22-year-old launches estate agency promising to end industry ‘stigma’
Match Estates has been launched in Kent by a young and ambitious agent and veteran property professional.
An estate agency has been launched in Folkestone, Kent, by 22-year-old agent, Lee Churchyard (main pic, right), and 37-year property veteran, Matthew Pattenden.
Lee, who has been working in estate agency for seven years and sits on the Local Property Professionals Association Committee, called upon the expertise of friend and ARLA Regional Executive for Kent, Matthew, to help him set up this new venture, Match Estates.
With a commitment to community and consumer care, Lee and Matthew hope that Match Estates will plug a gap in the Folkestone property market, providing a bespoke service that prioritises the vendor over mass-listing numbers.
Lee commented: “At 22 years of age I often questioned if I was old enough or experienced enough to set up an agency. But the balance between me and Matthew works extremely well.”
Our focus is to be as community-driven, charitable and ethical as possible.”
“We’d both worked for a variety of agencies in different sizes prior to establishing Match Estates,” added Lee.
“While working for these we came across some who were industry leading, some forward thinking and a few who put business needs before that of the consumer. Changing the stigma of estate agents can be a challenge and our focus is to be as community-driven, charitable and ethical as possible.”
Community and consumer care
The partners have pledged to donate £100 from every sales completion to local charities, causes and businesses in their bid to become a people-first business.
If all agents in Folkestone were to follow suit, this would raise over £60,000 if the sold STC and under offer listings currently on Rightmove are taken into account.
Lee said: “We’ve teamed up with a variety of local charities, organisations, foodbanks, school trusts and community radio stations to ensure we are building a people-first business.”
As part of their service, Match Estates incorporates drone photography and a personalised video tour in all of its property listings as standard. The firm have also integrated the Loop CRM system and have already agreed sales and added properties to their lettings portfolio.
