Welcome to our Christmas & 10th Anniversary Edition

As we come to the end of another year, this edition of our newsletter feels extra special. Not only are we celebrating Christmas, but we’re also marking 10 incredible years of Samuel Makepeace Estate Agents, a milestone that gives us the perfect opportunity to reflect, say thank you, and look ahead with excitement.

Inside this edition, we’re putting the spotlight firmly on people, the heart of our business. You’ll find two Get to Know the Team features, where our Director Dino and Head of Operations Steph are quizzed by the rest of the team, offering a fun and personal insight into the faces behind the brand.

We also take a look at how the property market has changed over the last decade, exploring how the industry has evolved since 2015 and how we’ve grown alongside it, while staying true to our values of honest advice, local knowledge, and exceptional service.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Christmas edition without a little festive celebration. From our annual Christmas party to some seasonal fun on social media, this newsletter captures a brilliant year, a proud milestone, and the community, clients, colleagues, and local partners who have helped make it all possible.

Thank you for being part of our journey. From all of us at Samuel Makepeace, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Celebrating 10 years of Samuel Makepeace
On 28th November, we were proud to celebrate our 10th anniversary at our office, marking a decade of growth, teamwork, and community. We were delighted to be joined by several local businesses who have been imperative to our success: For Sale Boards UK, Goddard Dunbar & Associates, Charlton’s Solicitors, First Property Services, and Opal Financials Ltd, along with some of our valued repeat clients. A special thank you to George Classic Bakes for creating our remarkable anniversary cake and helping us mark this milestone in style!

Following a history of entrepreneurship within the industry, embarking upon his journey in the property sector back in 2007, Dino opened our Kidsgrove branch in 2017 and by 2019 took over full ownership of the company giving it a new lease of life with a clear vision in his mind. Dino’s determination and ambition is truly something to be in awe of as he’s always striving to achieve the best results whether that’s for clients, staff or the company as a whole, and all while making it look easy. What really sets Dino apart from your average director is that he genuinely cares about the team, is always thinking about how to make things better for us and our customers. The remarkable success the company has achieved under Dino’s leadership is a true testament to his vision, skill, and exceptional abilities. Dino leads with heart, a clear head, and just enough humour to keep us all on our toes. As a team, we’re incredibly grateful. So let’s get to know him a little better!

Alissa - What’s something your team does that always makes you smile? “They really care for customers and do not talk down to them. You can tell we have a culture where we care throughout the company.”

Louise - If this was not your job what your dream job be? “I never really had a dream job, other than to be a professional footballer. I really like my job and have no regrets.”

Sophie - What is your biggest pet hate of yours that we do? “Not moving tea towels from ovens, leaving toilet seats up, and leaving dressing gowns on the back of doors, on photos. Thank goodness for photoshop!”

Tally - If our team had a mascot, what ridiculous creature would it be? “A Smurf….only because it’s blue.”

Steph – In another life what would be your chosen career path? “A footballer - A centre midfielder for both my favourite club and country would have been nice.”

Ella - If your management style were a movie title, what would it be? “My favourite film is Gladiator, so Id like to think I’m Russell Crowe leading my soldiers into battle :)”

Abbey - What was the last “Aha!” moment you had at work? “I can’t think of anything that shines, but opening the Kidsgrove shop has to go down as a good one. I’ve loved working and serving the Kidsgrove community, and the local people have been very good to us. It’s a hidden gem in my opinion.” 

Kieran – If you won the lottery what would you do with your winnings? “I guess it would depend how much. But, I’ve never really wanted to win it. It would be nice, don’t misunderstand me. But, I do believe earning your own living grounds you. If I win enough, I would share it with my family and team.”

Izzy – If you could redesign the office and add a fun feature what would it be? “Foosball table, dart board, pool table and robot that made your lunch and even thought about what to eat. I can never decide!”

Kate – What’s the most surprising job you had before doing this one? “I used to sell non-ferrous metal. That’s not a normal job, but the worst was when I was at college and I had to clean old ink cartridges with tracing paper. I lasted about 3 hours.”

Jordan- If your life had a theme song, what would be playing as you walked into the office? “I’m not worthy of a theme song. I just like what I do and try to do my best. So something cheery, like the theme from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”

Celebrating an amazing 2025
Our annual Christmas party was the perfect way to bring the Samuel Makepeace team together to celebrate a standout year. We were also delighted to be joined by our friends at Opal Financials and First Property Services, making it an even more special evening. A brilliant night with an even better team, here’s to the hard work, shared successes, and everything still to come.

