Integra Activity

2016 has been an excellent one so far with a full diary and many more clients engaging me for regular fortnightly and monthly sessions which enables me to “get under the skin” of a business and help bring about effective and profitable change.

With a changing market and the uncertainties of Brexit, businesses have started to recognise the shortcomings in their operations and the need to have motivated, well trained staff operating to high standards and following positive procedures and methods to ensure continued success.

Staff coaching is vital. One of my favourite anecdotes is about the business owner who asks “What happens if we spend a lot of money on training our staff and they leave?” My response is always “What if you don’t train them and they stay?”

Money Laundering and Consumer Protection continue to be major compliance issues across the property industry and I am running more and more courses for individual companies and courses which are open to all.

To date in 2016 I have had over 200 people attend my courses with many more dates already scheduled in the diary. My next open course is on June 29th in London – details here:

I have also been working with a number of agents in tidying up their terms of business and other paperwork and systems to both ensure compliance with an increasing myriad of legislation and also best business practice.

I continue to provide social media, web content and e-newsletters for around twenty businesses every month. This helps generate customer engagement and enquiries and raises search engine optimisation.

I regularly work with clients of The Property Jungle and have produced the content for several new websites that they have built this year with several others in the pipeline. 

I am currently working with Ajay Jagota and a business called D-Lighted (www.dlighted.co.uk ) to launch a new deposit replacement product that we believe will both protect landlords and tenants but remove the need to tie large sums of money up in deposit schemes. Meetings with Government, RICS, NAEA and ARLA have been positive and we will be launching shortly. The product will shortly be available to all professional letting agents. First mover advantage in the market is likely to prove to be a real winner for those who take the lead.

I recently, together with the FD had a trip North for the first board meeting of another very exciting new venture that I am involved with. This venture could change the face of UK estate agency and provide a fabulous exit route for business owners that they couldn't achieve in isolation or by selling to another industry player. Watch this space.

Despite a heavy workload (or perhaps because of it) I am delighted to have been asked to be a judge at a number of awards again this year. To date I have judged the LSL Property Awards and as I write I am judging the LFS conveyancing awards. I shall, once again be a judge at the IBP Journalism Awards later in the year.

Talking awards, I was delighted to have been invited to the ESTAS by long term client John Chase of First Union. It was great to see his excellent team scoop three awards on the day.

Several Integra clients, in addition to First Union, won awards including Anthony Pepe, Homes Partnership, My Home Move, Mr Green Homes and Logic Estates.

Congratulations to them all.

As I write I am looking forward to attending the Great Housing Debate in London courtesy of PR, research and communication specialists Instinctif and also the My Home Move conference at the Belfry.

My other business interest - traceWise continues to go from strength to strength with growing numbers of agents using our online ID checks for compliance with Money Laundering Regulations. At just £1.50 plus VAT per check they ought to be a "no-brainer". Our other service - property owner data - landlord tracing - has also grown. You can find more information at www.tracewise.co.uk or www.tracewiseaml.co.uk

Finally, May 16th saw Integra celebrate 13 years in business. It has been an interesting journey so far with many highs (and a few lows) but overall one that I wouldn't change. Thank you to my wife Sue (The FD) and to all of my clients and customers for their support.  

Finally I am honoured to be the current "gaffer" of the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers Past Presidents Club. It is however with great sadness that we have lost two former Presidents this year - Vincent Kenneally and John Phillips. Both men were very different but both were excellent human beings and ambassadors for the property industry. They will both be sadly missed. RIP.