A dynamic and engaged Land & New Homes Network member, Dean has seen his West Midlands estate agency go from strength to strength in recent years. Here, he explains how a focus on innovation, hard work and an ambitious outlook has enabled the business to expand – and open a dedicated land and new homes agency.
In conversation
Dean Grove
Partner, Lex Allen Grove
Why did you join Land & New Homes Network?
We’ve got a really successful business with a 37% market share here in the West Midlands and had actually looked into opening three other residential branches, but the figures didn’t quite stack up. We were looking for an opportunity and land and new homes seemed the obvious choice – we’d already taken on a couple of sites and knew there was a market out there.
What were your first impressions as a member?
Honestly? That the opportunity was much, much bigger than we’d thought. We were a little taken aback and realised that we’d just been ‘playing at it’ before. So we jumped in with both feet…
How so?
The new branch is now happening. We’ve bought a new premises and it’s going to be a dedicated land and new homes space. There’ll be five of us working in there in the new year and we’ve already got 270 contracted units already to go for next year. And there’s a shedload coming down the line!
So it’s safe to say you’re looking forward to 2019, then?
Absolutely. There may be tough times ahead, but you’d be mad not to take note of key market trends that are happening. We increased our market share in the 2008 crash and that was purely down to innovation and to trying new ideas and approaches. You need different irons in the fire.
