Northwood North East Scotland is fast becoming one of the North-east’s leading estate and lettings agencies, successfully overcoming the multiple challenges which have affected the sector in recent years. At its helm is Managing Director Laura Mearns, who is the driving force behind the company.
Laura’s resilience was developed at an early age. “I would say that my strength and determination, as well as my ability to look for the positives in everything, are important factors in the success of Northwood,” she explains.
“When I was young, I learned to be strong and focused. I was also fortunate in that I was able to attend St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen – having positive female role models in both my mother and at the school have contributed enormously to my success as a business leader.”
‘The story of Northwood – which specialises in residential property leasing and sales services in North East Scotland – began in 2008, when Laura and her husband Steven, both chartered accountants, decided there was a need for a new property leasing offering in Aberdeen.
“The country was in the grip of a major worldwide economic recession, but Aberdeen was in its own bubble and had a reputation for bucking the national trend. We felt the franchise route was right for us, giving us the necessary backing to open our first business as well as the opportunity to bring our unique guaranteed rent service to the local market.
“As new parents of a months-old baby – and later another two children – we quickly learned to balance work with family life. In 2013, Steven set up his own business, and I took over the reins and went full-time. Steven has been a huge influence in all I have done; he inspires and supports me in everything I do.”
Laura is particularly proud of her award-winning 12-strong team, which has been instrumental in ensuring the company’s growth, despite the difficulties the industry has faced in recent years, including the 2015 downturn in Aberdeen due to the falling oil and gas market; a significant Government shake-up of the lettings industry in 2017; and, in 2020, the global pandemic.
“Our team is our biggest asset – we understand the importance of investing in them, providing mentoring and training opportunities, as well as setting goals and targets which in turn help them grow and progress in their careers. Our staff retention rate is very high.”
In 2020, with a growing annual turnover, Laura took the decision to build on the company’s success by formally launching Bespoke by Northwood, the estate agency part of the business. A personalised service, Bespoke by Northwood is about working closely with the client to understand their priorities and devising a tailored marketing plan to find the right buyer for their property.
“There is never a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to selling property – it is a very individual and personal thing and choosing the right agent is essential in ensuring the right advice is given and marketing strategy adopted.
“Our aim is to be the agent of choice in North East Scotland, providing first class customer service to our clients, the main contributing factor to the continued growth of our business. We will continue to capitalise on increased market share through our strong office and online presence, commitment to going over-and-above for our clients, and, our personal approach to leasing and selling properties.
“Compared to most agencies we have a much higher ratio of staff to portfolio numbers ensuring we have a close relationship with our clients and we protect their property investment and maximise returns. Success in this industry doesn’t come easy, but it is through sheer hard work and attention to detail that we have achieved what we have.”
Contact the Northwood team today to book your free no obligation valuation.
01224 218450
