A local firm supporting local events

July 23, 2017

The one thing about running a local estate agency that makes me more proud than anything is the fact that we are truly a part of our local community. We like to think that we are as much a part of the fabric of Overton as the local school or our favourite bakery. Overton is our home and we have been dedicated to making it a destination for other potential homeowners since 1947. We think that makes us unique in this village.

When you start a business, you need to be aware that your responsibilities lie beyond generating a profit. You might be employing local people and you are providing a service to a community. That means you have a responsibility – one that goes far beyond the average nine to five operating hours and one that will become a welcome part of your life – not just your work.

We are aware that estate agents might not have the best reputations and we fight against that perception every day. Community engagement is one way we can build trust and when it comes to the buying and selling of your largest asset, trust is vital. The fact that our customers know who we are, where we are and they have seen us in the community since they were children, makes us the one company they can trust with this huge investment.

We don’t just sell houses, we sell Overton. By involving ourselves in this community we have gained so much and in particular our business has thrived. We become involved by engaging with the community on every level. For us, that takes the form of sponsorship of a variety of local events. This work makes us proud and ensures we have a presence among those people we serve. But also its great for us as a team and it improves our morale.

The PJH team love what we do – there’s no doubt about that. Selling houses and promoting Overton is the best way to earn a living! But when we added in community engagement and the improvement of local relationships, the team became fully focused with a growing awareness that there’s more to life than the home selling and renting we do brilliantly every day. There’s something to be said for creating partnerships – it just makes you feel good about your job.

So when I venture out of my office these days I am welcomed by the smiles of everyone. I feel like I personally am a part of Overton, but more importantly, that PJH has established itself as a vital part of the community. We have built connections that will last far beyond the special event or the work-based transactions. They are professional and personal relationships that make having a business in a village something we would recommend to everyone.

Martin.