Jan Hÿtch, a former national president of Propertymark, estate agency’s professional body, has stood down as a partner at Arnolds Keys.
Jan's move will allow her to focus on helping firms across the profession improve their standards via her new company, Hytchworks, although she will still remain a part-time consultant at Arnolds Keys.
Jan took her first steps in property in 1985 as a mortgage adviser, before quickly realising that those doing the residential sales role were ‘having much more fun’ than her - so she defected and joined the sales ranks the following year.
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She really enjoyed working for a large independent multi-disciplinary firm until, like many at the time, the business was sold out to a global insurance company.
“I soon discovered that the rigidity of strict telephone scripts and micro-managing, which were the trend at that time, weren’t for me,” says Jan. “But I still loved the work of estate agency, doing my very best in looking after customers and clients through what can be a fraught and emotional time in their lives.”
Realising that the rigid corporate world wasn’t where she wanted to be, Jan joined locally-owned independent firm Arnolds, which subsequently became Arnolds Keys, in 1993.
“I have enjoyed 30 great years almost to the day with Arnolds Keys, and in that time I feel I’ve achieved more than I could ever have hoped for,” says Jan.
Amongst her achievements were becoming Arnolds Keys’ first female partner, subsequently taking on the role of operations partner. She has also always been involved in the wider profession; in 2013 she was elected President of NAEA Propertymark, the professional body for estate agency, and since 2020 she has been Chair of the Norwich & District Association of Estate Agents.
She has always been passionate about raising standards in the profession, with education and training being a particular focus. Jan was instrumental in creating and launching the country’s first college course for young people aged 16 to 19 to take Estate Agency as a career option at further education college – an initiative which has since been rolled out across the UK.
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So why the change now, and what next? Part of Jan’s role at Arnolds Keys has always been to coach and develop the talent within the staff team, including succession planning and bringing through potential new partners.
“We have just appointed two new partners who are a fantastic addition to our team,” she explains. “This coincided with me being invited to head up some exciting new national – and international – projects within the property sector. I’m a great believer in fate, and this seemed like perfect timing.”
So will she continue to work as an estate agent in her new role?
“No,” says Jan. “My new company Hytchworks Ltd will focus on working with firms and organisations who support or work within our profession, helping them to improve standards through training, mentoring, coaching, as well as leadership and project management.”
The new business will also build on another of Jan’s specialisms, mediation and dispute resolution, helping people to resolve complaints and professional disagreements. “These are all parts of my career that I’ve enjoyed the most, and want to focus on,” she says.
“I’ve had a blast and learned an enormous amount over the years, but I’m ready for a new challenge, and its time to pass it forward now.”
For more information Jan can be contacted at jan@hytchworks.com.
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