Red Door Rentals first stepped through the door to become a property letting agent in February 2010. Female entrepreneurs, Joanne Mahood and Kim Lawrence decided it was time to take the step towards self-employment. As the recession hit, the opportunity arose for a new letting agency as rentals increased and less people could afford to purchase their own property. Kim told us “It has always been an ambition to set up my own business and it just felt like the right time to go for it” Their expertise in this field was vast, having both come from a rental and building background.
Joanne and Kim didn’t waste any time before they were sitting in their first training class in North City Business Centre on the ‘Go For It’ programme. Having already built up good relationships with landlords over many years their reputation for providing a high quality service was a stepping stone towards success.
The ‘Go For It’ training programme at North City Business Centre provided seminars which were tailored to their skill set. Joanne told us, “We automatically felt at ease and the advisors made sure we kept on track. Business Advisor, Andrew Cousins was a great help with marketing and website advice which ensured we were making progress.” The name Red Door Rentals was even created during a training class. While passing a list of ideas around the class, the name was established as the most popular choice.
Red Door Rentals also benefited from one to one mentoring which they found very valuable. Talking to industry experts gave them insight and advice on areas they felt weakest on which helped to piece together a winning strategy. “All the scary things such as drawing up a business plan and setting up a business bank account were made straightforward with the help of North City Business Centre sending us in the right direction”
Red Door Rentals differentiates itself from others in the market through their experience, approachable nature and variety of service. They aren’t just a letting agency; knowing expectations from a landlord and builder point of view, nothing is too much for them. A tailored service and flexible approach makes them stand out in the market. Their current location at BT3 Business Centre even utilises their experience to let some of their units. Being a member of the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) reiterates their dedication to their tenants and landlords; giving them piece of mind in a regulated service.
The future looks bright for Red Door Rentals, an expanding property portfolio and competitive rates for both tenants and landlords provide the perfect combination for success. “We get very good feedback from our landlords, they have commented on our high quality service on a number of occasions.” Properties in the East of Belfast are quickly joining their portfolio with the South next on the list. With hopes of a main street city location and increasing staff levels, they are determined that expansion will occur at a rate without jeopardising the high level of service.
Entering through the door to self employment has been a rewarding experience for Joanne and Kim. “I would definitely recommend the programme, its fantastic! Even if you’ve just got a business idea, North City Business Centre will help you through all the stages.” Though there are many long hours they are passionate about what they do and gain a great sense of satisfaction. Red Door Rentals are ‘Big enough to manage, Small enough to care.’
To find out more visit http://www.reddoorrentals.co.uk/
If you would like more information on the training and mentoring available at North City Business Centre, please contact us on 028 90747470
