JFM – What Have We Been Up To?

It’s been a (very long!) while since we last posted to our blog.

But we’re back again, and there’s an awful lot to update you on. Frankly, we’ve been so busy working hard for our customers and building up our great team, that less essential marketing tasks have taken a back seat.

These past two years have been an incredible period of development for our company. And while some of you have no doubt been keeping up with progress on Twitter and Facebook, we thought it would be a nice idea to round things up here.

2017

Picking Up Where We Left Off

JFM started out life in Perivale and then moved to Eastcote (near Ruislip).

But in Summer 2017, we moved to Middlesex House, on College Road, by Harrow-on-the Hill tube station.

When we last posted to this blog, we had just moved to the location.

We’re now well settled, and the business is thriving in our permanent home. It’s a fantastic location and we’re very much here for the long-run. In fact, we’re expanding the size of our office considerably by taking the whole of the 2nd floor in the building in which we’re situated and we’ll be here for at least the next 5 years.

Awards

In December 2017, JFM were finalists in the category of Best Managing Agent of an RMC/RTM Block at the Property Management Awards (PMAs). This filled us with pride given our small size. It was a sign of things to come.

2018

Recognition

2018 was the year that JFM began to be recognised by the industry and more prestigious customers alike.

For a second time, Managing Partners, Joe Mallon and James Farrar were named by the industry publication, News on the Block, as two of the most influential people in the leasehold sector.

Throughout the leasehold industry heads started turning, as our online review scores and success in tender competitions began attracting attention.

Growth

By the end of the year, JFMs team had grown to 12 staff.

Total blocks/estates under management: 57

Total homes under management: approx. 2,000

Awards

JFM deservedly won Best Medium-Sized Managing Agent at the 2018 ARMA ACE Awards in July.

It was the firm’s first national award.

Shortly afterwards, JFM picked-up the London Property Manager of the Year Award at the Property Management Awards (PMAs) held in November.

This remarkable success capped off a year of positive change which would set things up for even greater achievements the following year.

2019

Further Success

2019 has been the year that the hard-work and determination of our staff has paid off with the biggest rewards to-date. Our reputation was already preceding us and decision-makers at several large estates had been in conversation with JFM towards the end of 2018.

A number of these came to fruition during the early part of 2019, with further interest generating more exciting opportunities by the summer. Between January and August 2019, contracts were agreed on a number of prestigious developments, including:

  • Tequila Wharf, 137 units, Limehouse
  • SpacE1, 214 units, Aldgate
  • Verulam Court, 104 units, Hendon
  • Creekside Village, 393 units, Greenwich
  • Kingston Riverside, 210 units, Kingston

These large acquisitions supplemented the steady stream of medium-sized blocks/estates that continued to join JFM in the period. At the time of writing, JFM’s managed portfolio stood at:

  • Total Blocks/Estates under management: 80
  • Total Homes under management: 3,500 (approx.)

Our team naturally grew to accommodate the client growth and as of October 2019, JFM had 17 office staff and 21 site staff.

We’re proud that with our growth, we’ve retained the highest online review scores in the industry (Google 4.9 / Facebook 4.3).

Awards

JFM have been named as finalists in 7 awards this year!

We went on to win two of three at the ARMA ACE Awards 2019, including the coveted ‘Customer Service Award’.

The result of the ‘Employer of the Year’ award will be announced at Property Week’s ‘Management All Stars’ event on 6 November.

And to top it off we’ve been shortlisted in the following award categories at the upcoming Property Management Awards (PMAs) being held on 22 November 2019:

  • Customer Service
  • Best Managing Agent of an RMC/RTM
  • Employer of the Year
  • Concierge of the Year

The Future

New Mission

JFM’s focus is on ensuring we develop and add to our already excellent team.

That’s why we’re setting out to make JFM the best place to work in the industry.

We’ve even changed our mission statement to reflect this.

Our New Mission:

“To create the best environment, to empower the best people, to provide the best possible property management service”

We know that customers want brilliant people – not gimmicks – and that’s precisely why we’re putting our staff at the forefront of everything we do.

A Centre of Excellence

Our new mission is a statement designed to be a public commitment to provide our customers with the highest-quality people. This outward projection is backed up by a working environment which is inclusive and diverse, with a focus on learning and development, and ultimately making all our team happy.

We’ve also supercharged our benefits package so that we’re offering high performers the best working conditions possible. From flexible working hours, to full private health care, we reward those who look after our customers, by looking after them in return.

New Website

A while in the making, JFM’s fresh and dynamic new website is more suited to where we are now and where we are going. Aligned with our mission, the website is designed to give customers a view of the people that work here and the principles we stand for.

Watch This Space!

There are so many exciting opportunities on the horizon for JFM.

As the team goes from strength to strength, the challenges get tougher – but we’ll be ready for them.

We’ll be posting more regularly to this blog in the future – keep a look-out for further updates.