Despite his busy schedule he has agreed to be Patron of Agents Giving - the charity formerly known as the Estate Agency Foundation.
Phil, 45, is already an active charity worker doing sponsored bike rides, after dinner speeches, auctions and is also patron of Broadway, the homeless charity, which Agents Giving supports.
“This year I have three bike ride challenges lined up and I’m set to cycle 250 miles from Cornwall to London in June,” says Phil.
“The majority of my work is property related and I am constantly in contact with estate agents – so if I can assist in galvanizing and encouraging them, then I am delighted to give it a go.”
Phil believes agents can help themselves by helping others – particularly in the local community, yet he recognises they have a difficult role.
“Their daily work means they are constantly dealing with members of the public who are involved in one of the most emotionally stressful and financially important deals of their entire lives. It’s not an easy position from which to make your living.
People forget agents are paid by the seller to sell their home for the most amount of money in the shortest possible time. They are not paid to advise, guide or even to provide a service to buyers. By working to satisfy the seller, estate agents can leave the other party feeling aggrieved – this accounts for the poor image they have amongst the public!
Agents Giving aims to increase current agency involvement and to ‘top-up’ money raised by estate agents for a range of good causes and get more agents to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in.”
