Specialist Recruitment

We are frequently asked to provide assistance in the recruitment and training of specialist sales staff, both on behalf of our developer clients and as part of our consultancy service.

To date we have placed staff in the US, UK, Canada, various Caribbean islands, Spain, France and Austria. The majority of our placements have remained in their role for at least two years.

Aptitude

As we have previously discussed, our customers are discerning, high net worth individuals for whom an investment property or second home is largely a discretionary purchase. Many of our sales are achieved through the personal recommendation of our existing customers to their friends, family and colleagues and discretion is often vital in our transactions.

Although prior real estate experience is important in more senior roles, our key consideration in the selection of sales personnel is their ability to win the trust of our purchasers and to forge relationships with them.

We generally have access to a pool of suitable individuals and have the ability to search a broad range of contacts and potential sources of talent should it become necessary.

Recruitment Service

We operate our recruitment service along very similar lines to most recruitment consultancies. After receiving a requirement we will carry out initial interviews of as many potentially suitable candidates as is viable. We will then submit a shortlist of candidates suitable for interview by the client.

Case Study 1

Sales Director, Nonsuch Bay, Antigua

In June 2007 we recruited J.A. as the Sales Director as part of our remit to reinvigorate the sales campaign for Nonsuch Bay.

Our requirement was to find an individual suitable for the role of receiving and hosting potential purchasers to the resort, either from organised inspection visits or from holiday makers on Antigua. The price point of the resort and the nature of the Antiguan market are such that the typical buyers are older, high net-worth individuals of UK origin.

J.A. was already known to us and was actively seeking work in the Caribbean at the time, although he did not have any relevant industry experience. Prior to returning to the UK J.A. had worked for ten years as a ski instructor in Val D’ Isere and other prestigious ski resorts where his clientele had been almost entirely UK based high net-worth individuals and families.

After a brief period of training in the UK, and with the client based in Holland, J.A. moved to Antigua in time for the highly successful autumn 2007 launch of the project and he remains in his role today.

Case Study 2

International Sales Director, Three Sisters Mountain Village, Alberta

In 2005 we recruited B.P as International Sales Director as part of our role as international marketing agents for the resort, which was already being marketed into the local area and North America.

Our requirement was to find an individual suitable for the role of hosting inspection visits from various countries including the UK and Holland, and providing liaison with the five building companies which made up the development group.

The specific sensitivity of the local market, and the builder liaison function dictated that the requirement was for a local person with direct experience of real estate project marketing.

B.P was introduced to us by the client as part of a selection process involving five initial candidates. A former Olympic athlete, his experience included over 20 years within the real estate and resorts industries with companies such as Intrawest and Playground.

B.P. enjoyed immense success in this role which continued until the suspension of international sales in December 2008 due to the financial crises. It is highly likely that he will continue this role once sales resume later in 2009 as they are expected to do.