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Estate agents The Avenue are shaking up the industry with their presenter-led videos

Estate agents The Avenue are shaking up the industry with their presenter-led videos

A new Derbyshire estate agents who are shaking up the industry with their presenter-led videos, vibrant branding and bold marketing are capitalising on a booming UK housing market which has seen prices rise at the fastest rate since 2007.

March is typically a frantic time for estate agents up and down the country with the highest level of sales recorded.

And Derbyshire-based The Avenue, fronted by James Humphries-Stone and his partner Hayley Griffiths, are standing out from the crowd with their unique marketing and professional videos, which have attracted hundreds of viewers on their YouTube channel but, more importantly, have led their customers to being wowed by not only the response but the results they have achieved.

James, who set up The Avenue in July 2021, said:

“Hayley and I have worked at every level from trainee to, more recently, operating as Sales Directors for the UK’s largest estate agency brand.

“We decided to set up The Avenue after becoming disillusioned by the way the property industry had been commoditised. So many people feel that moving house is up there as one of life’s most stressful events and we wanted to make the whole experience more like a concierge service; from start to finish, Hayley & I are there to support our clients through the process”.

“It blows my mind that so many homeowners are expected to conduct their own viewings. I liken that to taking my car to a garage for an MOT and then conducting the MOT myself”

“It’s easy to suggest that the homeowner knows the property better than anybody else and is therefore best suited to carrying out the viewings but that is actually a long way from reality. The reality is that each visitor to the property has differing reasons for viewing, different motivations and it is therefore of paramount importance to connect with the buyers needs and wants – after all, it’s an emotionally charged decision and people are very rarely committing to the purchase of the bricks & mortar but more the lifestyle that they could lead”.

James and Hayley have more than 40 years’ experience between them with both becoming estate agents after leaving school. The pair front the East Midlands operation whilst fellow director Jack Durkin oversees The Avenue’s West Midlands business.

There are currently eight partners operating across the Midlands but, by the end of 2022, The Avenue has expansion plans that will see the partners grow to at least 20 in a similar business model to that of American real estate seen on hit TV show Selling Sunsets – a style which is fairly unique here in the UK.

The average house price now is £278,123 – a new record high – with Derbyshire one of the most sought-after places to live.

“Amber Valley in particular is a beautiful place to set up home,” said James.

“It is surrounded by countryside and has easy access to larger cities such as Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield. The Peak District and its attractions are a short drive away and there are lots of really good schools in the area, too.

“There is a real community-feel to the area; I’ve been made to feel most welcome since I moved up from Hampshire to be with Hayley. It’s a real gem of a place to live.”

The Avenue have a mix of houses on their books, from a three-bed Georgian cottage in Codnor Park to a stunning five-bed detached family home in Heage that overlooks the famous six-sailed windmill and boasts its own cinema room.

They have even worked with footballers and millionaires to sell their properties.

“Every little detail is given careful consideration when we market a person’s home,” added James, “from the music we select on the presenter-led videos, to the tone of voice used in our marketing materials.

“I love finding creative ways to market homes, to capture a buyer’s attention and create a strong demand. My attention to detail and obsession for perfection over every photograph, video clip and written word means that I leave no stone unturned when it comes to selling homes!”


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