I first met Adam while he was at Hatched, and was immediately impressed by his unbounded enthusiasm for what was a ground-breaking model in agency. I was delighted to learn that he had taken a role at easyProperty, and they will not need me to tell them that they have chosen well. Like many entrepreneurs, it is not always about fact and figures, and sometimes inspiration and forward thinking is what is needed to push things on. His gut feel seems to have worked for him pretty well so far.
What is your working history?
I started as a trainee estate agent in 1997 with a traditional agent in Hitchin. In 2006, I founded the 2nd online estate agent in the UK and went on to help pioneer the ‘online’ estate agency model that we see today. The company I founded was acquired by a large ‘bricks & mortar’ estate agency group in 2015 and it was the first ever acquisition of an ‘online’ agent by a traditional agent in the UK. I left there in July 2017 and recently started at easyProperty as Head of Operations.
What has been your proudest moment at easyProperty so far?
Being appointed as head of operations at such a well-known brand and then being an integral part of the relaunch of the business within just 40 days of starting in the role.
Before working at easyProperty, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
Managing Director of Hatched. It wasn’t really unusual, but it was certainly interesting. I learned everything from Finance to HR and Marketing to Technology. Because of my journey at Hatched, I have met some incredibly influential and interesting figures in the industry as well.
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to yourself before starting your career?
I’m not one to look back or wonder what I could have done differently, so I wouldn’t give myself any advice I don’t think. I’ve learned huge amounts as I’ve gone along and made some fantastic memories and friends in my career so far.
What is your favourite film/book and favourite quote from it?
As a youngster, I always remembered Back to the Future and a line that Marty McFly used, which was ‘If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything’.
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you and why?
Tom Cruise, obviously.
Do you have a motto or personal mantra?
Not really – I don’t abide by any set rules, partly because the world is always changing and if you stick to one mantra or motto, then you’re not evolving your own thinking of how things should, and could, be done. I suppose I trust my gut feeling a lot – that’s the closest I have to a mantra. Trusting your gut is underrated.
What is on your bucket list?
So many things! I definitely need to visit Australia at some point.
What is your biggest pet peeve about the property industry?
It’s always frustrated me how estate agents are seen by the media and public. I think even just the knowledge many agents have about everything from the value of a property to basic knowledge of structures and title defects is hugely underrated. The job we do for people, that knowledge that we have, and the part we play in shaping customers’ lives should be recognised more widely I think.
What are your hopes for the future of the property industry?
My ultimate hope is that agents, lenders and conveyancers collaborate to make the process easier for sellers and buyers alike. I’d like the industry to take tech and collaboration much more seriously and look at every single way that we can make moving house, well… easy.