Page 25 - ESPC Magazine - October2021

ESPC NEWS

THEN AND NOW: HOW OUR SERVICES

HAVE CHANGED OVER 50 YEARS

Much has changed since ESPC launched in 1971, including the technology and
systems we use to help our customers buy and sell their homes.

OUR SHOWROOM EVENTS AND ADVICE
ESPC began in 1971 with the showroom on ESPC has always been known for its events,
George Street, which acted as a hub for which offer the public a free, easy way to
properties on the market, free information access up-to-the-minute advice from our
and advice for buyers and sellers. members and experts. Our ‘Ask the Experts’
slots were always popular, allowing people
Today, we’re still on George Street (albeit to book a free slot with a property expert in
at a different address), and our Property our showroom, while our free property advice
Information Centre remains the go-to phone service was a great way to get answers TECHNOLOGY In 2020, we decided to discontinue both the
destination for those looking for professional to any questions home-movers had. Our technology has varied over the years, as ESPC Paper and Premier Living, replacing
property advice and the latest homes on the huge advancement has meant that we can them with ESPC Magazine.
market. Previously adorned with wall cards, This service has adapted over the years, offer more to home-movers than ever before.
these days we take an eco-friendly approach, and we now offer a range of virtual events A CHANGING WORLD
with digital ads, customer tablets and printing and webinars for home-movers, while our In our early days, we relied on phone calls, Post-Covid-19, ESPC has had to adapt, and
on request. phone advice services continues to thrive. posting schedules and paperwork, and ensure that our members and clients are kept
Our recent series of virtual events, spanning inviting movers into the showroom to view up to date with the latest developments and
everything from first-time buyers to local properties. These days we have a wealth Government guidance.
property market updates, were incredibly of technology at our fingertips to help you
popular and will be a huge part of our future move home. Pre-2020, open viewings were the most
events calendar. popular way to view properties, and a
In 1997, we launched espc.com, and in 2017 property could have 20 or 30 households
our app was created. Both services are now visit in one afternoon. Today, the thought of
the first port of call for home-movers across this seems incredible; as individual private
Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders. appointments have rapidly become the norm
My ESPC is our online hub, where you can for viewing properties.
sign up for instant alerts on properties, from
the comfort of your sofa. Our technology and advice has developed
to support this too; since 2020, we’ve
PRINTED PUBLICATIONS encouraged our member firms to include
ESPC has offered a printed publication since virtual tours when listing a property. Virtual
1982, when we launched our weekly ESPC tours help prospective buyers make informed
paper – the ultimate place for a property decisions about whether to view properties,
to appear for almost 40 years. In 2010, we encouraging a virtual-first approach to
ESPC virtual events and webinars launched our luxury glossy title, Premier viewings that we see continuing into the
Living, which focused on homes at the higher future.
end of the market.

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