From the very first day our doors opened in 2015, Steph, has been an integral force behind our growth and success. Steph joined the company as a sales negotiator and her ambition and enthusiasm quickly saw her progress to office manager and ultimately to her current role as Head of Operations. Steph proactively pursued and achieved the Level 3 Technical Award in the Sale of Residential Property, awarded by the National Federation of Property Professionals, due to her constant drive for self-development and to improve the expertise and service that the company can provide. Aside from the fact Steph (and her incredible brain) are essential to the day to day running, she also provides support and advice endlessly to the rest of the team, as well as clients, and is always able to handle any situation at hand be it professional or personal. I’m sure I speak for the entire team when I say that Steph is the glue that holds everything (and everyone) together! Normally Steph is the one asking the questions, but now the team are quizzing her!

Ella - What’s the strangest question a buyer or seller has ever asked you? “I feel like after 10 years, there aren’t many questions that feel strange nowadays. But one that really stands out would have to be a seller, back in 2017, who basically had a degree in sarcastic humour. They were moving to North Wales, hadn’t had the easiest of rides, and although their sale itself went perfectly, they were having some particular difficulty with a private sale lower down the chain. They asked me if their buyer expected them to “just hang out on Rhyl high street with their small terrier on a string lead?” To date, they are probably the customers I remember most fondly, true experts in making light of a stressful situation!”

Alissa - If you could change one thing about the property industry with a magic wand, what would it be? I’d make buyers and sellers commit properly much earlier in the process, with something legally binding before everyone gets emotionally and financially invested. I am very proud to have the one of the lowest fall-through rates among local agents, but in my opinion, one is still too many! Taking the uncertainty out of moving would mean fewer heartbreaks, fewer wasted surveys, and far more happy endings!

Louise - If this was not your job what your dream job be? “I see myself as a professional ‘holiday tester’. Travelling around the world, trying out the beaches, tasting the cocktails. I would be exceptional at this!”

Abbey - What was the last “Aha!” moment you had at work? “I can’t think of one specifically, but I do take enjoyment out of debating something with Dino, especially when I’m right.”

Sophie - If you could be one Friends character which one would it be and why? “Definitely Phoebe, she loves life and is so chilled and carefree!”

Tally - If you had to replace all your meetings with one activity, like karaoke, dodgeball, or competitive napping, which one are we doing starting Monday? “SM Office Olympics, events include chair racing, javelin with stationery, with a netball tournament to finish. I’ve got the competitive spreadsheeting event in the bag.”

Izzy – If a celebrity was hired for SM, who would it be and why? “Can I have two? Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, so I can sit back and soak up the comedy gold.”

Kieran - If you won the lottery what would you do with your winnings? “This sounds like a decision that can only be made from a Maldivian overwater villa. So I’ll let you know when I get there.”

Jordan – If your life had a theme song, what would be playing as you walked into the office? “The Schuyler Sisters” from the musical Hamilton! Full of strong opinions and teamwork energy.

Kate - If you had to describe your management style using only a movie title, what would it be? “Jurassic Park” – Looks under control… mostly, until something escapes, then we problem-solve fast.”

Dino – If you could live your life again would you choose to be an estate agent? “I was given an opportunity doing a role I never expected, and just fell in love with the industry. Not only that, I am lucky to work with an incredible team that share my values, morals and work ethic. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!”

Merry Christmas from all of us
As we wrap up the year, we’ve had a little festive fun on social media with our bitmojis opening their Christmas stockings to reveal some of our favourite properties currently for sale. We’d like to wish all our clients, friends, and followers a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year — thank you for being part of our journey.

Mini Blog - A Decade of Change in Property

As we celebrate a huge milestone for Samuel Makepeace Estate Agents it’s impossible not to reflect on the changes that 10 years have brought to the industry. When we opened our doors in 2015, the property landscape looked very different. Over the past decade, we’ve seen extraordinary change in how homes are marketed, sold, and experienced by buyers and sellers alike.

What hasn’t changed is our commitment to trusted advice, local expertise, and putting people first. As we celebrate this anniversary, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on just how far the industry has come, and how we’ve evolved with it.

Key Property Industry Changes: 2015 to Today

• The digital-first shift
  Property portals, mobile browsing, and instant s became the norm, transforming how buyers discover homes.

• Social media as a marketing powerhouse
  From “nice-to-have” to essential, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and video content now play a major role in showcasing property.

• Data-driven pricing & marketing
  Improved analytics and market insights allow agents to price more accurately and tailor marketing strategies.

• Changing buyer priorities
  Home offices, flexible space, and lifestyle features have become key decision drivers.

• Greater regulation & compliance
  Increased focus on transparency, material information, and consumer protection raised professional standards across the industry.

• Energy efficiency in the spotlight
  EPC ratings and sustainability moved from background detail to a major consideration for buyers and landlords.

• Speed & service expectations increased
  Clients now expect faster communication, real-time updates, and a seamless, customer-focused experience.

Looking Ahead

Ten years on, we’re proud to have grown alongside our community while adapting to an ever-changing market. As the industry continues to evolve, our focus remains the same: expert guidance, honest advice, and exceptional service.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far, here’s to the next decade of helping people move forward.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The Samuel Makepeace Team