Monday, June 22, 2009
Property in Kensington: stylish houses and apartments
Property in Kensington is some of the most sort-after (and pricey) in the world. But if you know what you’re looking for, you can land yourself a well-located gem with great views and plenty of space and light. Built in the extravagant Georgian and Victorian eras, these quintessential English homes offer the resident a sense of history. The changes in the last 200 years, while subtle, have allowed property in Kensington to be modernised just enough to be ideal for the twenty-first century city dweller.Friday, May 15, 2009
Finding Balance in Times of Crisis
In this time of economic crisis in Britain, we need our leaders to stand strong more than ever and give us sound advice. However, leaders are people too, and while some people choose to be philosophical about the crisis, others go into a blind panic as soon as someone mentions anything related to the crisis. Top business executives are at the forefront of Britain’s financial affairs so they are feeling the pinch more intensely than most, but at the same time they have to be role models to their employees and the people around them. As we all know, the property market has crashed and burned, yet Ivor Dickinson, managing director of Douglas and Gordon, likes to stay level-headed about the situation and be honest with his employees. He spoke to six other business gurus and this is what he had to say about being the boss, the economic crisis and staying grounded: “Obviously, as a leader, the one thing you want to do is be confident, because that is what inspires people and makes them want to stay with you, because they think jobs are going to be safe. You do not want to sound as if you are in a panic, which sometimes you are. At the same time, you do not want to have an air of complacency either.Wednesday, April 22, 2009
An Estate Agent Speaks Out
OK, so I know it’s all the fault of the banks. The fact that this “new” Labour government have been bowing and scraping to the City since its first day in power like some sycophantic maitre de in a pseudo grand restaurant never likely to achieve a star status of any kind, is beside the point. Why did the thought to improve regulation never cross their minds? Why did our then Chancellor continue to take the credit for the booming economy without once questioning that perhaps house price rises of 25% per annum weren’t a very good thing and issuing mortgages to individuals who couldn’t possibly service them was a recipe for disaster?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Decisions, decisions
I have worked at Douglas & Gordon for 22 years and been Managing Director for 15 of them. In that time, I have seen good and bad times and, let’s be honest, until 18 months ago we had experienced the best 3 years of all. Throughout that time, the fundamental challenge has been to gain market share. The last 6 months in particular have however presented a completely different challenge – survival. In order to survive, we are faced with a host of new dilemmas. The kind of decisions that now have to be made are alien to us and inevitably mistakes will be made.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Property in Kensington: stylish houses and apartments
Property in Kensington is some of the most sort-after (and pricey) in the world. But if you know what you’re looking for, you can land yourself a well-located gem with great views and plenty of space and light. Built in the extravagant Georgian and Victorian eras, these quintessential English homes offer the resident a sense of history. The changes in the last 200 years, while subtle, have allowed property in Kensington to be modernised just enough to be ideal for the twenty-first century city dweller.Friday, May 15, 2009
Finding Balance in Times of Crisis
In this time of economic crisis in Britain, we need our leaders to stand strong more than ever and give us sound advice. However, leaders are people too, and while some people choose to be philosophical about the crisis, others go into a blind panic as soon as someone mentions anything related to the crisis. Top business executives are at the forefront of Britain’s financial affairs so they are feeling the pinch more intensely than most, but at the same time they have to be role models to their employees and the people around them. As we all know, the property market has crashed and burned, yet Ivor Dickinson, managing director of Douglas and Gordon, likes to stay level-headed about the situation and be honest with his employees. He spoke to six other business gurus and this is what he had to say about being the boss, the economic crisis and staying grounded: “Obviously, as a leader, the one thing you want to do is be confident, because that is what inspires people and makes them want to stay with you, because they think jobs are going to be safe. You do not want to sound as if you are in a panic, which sometimes you are. At the same time, you do not want to have an air of complacency either.Wednesday, April 22, 2009
An Estate Agent Speaks Out
OK, so I know it’s all the fault of the banks. The fact that this “new” Labour government have been bowing and scraping to the City since its first day in power like some sycophantic maitre de in a pseudo grand restaurant never likely to achieve a star status of any kind, is beside the point. Why did the thought to improve regulation never cross their minds? Why did our then Chancellor continue to take the credit for the booming economy without once questioning that perhaps house price rises of 25% per annum weren’t a very good thing and issuing mortgages to individuals who couldn’t possibly service them was a recipe for disaster?
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Decisions, decisions
I have worked at Douglas & Gordon for 22 years and been Managing Director for 15 of them. In that time, I have seen good and bad times and, let’s be honest, until 18 months ago we had experienced the best 3 years of all. Throughout that time, the fundamental challenge has been to gain market share. The last 6 months in particular have however presented a completely different challenge – survival. In order to survive, we are faced with a host of new dilemmas. The kind of decisions that now have to be made are alien to us and inevitably mistakes will be made.Monday, June 22, 2009
Property in Kensington: stylish houses and apartments
Property in Kensington is some of the most sort-after (and pricey) in the world. But if you know what you’re looking for, you can land yourself a well-located gem with great views and plenty of space and light. Built in the extravagant Georgian and Victorian eras, these quintessential English homes offer the resident a sense of history. The changes in the last 200 years, while subtle, have allowed property in Kensington to be modernised just enough to be ideal for the twenty-first century city dweller.Friday, May 15, 2009
Finding Balance in Times of Crisis
In this time of economic crisis in Britain, we need our leaders to stand strong more than ever and give us sound advice. However, leaders are people too, and while some people choose to be philosophical about the crisis, others go into a blind panic as soon as someone mentions anything related to the crisis. Top business executives are at the forefront of Britain’s financial affairs so they are feeling the pinch more intensely than most, but at the same time they have to be role models to their employees and the people around them. As we all know, the property market has crashed and burned, yet Ivor Dickinson, managing director of Douglas and Gordon, likes to stay level-headed about the situation and be honest with his employees. He spoke to six other business gurus and this is what he had to say about being the boss, the economic crisis and staying grounded: “Obviously, as a leader, the one thing you want to do is be confident, because that is what inspires people and makes them want to stay with you, because they think jobs are going to be safe. You do not want to sound as if you are in a panic, which sometimes you are. At the same time, you do not want to have an air of complacency either.Wednesday, April 22, 2009
An Estate Agent Speaks Out
OK, so I know it’s all the fault of the banks. The fact that this “new” Labour government have been bowing and scraping to the City since its first day in power like some sycophantic maitre de in a pseudo grand restaurant never likely to achieve a star status of any kind, is beside the point. Why did the thought to improve regulation never cross their minds? Why did our then Chancellor continue to take the credit for the booming economy without once questioning that perhaps house price rises of 25% per annum weren’t a very good thing and issuing mortgages to individuals who couldn’t possibly service them was a recipe for disaster?Saturday, April 18, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009