Property Awards – What are they Really Worth?

Companies spend thousands of pounds on entering property awards every year in the hope of scooping an accolade from their peers. But what exactly does such an award mean to buyers looking for homes either in the UK or abroad? What real worth is it to them that the estate agent, developer, development or property they are dealing with has been deemed by their fellow professionals to be the best? 

It’s generally accepted that property purchasers are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the homes that they buy. Whether a first-time buyer or a seasoned property investor, each and every one is looking for the very best they can afford. They all have a careful eye on the future and need to be as sure as possible that their investment is going to stand the test of time, not only in terms of the quality of build and location but also appreciation.

Let’s face it, homebuyers are literally bombarded with choice these days. There are thousands upon thousands of companies here and overseas, all vying for a slice of the growing consumer trend to own more than one property. When presented with such a mind-boggling array of opportunities, personal recommendation is always a good guide. Take that one step further and you have a benchmark of excellence from the industry itself -a prestigious property award. 

The International Property Awards attract entries from 27 (in 2005) to 56 (in 2007) different countries including Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, China, Thailand, South Africa, Costa Rica, the Phillipines, the Seychelles with new countries entering every year. Entrants spent valuable time and money travelling to London from every corner of the globe to discover whether or not they had scooped one of more than 60 highly prestigious awards.  

The winners are selected after months of deliberation by a panel of judges. An independent body of professionals. Winners are now entitled to display a International Property Awards winners’ logo. This announces to the world that their services to the industry have not only been worthy of competing in the highly competitive international property arena, but of being deemed the best in their field. 

Editor-in-Chief of International Homes magazine and organiser of the event, Helen Shield, said, “Since being launched 11 years ago, the International Property Awards have continued to go from strength to strength. Every year the awards reach new heights in terms of the amount and calibre of entries as well as in the increasing number of countries participating. Each year we receive around 1,000 entries and they are truly on a global basis. Our only problem is finding a venue that’s both large enough and glamorous enough to hold a presentation dinner on such a vast scale every year!”  

A STEP FORWARD FOR ROCKARCH ESTATES... WINNER FOR A THIRD COSECUTIVE YEARThe number 13 has certainly proved lucky for Rockarch Estates as the long awaited results of the world’s largest property competition – the 2007 International Property Awards in conjunction with CNBC – were announced on Friday evening (September 14^th).

Now in their 13^th year, the awards were presented by former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond at a glittering gala dinner in London’s Grosvenor Square.

Approximately 400 property professionals representing 56 different countries around the globe gathered in eager anticipation of winning one or more of the 100 highly prestigious awards across 20 categories.

Buying a property is quite probably the most significant personal expense anyone is likely to make during their lifetime and, with competition fiercer than ever within the market, it’s increasingly difficult for the discerning purchaser to know where to start searching. Developers and estate agents use their award success to stand out in the crowded market place.

The International Property Awards are supported by five media partners and no less than nine professional bodies, their aim being to identify the very best in the residential property market.

Selection is no simple task; it calls for a panel of highly respected judges whose collective knowledge of the industry is second to none. Therefore, the International Property Awards draws on the invaluable expertise of representatives from the National Association of Estate Agents; Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors; National Housebuilding Council; Association of Relocation professionals and the British Interior Design Association, to name but a few (see full list of judges below). The panel is chaired by Eric Pickles MP, British Shadow Secretary of State.

Each and every year, the number of entries far exceeds its previous record, not just in volume but also quality. Vice-chairman of the judges and editor-in-chief of International Homes magazine Helen Shield, comments, “We’ve had new countries enter this year – Indonesia, the Phillipines and the Seychelles for example – and the entries were very diverse. We’re also seeing super-modern builds now with new terminology for rooms such as ‘pods’ adding to the quality of submissions.”

Stuart Shield, founder of the International Property Awards, concludes, “I’m delighted that the awards have grown to such a stature that they have attracted the attention and support of some of the world’s major newspapers – the Daily Mail, New York Times and Sydney Morning Herald – which helps to give the winners even more coverage. I’m also pleased that so many well-respected professional bodies have joined with their backing. We are now going on to crown the year with our event in Las Vegas on November 16^th where the highest point scoring winners will be identified as the best in the world.”

