Bonett's: Better letters

 Always at the forefront of independent estate agency in Brighton
and Hove, Bonett’s are also champions of quality letting services

The name Bonett’s is synonymous with estate agency in Brighton and Hove. Paul Bonett has for many years been a champion of the profession, investing a great deal of time, money and effort into making not only his own business but the profession at large as good and as respected as is possible.

Bonett’s, as a brand, has been at the forefront of the city’s independent estate agency business for many years now. Independent estate agents have certainly seized the market in Brighton and Hove, and this is no doubt a reflection of the nature of the city’s population. As a community we seem to relish diversity and difference, and we demand choice – the kind of choice that is so much harder for national corporate businesses to offer.

The core of Bonett’s business has always been the sale of freehold and leasehold properties. Although the company is based in Kemp Town, their business is certainly city-wide and their ‘for sale’ boards can be seen everywhere.

Bonett’s are also long-standing members of the Team network which helps agents market their properties across the UK, and beyond the normal bounds of their given market.

“We are an approachable and friendly team but also one that offers a very efficient and professional service”

Paul Bonett himself was a key member of the team here at Latest Homes magazine when it was founded in February 2001 and remains a loyal and vital supporter.

Back in 2005 Lynda Rooney, until recently a member of the Bonett’s team, went along to Paul and suggested they open a lettings department. Paul, who had been reluctant to diversify into lettings in the past, listened to what she had to say and was eventually convinced that not only was it the right time, but that with Lynda heading up the department, they were ideally situated in both a business and a geographical sense to enter the lettings arena.

Since then, Bonett’s Lettings has gone from strength to strength, and the team has grown in size to deal with the ever increasing number of properties they manage and the landlords and tenants that are on their books. The lettings team now includes Bridgette Walpole, Hilary Thomas, Murray Kerr and Rachel Marks, and Bonett’s are currently recruiting for a further team member.

“We like to think that we are an approachable and friendly team but also one that offers a very efficient and professional service. Working in lettings means that you have two lists of clients that each need to be looked after and managed. We have to ensure that our landlords are happy with the service that we offer, that their interests are protected and their properties are well managed and maintained. It is vital that a landlord looks after the properties in their portfolio as they are the core of their investment.

If standards are allowed to slip then the value of that investment is devalued in two ways. Firstly, the material value of the property will depreciate. Secondly, the earnings potential from lettings will decrease. We will often advise a landlord on what can be done, not always at much expense, to maximise the earnings potential of a property.

“Our landlord clients range from people who have bought a second property and wish to let that on a simple basis to property investors who have built or are building a larger portfolio of investment properties. Both are equally important to us, but with investment portfolios we are often able to recommend potential investment opportunities from our sales register.

“Tenants of course need to be looked after with equal care and at Bonett’s we pride ourselves on offering a great standard of service. It is inevitable that from time to time problems will arise.

We aim to resolve any issues as soon as is possible and work closely with a maintenance team that can deal with problems as they arise.”

All this seems to be working for the lettings team as they have a fantastic record for retention of business and their clients seem
to feel more like family than business opportunities.

Bonett’s are members of the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association; Paul himself is a former president. As a company they have built strong links with many of the industry’s professional bodies including the NAEA. For many years they have been recognised as Investors In People, a scheme which Paul firmly believes has helped forward the business on many levels.

Added to this, the company has long been associated with community projects and hold the CommunityMark award for their voluntary activities, especially with local schools. 

While the lettings team build that side of the business, the sales department continue to offer a level of service that receives praise from both vendors and buyers.

It is much to do with their commitment to communication, making sure that everyone involved is kept clearly in the picture at all stages of a property sale or purchase.

After the trials of 2009, Bonett’s has emerged looking healthy with a positive attitude and approach to business that should see them continue to be successful in the future.

Bonett’s Estate Agents, 78 St George’s Road, Brighton,
East Sussex, BN2 1EF, 01273 677365, www.bonetts.co.uk