Georgia has worked at Bricklane for over a year as a Negotiations Associate. Here we discuss her role, what it’s like working in property and her advice for new starters.
What does a Negotiations Associate do?
At its core, being a Negotiations Associate involves trying to secure the best deals we can get for the properties we’re purchasing. We coordinate all of Bricklane’s bids with estate agents and are also responsible for the first round of physical due diligence, such as viewings and surveys.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love working in the property industry. I was an estate agent before joining Bricklane and my dad worked in property too. You get to speak to different people every day, and not just be stuck behind a screen.
Being a Negotiations Associate also gives you a lot of insight into other parts of the acquisitions process and helps build your knowledge in areas outside your usual remit.
What’s a typical day like for you?
The Negotiations team starts each day with a morning catch-up, where we talk about results from the previous day, go through any queries or questions we have about properties and make sure everyone has what they need for the day ahead.
We’ll usually start bidding on properties straight away but sometimes I’ll work through any admin that needs to be taken care of first. 11am – 12pm is our ‘power hour’ where we assign properties, call agents and send out as many bids as we can.
After lunch, we’ll assign time to review the viewings and surveys that have come in for properties we’ve had bids accepted on to ensure everything is as it should be. If any issues emerge during diligence, we may need to investigate further, liaising with surveyors, contractors and agents to resolve them.
From there, I’ll use the rest of the day to catch up on emails and book in viewings and surveys for any newly agreed offers. Towards the end of the day, I’ll also make a list of tasks for the next day’s agenda.
Alongside this, we’ll be in regular communication with estate agents, both as part of the bidding process and to help ensure we’re keeping up to date on market trends.
We’re always looking at ways to refine and streamline our process, whether that be with new programmes or through automation.
What do you like about working at Bricklane?
Everyone respects you; there’s no micromanagement and no one dictating your work to you.
The flexibility to work from home is nice too, as I enjoy going into the office and interacting with people, but also having time at home when needed. It’s a very good work/life balance!
What advice would you give to newcomers or future hires?
Ask as many questions as you need and want to, and take things slowly. If you’re not sure about something, always ask as we’re a really friendly team.
