, training, communication and customer service.

Pennylane Homes, an estate agency and lettings franchise, offers income from property sales, insurance products and mortgages, among other sources. Available for as little as £1,995 plus VAT, a franchise entitles you to an exclusive territory, two-week training programme, marketing and field support, and a 24-hour, dedicated franchise support manager.

The Property Franchise Group is a property franchise specialist with around 300 UK high street offices operating under estate agency and lettings brands CJ Hole, Ellis & Co, Ewemove, Martin & Co, Parkers and Whitegates.

There are five routes in: buying an existing franchise resale, starting from scratch, a ‘hybrid’ model for those already working in the industry, buying an independent agency and rebranding it, or rebranding your own, existing agency.

The founders of Go Direct Lettings have been in the sector for more than 25 years. In an enormous and growing market the firm offers franchisees 24/7 support and the chance to tap into the knowledge and experience of existing franchisees.

If you have an existing commercial real estate or residential practice then SVN says you can grow your revenues through its support, brand and business model. The franchisor promises repeat business, referrals and high commissions.

Founded in 1987, SVN has more than 200 offices worldwide and was involved in more than $10 billion worth of transactions in 2015.