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LONDON HOMEBUYERS PROPERTY SHOW
By Kate Özikiz-Smith
At the end of 2003, Northern Cyprus estate agents were invited to participate
at the Homebuyers Show at Excel in the Docklands, London from March 5th to 7th.
Chairman Mehmet Safa from Property International UK bought a number of stands
and created a “[Northern Cyprus] Turkish Village” in a prominent location in
the Excel Centre. He then sold these on to a mixture of Turkish and British
estate agents [of Northern Cyprus]. [Northern Cyprus] Turkish music was played,
[Northern Cyprus] Turkish Delights were handed out and there was a good, united
ambiance in the [Northern Cyprus] village.
This was the first time such a large number of Northern Cyprus estate agents
united to advertise not only the properties [apartments etc in Kyrenia] they
had to selI, but also promote Northern Cyprus as a country. An excellent
turnout, approximately 22,000 people, visited the show over the three-day
period in early March. Most of the Kyrenia-Girne based estate agents [of
Northern Cyprus] exhibited along with some agents from Lefkosa and the
Gazimağosa area [Northern Cyprus]. Stands displaying beautiful scenery and
reasonably priced properties [apartments etc in Kyrenia] using huge posters and
plasma screens were positioned to catch the visitors' eye, and many people who
were not aware of the Northern [Cyprus] were attracted. Well-known British
companies such as Wimpey and other International companies such as Atlas, also
exhibiting properties [flats etc] in the Mediterranean along with an array of
stands ranging from rental properties, buy-to-let firms, furnishing companies
to mortgage advisors. Organisers of the Homebuyers Show stated that there had
been a 20 percent increase in the amount of exhibitors compared with the
previous year - partly if not mainly due to the Turkish Village [of Northern
Cyprus].
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There was a steady flow of enquiries [by potential purchasers
of
properties such as flats] and on the final day, a surge of old timers and
newcomers besieged exhibitors with enquiries ranging from holiday homes to
investments [in Northern Cyprus]. Visitors [potential purchasers of properties
such as apartments] were from a mixed age range - young first-time buyers along
with people who had already purchased property [such as apartments etc in
Kyrenia] visited the stands to chat to the agents. Several estate agents [of
Northern Cyprus] advertised flights and accommodation, offering the visitors an
easy route to visit Northern Cyprus. Lawyers [of Northern Cyprus] and builders
[of Northern Cyprus] were also available to chat to visitors and answer their
queries. A Northern Cyprus estate agents association was also established at
the exhibition and will continue to meet to discuss all property issues in
Northern Cyprus.
“I'll definitely do it again," enthused Iain Fraser of Fraser & Beyler
Estate Agents. "People showed lots of interest [in properties such as flats in
Kyrenia] . It was really positive and proved a big attraction [for Northern
Cyprus]." Shaun Watson, Sales Manager for Boray Estate Agents [of Northern
Cyprus] was also pleased. "We found it to be a great opportunity for us to
promote our company as well as our country [Northern Cyprus]. We retrieved many
useful contacts and received very good feedback from people in the UK. It was a
well-organised event and the number of people [potential purchasers of
properties such as flats] that attended was beyond expectations. In general it
was a great experience and we will definitely consider attending again," says
Watson.
It was
fantastic to be a part of the exhibition representing Ian Smith
Estate Agency [of Northern Cyprus], and to describe the many
advantages of living in Northern Cyprus and I am sure all the
exhibiting estate agents [of Northern Cyprus] and developers [of
Northern Cyprus] will agree that the publicity created for Northern
Cyprus in general was well worth the aching feet! Another property
exhibition is planned for Manchester in June with estate agents [of
Northern Cyprus] already booking up spaces.
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