AN independent estate agent has celebrated 20 years since first calling Chester its home.
When Jeremy Jordan and Tim Wasdell launched Changing Home in Lower Bridge Street, Chester in 2001, a pint of beer cost £2.05, a litre of petrol 81p and the population of Chester was 118,200 (it’s now 119,900). The average price of a home in Chester was £88,854.
Twenty years later and Jeremy, Tim and Glenda Law have shaped Changing Home into the independent estate agent it is today, with as strong a commitment to the local housing market as ever.
Changing Home team (back row left to right): Ollie Law, Glenda Law (front row left to right): Jeremy Jordan, Hannah Rowlandson, Tim Wasdell.
Jeremy said: “We’ve been there through thick and thin and gone from strength to strength. 2001-2021 has seen much change across the world with key events effecting the UK business economy.
“We’ve worked through the difficult post 9/11 times, tightened our belts through a major economic recession, worked through a mortgage meltdown, and we’re still dealing with the Covid-19 crisis.
"Our tight management, a clear strategy and not compromising our customer principles has helped us weather these and more.
“Our business remains as robust as ever. When you think that four in 10 small companies don’t make it to 10 years and small business survival rates are as high as 91 per cent after one year of trading, but after five years just four in ten small businesses will still be trading. Property-based businesses are one of the most likely to fail after one year of trading.
“So we’re delighted to have continued our pledge to provide an excellent service to the people of the Chester area.”
Meanwhile, according to Best Agent, nearly 900 estate agent branches have closed over the past six months, or four per cent of the UK’s 22,270 branches.
Tim said: “We put our success down to consistency. Both Jeremy and I are still involved in the business and together with Glenda, who joined 15 years ago, we’ve shaped and nurtured a small team, passionate about putting customers first.
“We’ve moved with the times too, embracing technology to respond to changing customer needs and habits.”
Glenda added: “ We’ve remained independent, managed our business prudently and effectively, sticking to what we do best. We keep on top of changing legislation, amending our procedures as appropriate and partnering with the best local professional services and suppliers from mortgage providers and solicitors to utility services.”
Jeremy concluded: “Of course we don’t have a crystal ball and we can’t predict what will happen in the UK over the next 20 years. Who’d have expected a pandemic?
“Rest assured we’ll continue to offer the very best of service to our customers. We’re keep up to date with all changes and will continue with the same principles that have led us through the last 20 years.”
For more information, visit www.changing-home.co.uk or visit the office on Lower Bridge Street.
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