The franchisee of Hunters Estate Agents insists they can make a go of the business despite the bleak outlook for the housing market.

Franchisee Nicola Watson told the Driffield Times she was confident the housing market slowdown, which forced the Driffield branch of Bairstow Eves out of business, will not thwart her career aspirations.
She said: "It's a difficult market out there and it's not unreasonable for people to ask why I am opening. We will do it through hard work and tenacity."

Nicola, who lives in Driffield and has been working at the Bridlington branch of Hunters for around a year, said she and the two employees to be based in the Driffield office will work beyond the typical nine to five working day and in a different way to most estate agencies.

She said: "If we have a suitable property available we will show it to clients at times convenient to them, rather than letting the vendor take them round and tie up the deal. That is not what other estate agents do. We are very proactive and keep the vendor informed and give them proper feedback."

The branch is to be based at the premises of HTR Solicitors on Middle Street South and Nicola, who has around six years of experience, expects to be open for business by Friday July 18.

Hunters is to take on some of the clients left behind by Geoff Lloyd, who closed the doors of his Driffield franchise of Bairstow Eves last week.

He predicted a very difficult time ahead for any estate agency preparing to open up in Driffield.

He said: "There has been a massive personal loss to me. It is a very expensive business to run if you are not selling and people cannot get mortgages in the current economic climate. People are not buying and selling houses anywhere near the quantity of 12 months ago."

He added that estate agency closures were a national trend and had a message to businesses thinking of moving into Driffield.

"Good luck to them," he said. "There are some very brave people out there with very deep pockets."

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