Whilst Xmas and the New Year is always a time for celebration, Managing Director Michael Day will, on December 29th have clocked up 34 years in the business and therefore 2010 will be his 35th year.

Michael remembers his first task in agency was cleaning the artificial Christmas snow off the window dressed in his new suit. Thankfully he says "Things did improve!"

Despite protesting that he started when he was three, he does admit to now being fifty and a proud grandfather too!

Michael has seen many changes in the property industry over his career and highlights the changes in technology as being the most radical and influential.

He says "When I started we didn't even have a photocopier and photographs on estate agents details were a rarity. Now with the internet and email it is commonplace to send full details with floor plans, videos, pictures etc direct to someone's mobile phone (another thing we didn't have when I started!).

One thing that hasn't changed is that the best businesses put their customers first.

Legislation and regulation has increased and a greater emphasis on training and staff development has emerged.

Probably the only thing that has gone backwards is fee levels (in % terms) although each business must set out their business model to set themselves apart and succeed." 

As a huge advocate of the use of technology, quality customer care and of brand building, Michael still sees the good old traditional values of courtesy, honesty and hard work as essential ingredients in any successful business.  

He adds "We have seen more change in the last ten years than in the previous twenty five and I look forward to working with enlightened businesses to maximise their full potential going forward. The pace of change will not slow and I am as excited about the future today as I was back in 1975 when I started."