Success Stories
Be Your Own Boss With SureLet
Nine years ago two cousins in London, tired of the rat race decided to give up their careers working in the City and put themselves in charge of their own future. In October 2003 Nimesh Shah and Sunil Mehta launched a SureLet franchise in Hemel Hempstead and they still, to this day, have a healthy lettings business.
Despite the huge risk in a highly competitive market that is notoriously difficult to predict, their SureLet branch is thriving and the pair insist it’s the best decision they have ever made. The pair spent a considerable length of time researching their franchise options before opting for SureLet and although neither of them had any previous experience in the property industry, they stuck with the training to become agents.
Nimesh made the move from Goldman Sachs to director of his own business in just six months, He saw the opportunity to try something new and as property prices in London started to rise, he moved out to Hemel Hempstead.
He comments “Hemel Hemstead is a great place to live, and an ideal place to set up our business; the commuter access is superb and house prices are more affordable. When I left Goldman Sachs, I was on the look out for a new challenge and immediately after being introduced to SureLet, we knew that running a letting agency was our preferred choice and something we could be good at. After making our decision, SureLet franchising were extremely proactive in helping us to set up and open”
Nimesh and Sunil have worked tirelessly to make sure the business would be viable and successful. They have used their extensive local knowledge, backed by SureLet support and training to establish themselves as one of the leading agents in the area.
Sunil held a position as HR manager with Morgan Stanley, however, he too had a genuine desire to become his own boss.
He explains “I really enjoyed the HR role, I get a buzz from dealing with people and the experience has served me well in our new venture. It is very hard work and requires 100% focus, but after almost three years we are exceeding targets and its paying off, and there is nothing else I’d rather be doing. In fact we wish we’d thought of it years ago!
The SureLet team provide continuous support and we have received extensive training. There has been help with everything from marketing to financial planning and the motivation to succeed is far greater when you are working for yourself”
Sunil and Nimesh are now able to help and advise other franchisees across the rapidly expanding network. Colin Poole, managing director at SureLet commented: “Surelet was a fairly new company when I met Sunil and Nimesh, but I was impressed with their commitment, commercial awareness and determination to succeed, so it is no surprise that they are one of our most successful lettings franchises."
Family Business Is A Sure Fire Hit
Having eleven competitors operating on the same street would be enough to put most entrepreneurs off, but for one family in Birmingham, who opened on Bearwood Rd in Smethwick just 12 months ago, business is booming despite the stiff competition.
The Sirpal family are now the proud owners of the SureLet Birmingham franchise, and have already made a name for themselves with landlords and tenants in the area. Raman, who is responsible for the day to day running of the business explained that their extensive knowledge of the local market has proved vital in securing properties and presenting them to a number of high quality tenants.
The team are currently letting an average of 15 properties a month making them a serious force to be reckoned with and enabling them to set the tone for professional letting agents across Birmingham.
Raman confirmed that “SureLet prides itself on delivering a highly focussed, personalised service to their clients thus eliminating many of the obstacles faced by landlords and tenants alike”.
Staying one step ahead is key in making any business a success, and Raman has already created strong business links with a number of investment landlords and large companies in the area.
“We certainly haven’t been put off by other agents, infact we enjoy a bit of healthy competition especially in a lettings market which is vibrant and growing” he said. “We are here to offer a professional and reliable service to landlords and tenants and to help them make the most of that market”
Ashok Sirpal, Raman’s father reiterated that as a family run business they all work well as a team and with the backing of the SureLet franchise team and Management Centre they are able to offer an unrivalled service.
Ashok and Raman are convinced that the market in Birmingham and the Midlands is bouyant. They have real ambition and genuine enthusiasm and as such they are currently finalising plans for additional offices in their territory.