Thornbury based estate agency Lisa Costa Residential Sales and lettings, which launched just 15 months ago, has taken a Silver award at The ESTAS 2016, the UK's most prestigious estate and letting agent awards.
The winners were announced by TV property expert Phil Spencer at a luncheon and awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on April 15. The event was attended by 900 of the UK's top property professionals to see the best in the business being recognised for their efforts.
The awards, now in their 13th year and sponsored by Zoopla Property Group, are based on research amongst estate and letting agents' clients. This year over 30,000 questionnaires were received from customers about the service they had received.
Estate and letting agents were shortlisted in 15 regions around the UK and family business Lisa Costa Residential Sales & Lettings was announced as Silver Winner in the South West.
Simon Brown Founder of The ESTAS said: “The ESTAS are special because shortlisted and winning firms are selected purely on the service they deliver to their clients. In fact just taking part shows a firm’s commitment to their customers so to be shortlisted is a great achievement in itself and for the winners this is the highest accolade they can receive in the industry.”
TV's Phil Spencer added: “I think it says a great deal about a company that’s prepared to stand up and announce to customers and competitors that they believe in providing the best possible service and they’re happy to prove it.
"Taking part in the ESTAS sets agents apart from their competitors. It sends a clear message that they are passionate about customer service, prepared to go that extra mile for their clients and keen to listen to feedback."
Lisa Costa from Tockington in South Gloucestershire used her 20 years' experience in property sales and lettings to launch her own estate agency business in January 2015, serving the property market in Thornbury and its surrounding villages. Based in Thornbury's High Street, the business has grown through word-of-mouth and recommendations and its "For Sale" and "To Let" signs are now regularly seen from Bradley Stoke to Berkeley.
Accepting the award, Lisa said she and her team - which includes daughters and experienced property experts Emily and Sophie and close colleague Vicki Lambert - are overjoyed to have been given such outstanding reviews by their clients.
"We would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who took the time to vote for us and to praise the service we provide. We are truly humbled to see our customers sharing their satisfaction with us with the nation." she says.
"We are immensely proud to serve Thornbury, South Gloucestershire and the South West with a personal, convenient and, we believe, unrivalled local service. Winning this award makes us even more determined to ensure every customer who comes to us - whether they are buying, selling, letting or renting - enjoys the experience provided by our knowledgeable, hardworking and friendly team.
"Lisa Costa is about great relationships, a modern approach to property sales and traditional values of honesty and trust and our door is always open for advice and guidance. We are truly excited about what the rest of the year has in store and the new customers who have yet to come through our door."
The ESTAs award follows on from Lisa Costa Residential Sales and Lettings winning a Rightmove mystery shopper award for its fast response times and a market share report confirming the firm's position as the town's leading estate agency.