Behind the scenes: Interview with Callum our Head of Lettings

Callum is the head of lettings here at City Relay. His role oversees the long-letting process of properties whose owners want to rent on a mid/long term basis. Working closely with other departments, such as the sales and host team, his overall aim is to aid our hosts in optimising the profit of their property throughout the year. Now.. let’s get to know Callum.

Tell us a little more about you

(Callum) I’m from the countryside, in West Sussex and like most at the age of 16 to 18, I was unsure of what I wanted to do as a career. I started working in sales when I was young and learnt a lot over those couple of years. After a short time away from work, I was lucky to have landed a trainee role at Savills, experiencing many of the parts incorporated in lettings. I was thankful for being promoted, even before my probation period ended, this lead to moving up to London to work as a lettings negotiator in Clapham, Battersea, and Wandsworth.

After a few years of hard work within that role, I felt it was time to step away. I then joined Benham and Reeves as a senior negotiator and stepped up to branch manager after six months. I had previously been in touch with Anna, our HR manager, a year prior to joining City Relay. I then took the leap to join this exciting and growing company, especially the department which I’m leading and have not looked back since!

Wow, there’s been some great experiences along the way. What was your first impression of City Relay?

(Callum) I like it a lot. I’ve been used to more of a corporate culture at Savills especially and it’s our startup culture, attitude and environment here which I love.

So, explain to our soon to be hosts, how your department can merge with short-lets to help make the most of their rental property?

(Callum) By the Summer we hope to have our newest host development. We will be enabling all hosts who are or are new to short-lets, the ability to offer long-lets in addition, through one contract. This gives them the freedom to switch between short and long-let as they please, still keeping in mind the 90-day rule, and marketing them simultaneously to help them get more out of their property.

We wish to be servicing their needs more than any other property management company would be. I think we already have the best short-let service in London, as you can see from our Trustpilot and we want to make that even better by seamlessly integrating long-let options to those that can benefit.

So far, what has been your biggest challenge yet?

(Callum) Working with Arthur, the software we use, no doubt. It’s a new learning curve but by far is the best software I’ve used within lettings, so we are in good hands. Now, I have been able to create better processes and are better able to track and manage all the details associated with long-lets.

How do you see the long-let team growing?

(Callum) We are going to be adding to it soon, in July actually and hopefully again at the end of the year. As we continue to grow our short-let offering we will also grow our long-let service as it does go hand in hand a lot. It’s certainly a busy year ahead of us, but this is exciting.

Finally, we appreciate your time this morning but one more question. If you were to give someone some advice for the future what would it be?

(Callum) Hmmm, be honest and don’t be afraid to speak your mind ever. I think both of these attributes have helped me greatly throughout my time in the working world. I think that is one thing that has got me to where I am. Obviously, within reason, I mean when people ask for suggestions, or if you don’t agree with and you got other ideas which may help develop or help them, put it forward.

If you would like to get in touch with our team about your short-letting and long-letting options, it’s super simple. Just click the button below and fill out your details to view your property’s earning potential!