Watford
Garston
01923 630844
01923 636733
Bushey
St. Albans
020 8181 4000
01727 893000

View from the Cole-Face

One of my priorities in business is to keep things fresh. I try to come up with new, or re-work old, ideas on a regular basis. The 'View from the Cole-Face' articles is one such trial that turned out to be a real winner.

It is simply a weekly editorial piece that tells how it really is working in Estate Agency. How legislation affects us, some of the comedy moments that occur, my own views on the good and the bad of the business and frankly any other musings I care to put to print.

The pieces appear in our weekly local paper adverts. They can vary from serious political comment to tongue in cheek rants to generally putting the world to rights. Whether you agree with the comments or not, we've found the straight talking is appreciated and the fact I'm not your stereotypical smarmy estate agent tends to enhance our reputation.

We receive more and more instructions based on clients being 'fans' of the articles and that persuaded me to archive them via our website rather than retain them purely in our paper advertising.

If you get chance to flick threw them I hope you enjoy. Feel free to email me any property questions you would like me to tackle in future articles.

For more info contact Mike Cole via email: Mike.cole@imagine-group.co.uk

Recent articles and musings

Does it pay to be Social?

This week, we reached number 26 on the Zoopla list of most influential estate agents in the UK for Social Media. Not bad considering there are several thousand estate agencies trading. In truth, I think we can improve further and that means we have the potential to climb even further up that list. However, I’m delighted that our efforts to engage with people through this medium to date would appear to be better than thousands of other agents have managed.

Here Come The Girls…

As I hope most of you’d agree, we invest a lot of time, money and energy on our marketing and branding. It’s an area we feel we punch well above our weight in, and one of the many reasons why so many homeowners and landlords choose us.

The Grand Old Duke of York…

He wasn’t the only one who had 10,000, you know.

In April, this website received 10,000 visits in a month for the first time since we started in 2006. 10,618 to be absolutely precise and of these, 5,436 were new visits here. For an agency with 3 branches, this represents a level of interest far in excess of what the average agency website attracts and as such, is highly relevant if you’re considering which agent should be selling your home or letting your property.

Earnings v Property Prices


The property industry provides an abundance of survey opportunities. One that grabbed my attention this week looked at the correlation between wages and UK house prices.

Cheesy Wotsit!

One of the negatives of being an estate agent is that you know many people are deeply suspicious of you before you even open your mouth. In the case of some agents, this is actually worse when they do open their mouths! I'm not naïve enough to think this doesn't have some justification. However, in my experience there are actually quite a high proportion of decent and genuine people, certainly at the more reputable agencies.

Imagine Conveyancing…

Conveyancing is the term for the legal process of housing transactions. As someone whose business is influenced by the competence of conveyancers, finding a good one is key.

Past articles and musings

Refer a Friend

New Government Housing Initiatives.

How to Increase Your Chance of a Sale

‘SPOOF’ BOARDS

Social Media – Does it Sell Houses?

Online Auctions – 0% Selling Fee!

Fact not Fiction

Launch of Open Home Events

Are you a leaseholder?

Do Young People Deserve Our Sympathy?

Brrr or grrr?

A rip-roaring start to the New Year.

2012 Local Property Review

It’s Time to Party…

What do you think?

Losing Interest…

We’re All Going to the Zoo Tomorrow…

Property Management - Why is it such a dangerous business?

Tempted by a Buffett?

BOOMERANG GENERATION

The Lakes

Can we chat?

The Glass is Half Full…

Video Tours

Never Judge a Day by the Weather

I'd like your opinion on an estate agency dilemma....

Have we got what it takes?

Mobile Optimising

Second Steppers

Life’s a Roller Coaster

Is there such a thing as too many agents?

RIP - David Cole (March 14th 1944 – July 27th 2012)

Sideburns Are Back

Give the housing market a sporting chance…

50 Shades of Grey

Invent Stories

THE RENTAL BUBBLE

WET, WET, WET!!!.

Final Call to Arms

How to Sell a House in the Rain

The Perfect Face for Radio

Mad Dogs and English Women…

The Sale is the Easy Bit..

She Sells Seychelles

Banging the Property Drum

Cracking St Albans

Top 3 factors when choosing an estate agency to sell your home

My Harshest Critic…

Can We Believe House Prices Statistics

Are We Losing Interest?

Stamp Duty Snobbery!

2012 Charity Challenge

Rentysomethings

Starlight Walk 2012

Rightmove profits soar – again!

Imagine Conveyancing

How to stay focused.

I’m delighted to share 2 very exciting pieces of news!

Should Estate Agents Work on Saturdays?

The Consistently Inconsistent Property Market

Personality Traits

Happy New Year from Award Winning Agency

The Smart Board

The Land Development Conundrum

Cameron Launches New Housing Policy

Christmas Blues

Why the Top End of the Market Keeps Moving

ZOOPLA & PRIME LOCATION MERGE

A Moments Reflection

Is Your Agent a Neanderthal?

Have You Been GAZANGED?

OPEN HOUSE MARKETING - Does it work?

Do Agents Know About The New Ombudsman Rules?

TIP FOR HOLIDAY FLIGHT BOOKINGS

Best Man Duties

WATFORD AUDENTIOR AWARDS

How Many Agents Will Survive??