THE JUDGES

Eric Pickles MP, British Shadow Secretary of State (Chairman)
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents
Jeremy Leaf, chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Jonathan Price, president of UK Chapter, FIABCI
Omer Ghani, director of sales and business news broadcaster, CNBC Arabia
Phil Spencer, Garrington Home Finders and Channel 4’s Location Location programme
Imtiaz Farookhi, chief executive of the National House Building Council - NHBC
Christopher Hall, past president National Association of Estate Agents - NAEA
Paul Tayler, vice chairman Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - RICS
Paul Wyatt, head of design for LYCOS UK
Geoff Cohen, design director at Aukett Fitzroy Robinson architects
Dean Keyworth, chairman British Interior Design Association
Diana Yakeley, chairman British Interior Design Association
Sarah Purves, interior designer at Laura Ashley
Tad Zurlinden, chief executive Association of Relocation Professionals – ARP
Neil Jefferson, National Housebuilders Council
Matt Warren, travel and property editor Daily Mail
Graham Norwood, Daily Mail
David Hoppit, property writer
Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes magazine
Jill Keene, editor of International Homes magazine
Christian H. Kalin, partner, Henley & Partners, Zurich
Raul Curiel, chairman, European Operations, Aukett Fitzroy Robinson
Mark Taylor, Silent Gliss
Tom Hardin, Wee World
Tanya Mitchell, director of sales, Jumeirah Hotels   

ROCKARCH ESTATES SCOOPS HIGHLY PRESTIGIOUS PROPERTY AWARD

At a glittering awards ceremony held at the London Marriott in Grosvenor Square on Friday 3^rd November, Rockarch Estates won the International Property Award for Best Bulgarian Real Estate Agency 2006 in the International Property Awards – the world’s biggest and most important property event.

The fact that Rockarch Estates earned one of these coveted awards is sure proof that Bulgaria can not only compete but also triumph within the highly competitive international property arena. Having been given this high recommendation by its peers, the company is now entitled to display the International Property Awards’ logo with pride. This symbol of excellence will be recognised and appreciated by the public who are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the properties they seek to buy.

Now in their 12^th year, the awards have the largest international representation of any recognised property awards.

Over 500 professionals from all sectors of the property market and representing 45 different countries attended this prestigious event presented by rock legend Rick Wakeman. The former BBC Royal Correspondent, Jennie Bond, was also in attendance with a film crew capturing the evening’s events on camera.

THE JUDGES

Entries were judged by a panel of professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is second to none. Chaired by Eric Pickles MP, British Shadow Secretary of State, this year’s judges were:
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents
Jeremy Leaf, chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Omer Ghani, director of sales and business broadcaster, CNBC Arabia
Phil Spencer, property expert and presenter of Channel 4’s Location and Relocation TV shows
Imtiaz Farookhi, chief executive of the National House Building Council
Paul Bassi, regional chairman Coutts Bank
Christopher Hall, immediate past president National Association of Estate Agents
Paul Tayler, vice chairman Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Paul Wyatt, head of design for LYCOS UK
Geoff Cohen, design director at Aukett Fitzroy Robinson architects
Tad Zurlinden, Association of Relocation Professionals
Diana Yakeley, chairman British Interior Design Association
Sarah Purves, interior designer at Laura Ashley
Wayne Hawkes, head of marketing UK Bentley Motors
Liz Rowlinson, Daily Mail property writer
David Hoppit, property writer
Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes magazine
Jill Keene, editor of International Homes magazine
Christian H. Kalin, partner, Henley & Partners, Zurich
Steve Nancarrow, managing director Inspector Home
John Sinclair, managing director Compco Fire Systems. 

ROCKARCH ESTATES WINS BEST BULGARIAN SKI DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY AWARD

At a glamorous awards ceremony held at the London Marriott in Grosvenor Square on Friday 4^th November, Rockarch Estates won the Award for Best Bulgarian Ski Development with its exclusive complex in Bansko, All Seasons Club in the Bentley International Property Awards – the world’s biggest and most important property event.

The fact that Rockarch Estates earned one of these coveted awards is sure proof that Bulgaria can not only compete but also triumph within the highly competitive international property arena. Having been given this high recommendation by its peers, the company is now entitled to display the Bentley International Property Awards’ logo with pride. This symbol of excellence will be recognised and appreciated by the public who are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the properties they seek to buy.

Now in their 11^th year, the awards have the largest international representation of any recognised property awards.

Over 500 professionals from all sectors of the property market and every corner of the globe attended this prestigious event which was presented by rock legend Rick Wakeman. The former BBC Royal Correspondent, Jennie Bond, was also in attendance with a film crew capturing the evening’s events on camera.

THE JUDGES

Entries were judged by a panel of professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is second to none and unsurpassed by any other property awards. Chaired by Eric Pickles, British Shadow Secretary of State, this year’s judges were:
Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes magazine
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents
Paul Wyatt, head of design for LYCOS UK
Paul Stringer of the Jack Nicklaus Design Centre
Ann Louise Little of the British Interior Design Association
Ryan Burkett, designer at Aukett Fitzroy Robinson architects
Jill Keene, editor of International Homes magazine
Christian H. Kalin partner at Henley & Partners, Zurich
James Lawton, principal designer at Laura Ashley
Jeremy Leaf, chairman of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Facility
Andy Watt, director of marketing and communications for Bentley Motors
Robb McLellan, sales manager for Lancaster PLC
Autumn M. Totton of Henley & Partners, Zurich.