Every property professional has a different property backgrounds. It is a diverse industry. This exciting interview follows Simon Trigg’s amazing journey from footballer into property has taken him across the world and back again. Read on to find out why Simon loves his job and his advice for you in the property industry.
Hi Simon,
It’s a pleasure interviewing you for the NC Real Estate blog, thanks for agreeing to come on.
So I’ve scoped you out on linked in (and just sent you a connection request!) and I see that you haven’t only been working in the UK you have Dubai under your belt too, and used to be a professional football player for West Bromwich Albion FC you’ve had a really varied career to date!
How did you initially get into the property world?
After leaving the baggies due to injury the PFA (player’s football association) helped me with careers advice. I decided on property as I felt that Sales would be a good option for me. I have always had an interest in the industry and I started as a negotiator and worked my way up.
What was working in Dubai like compared to the UK?
Dubai is very different to working in the UK, I was a broker there and had to source my own clients which I dealt with directly. It’s a very tough, aggressive market but one that was very lucrative and in all honesty I loved it there. I learnt so much during this experience and brought back many clients with me which I have introduced to the UK market.
Spicerhaart is such an exciting diverse property brand, what made you jump over to them?
I was head hunted when I arrived back from Dubai to run two regions in the land and new homes division. This has been fantastic for me and has allowed me to develop a focus on land and new homes.
What is the benefit of Spicerhaart being an all-encompassing property company?
We have the expertise from sourcing the land right through to finding the buyer and will hold the developers hand all the way through the process.
What’s day to day life like working as a Regional Sales Director?
A typical day starts for me at 6:30am, so I can be out the door for 730am and on the road to meet clients, go to my developments, usually there is no time for lunch so that consist of me eating and drinking in my car on my way to various meetings while on my phone answering and receiving calls, stopping off only to check my emails, I usually arrive home around 730pm and go straight to the gym for an hours work out then home for food and bed. It’s all work, work, work for me but I love my job so I do feel lucky.
You must get a lot of investors approach you for deals, what does a stand-out investor look like to you?
Someone who knows what (s)he wants and if I have that deal will put pen to paper and close the deal straight away.
Do you invest in property? If so which is the most exciting investment you’ve brought?
I have my own personal property portfolio as I believe in what I am selling, it is very surprising to me that most of the UK people who work in property do not even own their own home let alone and buy to let property’s. The most exciting investment I have purchased was in Dubai and that was a redevelopment of apartments which overlooked the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world).
The property industry has been through pretty turbulent times in the press recently, what do you think its flaws are and how do you see it changing over the next 5 years?
The government target for new homes completions is 20,000 per month for the next 10 years and at present we are achieving less than half of that so we are constantly playing catch up therefore I don’t see any flaws in the property industry as long as you look at it as a long term investment, the prices will go up and down occasionally but if you buy correctly with the best advice like how I look for investment’s then as far as I see it’s still a great purchase.
Do you have any tips for first time buyers who want to get onto the property ladder?
I would personally go and see a financial advisor first to make sure they can obtain a mortgage and then once that has been agreed by a lender then they need to decide where they want to buy and stick to one area and start contacting estate agents and view properties, at the moment it’s a buyers’ market so take full advantage and make some offers on what they want.
Finally, what’s next on your property journey?
I have a few big property deals pending in both the UK and Dubai so exciting times for me personally but at the moment it’s a waiting game.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions, both I and my readers appreciate it. If anybody would want to get in contact with you how would they do it?
Twitter- @simonttrigg
Linked In- Simon T Trigg
Email- [email protected]
If this has been super useful for you then don’t forget to share it far and wide and comment with what you took away from this below! It goes to show that no matter where your property backgrounds come from, you can make it as a huge success within the industry.
NC
If you loved this interview, check out our previous one here with Lukas Sheen.
