Firm foundations for budding entrepreneur
A young entrepreneur is hoping his business is as safe as houses after setting up a wwwonderful way of selling homes without expensive estate agency fees.
At the tender age of 23 Spencer Claydon decided to go it almost alone and set up his solely web-based business www.sell4less.co.uk
But the online business isn’t his first experience of the property market - it was the sale of his student house and the stinging estate agents fees that prompted him to seek an alternative.
Said Spencer: “I came to Sheffield as a student and bought my own home but when I graduated and came to sell I realised just how much I had to pay the agents for doing very little.
“I thought there had to be a better way and I think we’ve found it. Our full package is £200 rather than two percent.
“People often play a bigger role than they realise in selling their home. Agents can often be difficult to get hold of outside traditional office hours and people can be asked to take viewers round their home. And while sometimes agents perform this role I don’t think it’s worth the £4,500 charged on a £200,000 house!”
Sell4Less offer two packages - a basic package which comprises free listing on the Sell4Less website and a more comprehensive bundle that includes property brochures, a ‘For Sale’ sign, listing on the website and advertising on other reputable homes websites for the small sum of £200.
And the recent graduate showed that he had learned the value of Sheffield steel by opening and setting up his business despite the uncertainty of the property market nationwide.
Said Spencer: “The market nationwide isn’t as buoyant as it once was so we’ve really got our work cut out but I know we can do and that the idea is a good one.
“I’ve always wanted to run my own business and I’ve been lucky enough to do that at a young age. I’m prepared to work very hard and want to reap the rewards of that.
“We originally started the business while I was completing my degree so it was an incredibly busy and difficult time but we’re determined to succeed and help prevent others being stung the way I was.”
Spencer, who is originally from Wickhambrook, Suffolk, has set up Sell4Less with his brother Oliver (25) and partner Nicola Barrass (24) from Darlington.
Spencer, who now lives in Sheffield city centre, and his business partners got more for less when they turned to Sheffield Enterprise Agency (SENTA) for support.
He said: “Even though I completed a business related degree at Sheffield Hallam the help we received from SENTA was still invaluable. Their advice was very practical and they were really supportive.
“In some ways I wish we’d turned to them earlier than we did because our advisor Paul Beck has been especially helpful. His knowledge of websites and what our designers should have been doing was fantastic.
“And because we trade nationally they even helped source additional funding assistance as well.”
SENTA Enterprise Director Sandra Edwards said: “It’s great to see such enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit in three such young people. They know what they want and are prepared to chase their dreams.
“They’ve set their targets high and I’m sure we can help them achieve their goals.”
Sheffield Enterprise Agency (SENTA) is part of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and provides fully integrated support to new business start-ups and businesses up to two years old.
Its start-up programme is funded by Yorkshire Forward under contract with Business Link South Yorkshire.