Real estate entrepreneur launches transparent, low fee Bristol agency

When you have established your career in a particular industry you have two choices; either continue to develop your knowledge and experience as an employee, or branch out and open your own business. While starting your own business may seem like a risky move, you don’t have to leave the security of your day job right away. Many entrepreneurs are working 5 to 9 (in addition to 9 to 5!) to enable an easy transition to self employment. Brett Bracey is doing just that, with his property business Dainton Reid.

Brett had been considering starting a business for about three years, and had always had an interest in property. His good friend Tim had been working for a well known estate agency for 15 years and was looking for new opportunities, so they began work straight away. Brett and Tim wanted to provide the same full range of services on offer by the high street agencies, but without the high fees. By operating their business online instead of with a physical storefront, Dainton Reid were able to significantly reduce their fees and use this as a unique selling proposition.

Brett first heard about the Start & Grow programme from the mayor of Bristol, back in 2015 and immediately saw how it could benefit his business. Before long, Dainton Reid was signed up to the programme and they begun receiving support. The most useful support Tim and Brett have received so far has been the access to networking opportunities through the Chamber of Commerce and the one on one advice from a dedicated business adviser.

‘Start & Grow has given us the support that we needed to confidently start our business. We were instantly connected to the wider Bristol business community and always had the advice of our business adviser to fall back on’. - Brett Bracey, Dainton Reid

Tim and Brett wanted to make sure that their pricing structure is very clear. Their opening offer is £500 + VAT, with a 1% fee of up to £2,000. They wanted to be as transparent as possible, as no high street estate agency displays their fees, and compete on prices with other online agencies. The added advantage of being online also means they can reach a much wider potential catchment area. Tim and Brett have also commissioned a mobile app and have launched an online marketing strategy using a commissioned website. They wanted to have all the advantages of the high street markets with the convenience of being online.

To further enhance their brand awareness, Tim and Brett have purchased a Smart car and have had it branded with Dainton Reid logos. They will also be posting 10,000 mailings across Bristol to inform homeowners in the area with information about house price increases. Moving forward, Brett is planning to leave his current job and join Tim working full-time on the business, to assist with property viewings.

Find out more about Dainton Reid.

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