Rightmove Profits Soar

The Morning After The Morning Before

Look Out For – ‘SAFE AGENTS’

Bushey Office Buck the Trend!!

A Revolution Is Coming

TRIATHLON - AGENCY CHALLENGE RESULTS...

I Had a Dream.....

Advertising My Fellow Agents

Quite a Week

Generation Rent

Oh I Do Love To Be Beside The Seaside.

Whats in a Name?

Why do Properties Look Like they are Increasing?

CRINGEWORTHY TALE...

Hallelujah! It’s Finally Happened!

TAX ON PROPERTY

QR CODE

BUDGET REVIEW

I Think I’ve Broken a Record!

RENTING COSTS MORE THAN HOME OWNERSHIP

SAFE AND SECURE

SAFE AND SECURE

SAFE AND SECURE

PROPERTIES ON THE MOVE

Moving Home Is Stressful

MARY PORTAS CUSTOMER SERVICE IN ESTATE AGENCY REVIEW

POLICE.UK

A Year in Property

STARLIGHT WALK 2011

'How's the property market looking so far?'

The ONLY 3 Ways YOU Can Affect A Sale On Your Home...

2010 REVIEW

AWARD WINNING BUT ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT...

TENANTS DEPOSITS

Imagine Moving Home Too...

The Triathlon Challenge

THE YOUTH OF TODAY...

Banging the Drum!

The X Factor

Who Turned the Tap Off?

Getting A Foot On The Property Ladder

In Sickness and In Health

How You Spot A Good Seller

The Banks - Seriously Driving Me Mad

Imagine TV Overhaul

40 and Counting....

NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING

How to Conduct a Viewing (Not)

Confident or Arrogant?

Garden Grabbing Halted!!

Imagine Branches Sell 1 in 4 & 1 in 6 Houses Locally

Woe is Me!!!

MY HOLIDAY DIARY

Pyramids and Plans

Please, Not Penalties Again!!!

Social Media Matters

So Hips Are Banished!!!

Par for the course.

The Key To Our Mystery

The Patter of Tiny Feet

Election Fever

Bloody Computers!!!

Mop Up Your Bank Holiday Blues

Houses Sell Themselves....

Proud of My Girls

THE PRIVATE SALE

Record number of house sales!

THE F FACTOR

IMAGINE - USAIN BOLT - BECKHAM - What is the Link?

Foot in Mouth Disease

How Long To Sell A House??

The Marketing League

Snow Time Like The Present

HOUSE PRICE PREDICTION FOR 2010

TWIT TO WHO.....

Website Upgrade

£99 HIP OFFER!

Increased Licensing for Estate Agents

The Rightmove or The Wrong Move

Changing Perceptions.

LUCKY 13

The Watford – Bushey Connection.

NEW DEVELOPMENT APPEAL

Corny but True!!

“I’M PULLING OUT!!!”

The Shiver Moments

Declaration of Interest

INSTRUCTING IMAGINE GIVES YOU A 97% CHANCE OF FINDING A BUYER!!!!

Oops, I forgot to mention....

More Summer Tales

The English Summer

Removals....

Consolidate or Charge

The Apprentice

TOP DOGS

AUCTION SALES

‘You Win Some, You Move Some’

STREETWISE

Rightmove - The Myth

Budget Comment

The Probe Incident

Bank Holiday Blues

THE GRAND NATIONAL ANALOGY

Pensions and Property

Mr Cole Turns 65

Are We Brave, Foolish or Just Very Good???

The Next Big Challenge

CALLING Cassiobury / Nascot Wood.

“HOW LONG?!”

NEWS FLASH - House Prices Rise

Does The Bank Base Cut Matter To The Housing Market?

Off To A Flyer!!!

Dear Santa, I

A Diet Coke and Seven Straws Please

What’s the French word for queue?

TURN YOUR TELEVISION OFF!!!

What Happened Next...

Tread Carefully In The Housing Market

Falling House Prices Have An Upside

Right to Reply

Sport Mirrors Business

Only On The Net?

Birthday Blues

STAMPING DOWN ON STAMP DUTY

Are There Any Buyers Out There?

The New Homes Dilemna

Is Now a Good Time to Buy for First Time Buyers?

"House it Going?"

Mortgage Rates - A Conflict of Interest

To Let or not To Let? That is the Question.

Is it business or personal?

What an Amazing Team

Hallelujah - We

What’s Missing From The Property Market?

Are Less People Really Looking?

Selling Fees Set To Rise

My magnetic personality or my expertise?

HOUSING MARKET REPORT

Tongue-in-cheek translation

Choosing Colours That Sell Homes

Sell your home with the help of our House Doctor.

How To Read The Market....

To Accompany or Not Too Accompany

Marketing

Employee of the Month

The Lettings Market...

Mortgage Costs Spiralling...

What Did Santa Bring?

Diary of an Estate Agent 2

Diary of an Estate Agent

Is Now A Good Time to Buy???

Which Agent Should You Choose??

Imagine Refurbishment Complete

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Tesco Suspend Property Market

Quickies...

Political Potato

Between a 'Rock' and a Hard Place

The Wonders of Technology

Conspiracy Theory

Let's Stay Together

The Customer is always right

Improving an Estate Agents' Rep

View from the Coleface

Does it pay to be Social?

Read more...

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