The London Broker - Charlie Willis & Rupert Collingwood on turbo-charging the American brokerage model for the UK market
Today The PrimeResi Journal published an in-depth and exclusive interview with the duo behind our founding members The London Broker, Charlie Willis and Rupert Collingwood – a collective of over 20 independent agents, including some high-profile PCL operators – to discuss their US-flavoured business model, the importance of experience, and why so many top brokers are opting to break free from the corporate shackles…
“The London Broker proudly offers a unique directory to a collaborative global network of leading independent property brokers, alongside their striking property listings, through this easily navigable new website. Enjoy browsing today and please do keep coming back in the future for more broker and more property journal news as we expand our team progressively. Our brokers understand the property journey our clients are on; because each broker has a minimum of 10 years agency experience with impressive personal rack records and in-depth knowledge of their markets. Feel free to read the biographies of our highly regarded brokers and chose who you wish to work with in the pursuit of your property goals. We focus on delivering the highest quality technology and marketing tools on our platform, designed to enable our brokers to deliver “best in class” competitive solutions and ensuring the greatest possible results for clients. Personal service from brokers you can trust - access to online and off-market opportunities - we are empowering brokers by embracing the future, together. We look forward to helping you.”
To read the full article click the link here: https://primeresi.com/rupert-collingwood-charlie-willis-on-turbo-charging-the-american-brokerage-model-for-the-uk/
Here are some extracts from this informative and interesting interview.
Your roster includes some of the best-known agents in London and further afield; what do you think has attracted them to your business model, instead of the big-name firms?
Former Strutt & Parker partner Charlie Willis has recently taken on the CEO role at The London Broker
Independent brokers love the freedom of working in whatever way they want to, to best look after their clients and fill their days efficiently. They also like the knowledge that they can work with other like-minded and capable, experienced brokers who “have their back” – this collaborative approach sets The London Broker apart and brings benefits including referral work across a global network that the independents may never have had the opportunity of had they been on their own.
What are the major differences clients will notice between dealing with the London Broker and a traditional high-end property agency?
Our brokers are all self-employed so they are fully motivated on all their instructions to deliver an exceptional personal service for their clients – whilst not having big teams to pass to less experienced individuals. Their own reputations have been built over many years and they protect them by working extra-hard; utilising cutting-edge facilities that The London Broker provide them to empower them to compete at the very highest of levels with confidence. Each broker is selective of the business they agree to list and take care to make sure that they deliver results for their often repeat clients.
The broker approach is well-established in international markets; how does the London Broker differ from, say, the American model?
There are no other models in the UK that provide such experienced brokers the opportunity to work collaboratively with other such exceptional individuals as we have curated on own our “invitation only” technology and marketing platform. Like the American model, we enable and encourage our brokers to grow their own personal brands alongside The London Broker brand-name. We positively encourage this collaborative approach because we believe in valued partnership and helping one another. Together, we have a strong value approach that is rigorously adhered to and the Board has the ultimate ability to remove any broker should anybody not live up to the high standards expected. In many ways, I would say we are turbo-charging the American model as we believe that this is the best way to deliver the most exceptional experiences and results for our brokers’ clients.
Most of your brokers have spent many years in the industry; apart from experience, which key attributes do all great brokers share?
Our brokers all share a passion for the industry and an entrepreneurial flair. It is not easy regardless of experience to step away from the safety of their larger corporate homes, especially those who have been embedded within some of these firms for decades. It requires perseverance and a generally upbeat positive outlook.
Our brokers are also well connected, their decision to branch out on their own is often supported by their confidence in their black book of contacts and their ability to create appropriate solutions for their clients. It has been remarkable to see how willingly our brokers share contacts and reach out to their networks in order to find buyers / vendors in order to broker deals of all shapes and sizes.
