May 2008

What a difference a year makes!

Crunch biting as Stewart hands over NAEA presidency...

STEWART LILLY stands down as president of the National Association of Estate Agents this month — after one of the most eventful years in the organisation’s 46-year history.

While the introduction of Home Information Packs has significantly changed the way estate agents do business, the Association itself has undergone major changes — most notably a merger with the Association of Residential Letting Agents — in the 12 months that Mr Lilly has been at the helm.

Stewart Lilly

But as he prepares to hand over the reins at the Association’s annual meeting in London on May 9, he has also been paying increasing attention to the effects of the credit crunch and the biggest slump in housing market activity for well over a decade.

“This time last year I was being interviewed by the media about the fact that the property market was out of control and prices were spiralling up,” said Mr Lilly.

“What a difference a year makes — now we are experiencing the effects of a slower market, but still the media are asking the same questions with an emphasis on prices spiralling down!”

Mr Lilly summed up his stint as the NAEA’s 45th president as “a year of new direction, policy and a totally different year to that any of my predecessors experienced”.

He said: “It is difficult to know where to start with regards to the last year.

“It really started with HIPs, against which we have fought long and hard!

“Sadly, we have all had to suffer the inconvenience of the implementation of this law.

“However, the Conservative party have publicly stated that should they form the next government, they will repeal the HIPs legislation, whilst retaining the Energy Performance Certificate.

“Last year’s annual meeting saw the creation of new governance and The National Federation of Property Professionals — an organisation formed for the purpose of integration of ARLA and the NAEA.

“So, in many ways this has been a year for diplomacy and protocol as the two Associations merge, plus the tact such major events require, but I have during my time as president, tried to ensure that the interests of all members always come first.”

...to the Association’s own Mr Brown!

CHRIS BROWN aims to “champion the estate agency business” during his year as the 46th NAEA president, which begins at the annual meeting in London on May 9.

“My entire working career has been devoted to this industry and taking over the presidency, together with starting up and owning my own company, is the pinnacle of my career,” said Mr Brown, who has worked in the industry since he was 16 and is a consultant with his own agency, Boxall, Brown and Jones in Derby.

Chris Brown

“The NAEA has seen great changes over the last year and I want to build on the good work Stewart Lilly has done to ensure the NAEA remains an organisation devoted to its membership. The organisation and the profession face difficult times — the full results of the credit crunch and the economic fallout still remain to be seen. As someone working in the business and who has seen thorny times before, I aim to be the one championing the estate agency business, helping agents make the most of their offerings and sell themselves and houses to the best of their ability. I can’t make it an easier time but I can do my very best to ensure we are doing our bit for the members as their collective voice. To that end, I will be looking closely at promoting our training programmes to ensure they are delivering in their promise to help agents sharpen their skills. I will also be examining our online offering to see what we can do to help agents sell houses and I will be investigating what we need to be more open, more approachable and more effective as a organisation.”