Estate agency and property group Andrews’ innovative use of social media and its pioneering website has helped it collect four awards at the prestigious Estate Agency of the Year Awards, including silver in the Best Large Estate Agency category for the second year running.
The Keynsham-based firm, with offices across the south of England, also collected a silver award for its use of social media at the glittering ceremony at London’s Lancaster Hotel.
The judges were impressed with how social media was not viewed as a central resource, but instead as something that everyone at Andrews is encouraged to get involved in.
The firm’s monitoring of all activity and adherence to a policy document that everyone has access to was also noted. Andrews’ weekly #PropertyHour initiative on Twitter was given special mention, along with its use of Google+ Live Stream Hangouts, both as ways of achieving the business aim of using social media to communicate, engage and educate.
Andrews was commended by the award judges for reviewing all systems, processes and working relationships with customers to improve technology use, marketing strategies, market share and customer feedback.
This has led to increased rates of referral and repeat business. Andrews’ community-focused outlook was also highlighted by judges who showcased the firm’s work experience programme, as well as it being the only agency to operate with a charitable status.
Andrews also collected bronze awards for its marketing activity and its website.
The judges in the marketing category made special reference to Andrews’ Christmas Cracker campaign, now operating for the second year and which was born from the use of web traffic monitoring to recognise the spike in interest that its own website received over the festive period.
In the website category Andrews was applauded for its commitment to providing seamless information between its branches and the website so that each and every customer receives consistent levels of service and information wherever their interaction takes place. The ‘My Andrews’ system on which customers can access their private account to track progress, book viewings and make offers was also recognised as being integral to this approach.
Congratulations were also extended to Ben Pennant from Andrews Streatham branch and John Freeman from the Horley branch, who were shortlisted for Best Negotiator and Best Valuer respectively.
Andrews head of marketing Nick Moir, who collected the awards at ceremony, said: “We were delighted when we picked up Silver in the Best Large Estate Agency category last year so to have retained that is a great finale to a very successful year.
“We know we are unique in the UK in the way we balance working hard to contribute to the success of the company, whilst ensuring that we support the communities in which we work and so to have that recognised is very gratifying.
“These awards are for the whole Andrews family and stand us in good stead for what we hope will be an even more successful 2015.”
Success at the Estate Agency of the Year Awards tops off a year that has seen Andrews also pick up Silver for its use of social media and its website at the Lettings Agency of the Year Awards, as well as scoop the Top AR Firm for Business Quality award at the Legal & General Mortgage Club Network Awards.
Pictured: Nick Moir, Andrews head of marketing, centre, with Scottish entrepreneur and CEO of Ultimo lingerie brand owner MJM International, and Brian Farrell, managing director of Metropix
