1	Coastal Property Guild
2	Objectives By providing a common sales/marketing strategy & operating framework we intend to: Increase sales Reduce marketing costs Increase customers’ faith & trust Raise customer awareness of coastal properties Simplify & reduce administration Exploit economies of scale Acquaint prospective customers with the area
3	Proposed Scheme Overview Retain your individual business identity & style A common database gives you instant access to all (or selected by area) members’ properties from inside your own website ‘Umbrella’ marketing schemes to reduce costs and raise awareness of the inland property market. Code Of Conduct – ensures ‘fair play’ and promotes customer confidence
4	Shared Property Database I The Concept Members enter their properties into a shared database via a simple form on a web page – including the nearest town. Members choose which towns are within their serviceable area. All the properties that match the ‘towns list’ appear on their own website, complete with advanced searching facilities. Formatted leaflets, in the house style, may be printed off for presenting to clients. Hidden fields inform the member of supplementary information such as ‘bottom line’ price, directions and the key-holder’s details. Thus, with leaflet in hand, a member can confidently present a property, in a nearby town, that was added by another member - only an hour before.
5	Shared Property Database II Key Benefits Hugely increased availability equals more deals closed. Retain valuable clients. As you can access all the properties they need, they no longer have to trudge around the agents (and out of your door). Receive commissions from other agents who sell your properties. Fast searchable database saves precious time while facing the client. Integrates into your website with your own fonts and colours. Quick and easy property entry and leaflet production – no special skills required.
6	Group Marketing Key Features & Benefits Raise your company image by the promotion of the ‘Coastal Property Guild’ logo and the ‘Code Of Conduct’ for mutual benefit – as an assurance of excellence and integrity. Additional ‘umbrella’ website - further promotes your business and properties while generating extra sales leads. Co-operative newspaper / free-sheet advertising – share full pages and sections with other members, save money and raise awareness of the inland property market. Shared show stands at key events and exhibitions – reducing costs. Additional opportunities such as local radio advertising – beyond the scope of most agencies working alone.
7	Code Of Conduct Key Features & Benefits The Code will be formulated by the founding members themselves, in very plain English and Spanish, in such a manner that it is credible, unambiguous and easy to understand. The Code will be policed by the members who can apply sanctions against any offenders e.g. suspension, fines or expulsion from the Guild. It is expected that the Logo will be quickly perceived as an endorsement of quality, service and integrity. Separates the professionals from the ‘cowboys’. Builds customer confidence. Cost-effective conflict resolution.
8	Area Familiarisation Tours I The Agent’s View – The Issues During our research phase, we found a common area of complaint from agents - the amount of time ‘wasted’ in showing the clients around the general area. They felt they were being used as free tour guides, especially as the clients often were never heard from again. They did not feel able to charge for this service. The time spent showing these clients around could be more productively spent elsewhere. The clients often bought from their competition - after they had done a lot of spadework.
9	Area Familiarisation Tours II The Client’s View We asked some prospective clients, over several months, in various towns on the Costa. This was the consensus: They wanted agents to ‘show them around’ as there seemed nobody else to ask. They wanted impartial advice on schools, public transport, what people did on weekends, where the shops and services were and a drive around (including a few local places of interest) to get the general feel of the area. They thought that spending a few euros on being given the ‘inside info’ by locals, would be well worthwhile - as they were contemplating spending many thousands.
10	Area Familiarisation Tours III Area Familiarisation Tours - A Solution The Guild could provide this as service: Agents could refer these prospective clients to us for a day or half day familiarisation tour, at sensible prices, in their transport or ours. We can show them what they want to see and let you sell to clients who are at a more appropriate stage. We can provide a report to the referring agent of the client’s preferences and any other useful feedback. Airport / Hotel pickup and drop off would also be possible.
11	Member Services Just some of our services Included in Membership Monthly Fees Telephone Hotline - for the property shared database. Maintenance & data backup of the shared database. Review of property entries to ensure a common style. Included in The Joining Fees Customisation the member’s property web page or assisting their webmaster. Half-Day on-site training. Optional Extras General Computer Help Desk -. Windows/MS Office/Anti-Virus etc. Emergency and contracted (monthly) hardware & software support. Web design, maintenance & hosting at very favourable members rates. Low-cost telephony rates - especially to and from the UK, Germany & France.
12	Costs & Benefits I Joining Fee Customising the your property web page to encapsulate our property-engine (it uses your page as a picture frame). If you have no website at all, for the same price, we can supply a very usable generic site, customised with your company colours. Customising the server software with your details, colours & font styles Two half-days of on-site training. The first session covers the basic operation of the software The second session recaps the first and deals with any specify questions. 800 eu
13	Costs & Benefits II Monthly Fees Level 1 0 to 99 properties 85 euros/month Level 2 100 to 499 110 euros/month Level 3 500 to 999 135 euros/month Level 4 1000+ Please Enquire For That You Receive: Property sharing & marketing web based network Additional Exposure from property listing on The Guild’s site & Kyero Telephone / Email Hotline - for the property shared database. Review of property entries to ensure high quality listings and a common style. Maintenance & data backup of the shared database. Web Hosting Level 1 200 MB web space 2 GB monthly transfer 10 email addresses, pop3 and web mail FTP access (or by FrontPage Extensions) Level 2 500 MB web space 4 GB monthly transfer 25 email addresses, pop3 and web mail FTP access (or by FrontPage Extensions) Level 3 1000 MB web space 6 GB monthly transfer 50 email addresses, pop3 and web mail FTP access (or by FrontPage Extensions)