martyn baum

Baum is pictured at the recent NAEA / ARLA Presidential dinner

 

How did you start in the industry?

I grew up around property; my father had a construction company so discussion about property was always around me.

My first experience of estate agency was a week’s work experience at the age of 16. At the age of 17 I visited family in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where at the time my uncle had a real estate management company. I spent more time shadowing him than sightseeing and by the end of the trip I was totally hooked.

When I had to make the decision between an offer to study economics and marketing, or a position as a trainee estate agent, I jumped for the trainee position and it was the best career decision I’ve ever made.

I joined an independent estate agency firm in Loughborough, where I went from trainee to equity partner in nine years, and then left to join competitor Hartleys to launch a new start office, before eventually becoming managing partner.

I met my wife Natasha in an agency, and we were both partners at Hartleys. Outside work, we share a passion for travel, and spent last Christmas in New Zealand.

Would you still go into agency today?

Definitely. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if I had those two offer letters in my hands today, I would make exactly the same decisions as I did when I was 18.

What is your current role, and how will you fit this around your Presidency?

After my business was sold last year, it was important to me to continue my role as an active estate agent, alongside my work with the NAEA. I strongly believe that as the figurehead of estate agents, I should be a ‘hands on’ estate agent. I wanted to continue conducting valuations, and talking to vendors and buyers on a daily basis, so I understand first-hand the challenges our members are facing.

My current role is as sales partner in an independent firm in Loughborough called AJR.

Aidan Reed is the senior partner – also a fellow director of the NFoPP board – and it was he who gave me my first opportunity in the industry as that trainee. He also encouraged me to become a member of the NAEA, so it’s great to be back working with him.

What do you hope to achieve in your year?

I am proud of what the NAEA stands for and the fact that members have chosen to sign up to our code of conduct.

We need to continue to spread the word of the association far and wide, so to do this I need a motivated and hard-working NAEA board around me who represent the whole of the UK, which I have.

As a board we are all focused on working with our members, pointing out the difference between our members and other estate agents, and educating the consumer to the benefits of using an estate agent who has chosen to do things the right way.

We will continue to increase the number of regional conferences, we will continue to increase the number of free master classes to keep our members fully abreast of changes in legislation, and we have – and will continue to – increase public awareness of the organisation. I see this as a major focus moving forwards.

Who is your property hero?

Wow, this is a hard question. Aidan Reed has played a major part in my career and still does. In recent years I have really looked up to the likes of Jan Hytch and Tim Hyatt who have been great industry ambassadors and very supportive to me personally.

However, if I had to name my property hero of the moment I would have to say Stephanie O’Driscoll from May Whetter who won the title of NFoPP Student of the Year.

She is a hero to all of the next generation of property professionals.

What do you think about all the consolidation going on in the sector at the moment?

Consolidation in parts of our sector was always going to happen post-recession, especially a recession that cut so deeply in our industry.

Why was your last firm sold to Countrywide?

The sale of my business was down to the personal circumstances of the senior partner. My wife and I considered very seriously taking over the reins of the whole business. However, my commitment to the NAEA took precedent at that time.

Where do you stand on the great portals debate?

Consumers now have a choice of where their property is marketed. That can only be healthy for the consumer – choice in any market place can only be positive.

What is your view of online agents?

Online agents, traditional agents, hybrid agents. All are terms which only confuse consumers. For me, some so-called ‘traditional’ estate agents have a better online offering than ‘online’ agents. Consumers have a choice, but from all these models there is one point of difference for the consumer:

Those agents who choose to sign up to a code of conduct in the absence of Government regulation and those who don’t.

Consumers should look for the NAEA logo to have peace of mind.

It seems that reputational management is one of the biggest issues facing the industry. What is  your opinion?

At our London property forum in February, the housing minister Brandon Lewis clearly stated there was no appetite for the Government to regulate our industry. Disappointing but hardly surprising news, but rather than wallowing in that disappointment it is our job to strive and continue to increase the standard of professionalism within our industry to secure a better future.

My hope is that as one of the youngest ever presidents of this organisation, that I, my presidential team and our NAEA board of regional executives can engage with the next generation of property professionals.

Those ‘would be’ members who are currently apprentices, negotiators, trainee valuers who will all one day will become business owners, partners, principles and directors.

Engage with these professionals now, show them the benefits of our qualifications, explain why taking pride in their work and doing things the right way by becoming a member of the NAEA and signing up to our code of conduct is the best way to show credibility to their consumers in the absence of government regulation.

In a year’s time, what legacy would you like to have left behind?

Twelve months from now I would like to have built on the excellent foundation put in place by the past three presidents, Mark Hayward, Jan Hytch and Simon Gerrard, to represent an industry of increasing standards.

I want to give the presidential teams of the future the opportunity to have a growing membership and therefore an association that is moving forward – therefore in turn an industry that is increasing in professional standards.