Property shop is better by design
Next door to The Bell pub on the A1214 Main Road at Kesgrave, the shop’s layout is arranged as a series of light and airy spaces with curving walls, attractive showcases and comfy chairs where people can chat about their requirements with the negotiators and browse through details of properties for sale over a coffee.
The design was developed by Colchester-based brand and design consultancy, Puur. “We’ve been working with the team at Fenn Wright for 18 months now, helping them to more closely align their visual brand and everything associated with that to their services. When we looked at the office environments, we did an audit of many high street estate agents in Essex and Suffolk. This threw up a number of challenges, the biggest being that, on the whole, agencies are not very appealing places for people to visit,” said Michael Rance, Puur’s founder and Creative Director.
“Our aim has been to bring the process of buying or selling a house, which is something extremely personal, in line with Fenn Wright’s strong customer-focused attitude. To do this we created a space that better suits what people need from it. It is designed to be less intimidating when you walk in, to be comfy to sit and talk, and be a destination for clients to pop back to each week for a catch up – especially with the promise of good coffee on tap! ” he said.
Fenn Wright’s Managing Partner, Alan Williams, said that the scheme will be rolled out across the firm’s six other branches. “There are people who question any decision to expand estate agency businesses given the current prominence of on-line property portals such as Rightmove. It’s our view, though, that nothing beats the personal touch.
“We’ve heard a lot recently from people who’ve spent many hours trawling the internet and haven’t found a suitable property. Face-to-face, we’re are able to build up a dialogue with buyers and better understand their most significant needs so we can tell them immediately we spot a house we think might suit them. A relaxed catch up on progress over a coffee also helps to build better connections with sellers.”