Role: Co-Owner
Company: Propertyhop
Track Record: Being online, we’re a 24 hour service.
Fiona Robinson is co-owner in a new online business called Propertyhop, an online estate agency service which aims to equip home owners to sell or let their property and features a DIY package which could help customers save money.
Fiona has been in the estate agency and financial service sector for over 20 years and met business partner, Lisa Wightman 10 years ago while working in the financial services sector.
Fiona worked in Propertyhop for a few years before deciding to purchase the company and the brand and set it up as an online interactive estate agency.
Using their combined knowledge and experience in financial services, estate agency, business management and marketing, they have the perfect mix to make this a successful venture.
Fiona lives in Newtownabbey and is married with six grown-up children, one grandchild and has a Shih Tzu called Charlie.
6am
Alarm goes off and the very first thing I do is check our Propertyhop online system for any new contact requests that may have come in overnight.
The service is 24 hours so it’s important that I keep up to date and on the ball!
8am
Breakfast meeting with my business partner Lisa Wightman.
Over a coffee we have an update on current ongoing properties and marketing plans for the coming week.
At the moment there is only myself and Lisa so all our customers will have our full attention!
Our aim is to ensure that Propertyhop is interactive with a creative approach to selling, including advice on how to present your house for either selling or letting.
We are also keen to take a more relaxed informative approach to our service — friendly but professional.
9.30am
Say goodbye to Lisa and meet with a prospective client who wants to put their house up for sale.
We have a chat through their needs and the three packages that we have available.
The packages are tailored to suit budgets and the time our customers can commit to the estate agency process.
One of unique selling points is our DIY package — we offer tips and ad-vice which can help customers potentially save hundreds of pounds.
This can all be done interactively via Propertyhop.co.uk
11am
Time to deal with emails and text messages.
This is done throughout the day —the beauty of an online business is that it is always in your pocket no matter what the time or where you are!
12.30pm
Meet with viewers to show them round a house which is for sale.
1.30pm
Speak to our mortgage broker for an up-date on an ongoing house purchase to try to finalise a moving in date.
2pm
Grab a bite to eat whilst flicking through the Propertynews website to keep up to date on other house sales and browse through Facebook to see what posts Lisa has put up that day.
Then deal with any comments or notifications that have come through.
3pm
Meet with new tenants to give them the keys to their new house — this is always a great feeling!
3.30pm
Time to catch up with Lisa.
As we have just launched Propertyhop we take time to go through possible upcoming blog subjects, adverts on Facebook, marketing and PR, and leaflet drops.
We are keen get the brand’s message out there.
4pm
Arrange to have a new washing machine delivered to a tenant in a property which we manage.
4.30pm
Arrange Energy Performance Certificates with our qualified surveyor for a new seller and then arrange for a sale board to be delivered and erected at their property.
5pm
Add a new property to the website for sale which has just come back with complete Energy Performance Certificates.
5.30pm
Confirm appointments for that evening including viewings.
The beauty of having an office at home is you are always available, but you tend to spend more time working, which I don’t mind!
6.30pm
I really enjoy cooking and baking. This helps me switch off and make time for my family.
There is nothing more pleasing than the smell of home cooking around the house and to watch people enjoy what you’ve made.
7.30Pm
Time to take our dog for a walk and follow up on some Facebook posts and web enquiries.
8.30pm
This is usually the time that my husband removes my mobile for a few hours and demands I take an hour away from work — he is very good at that!
10.30pm
With my phone back in hand I make a few final checks before turning in for the night.