Footman & Butler Prime Property Management is a family office that specialises in offering high-end property management services for affluent individuals in London. The company’s passion for designing high-end apartments and houses goes beyond just delivering the finished product. Joseph wants to provide a long-lasting source of inspiration for property owners, and so he built a network of top-notch property professionals for  Footman & Butler Prime Property Management.

The company’s primary objective is to enhance the value of its clients’ properties while minimising the expenses associated with their upkeep by utilising its carefully selected and reliable network of partners.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards sat down with Joseph Gleeson, the Managing Partner of award-winning Footman & Butler Prime Property Management to learn more about the company’s history and journey, and what makes stand out in its line of work.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Congratulations on winning the title of Best Luxury Property Management Company in London, UK. Can you tell us about your team’s reaction to the news?

Joseph Gleeson: We were delighted to hear that we had achieved the award. It really is a testament to how hard the team has worked over the past year.  Our clients rely on our services and this award recognises that we have met their expectations and exceeded them.

LLA: Footman & Butler Prime Property Management has over 70 years’ of collective experience. How has the company evolved over the years?

JG: As a company, we are not the longest-standing in the market. However, collectively, we have a depth in our team that allows us to compete with London’s best firms.  The company has become an integral part of some of the world’s most influential families, which we are incredibly proud of.  We are currently investing heavily to ensure this continues, as the demand requires an even higher level of service than we saw 2-3 years ago.

LLA: Can you walk us through the process of managing a luxury property?

JG: Our clients’ properties are unique, from their interior design, their structural build, to the garden layout.  Moreso our clients are unique and so is their personal taste. There is no one-size-fits-all for managing a client’s property, but we follow a comprehensive on-boarding plan for all properties. The result means we have dossier the DNA of a property, so we can manage it to our clients’ exacting standards.

LLA: In your opinion, what sets Footman & Butler Prime Property Management apart from other luxury property management companies in the UK?

JG: In truth, we operate in a niche market with a handful of companies that operate at a similar level. In terms of best in service, I would rank them accordingly; 1) Footman & Butler Prime Property Management, 2) Bold & Reeves, 3) Caroline Baker Family Office, & 4) Webster Hart.  We, I believe, take a 360 approach to a client’s needs, from staffing a property to managing the preventative maintenance schedule, which gives us an advantage in the market.

LLA: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in managing luxury properties in London, and how have you addressed them?

JG: One of the greatest challenges is illustrating to a client why our services are vital to maintaining a property. In its simplest format, our clients have an office to manage their financial assets and their real estate assets require the attention.

LLA: How does Footman & Butler Prime Property Management work with property owners to ensure their needs and expectations are met?

JG: We work very closely with our clients and their private offices. This continual contact enables us to tailor our approach and understand individual our clients’ expectations. Our team has a manageable pool of clients, to ensure a bespoke service is provided.

LLA: Building relationships and trust with clients is crucial in the luxury property management industry. How do you measure client satisfaction?

JG: Maintaining a client’s trust is our top priority and our Directors put considerable time and effort into our relationships, whether that be meeting them at their home in London or New York.

LLA: What do you think is the most important aspect of managing a luxury property, and how do you prioritise this in your work?

JG: Never taking any shorts cuts and being entirely honest with our clients. We work tirelessly to give our clients the best service in the industry. However, we have seen too often that cutting corners to achieve a client’s request results in disaster, which is usually incredibly expensive to resolve.

LLA: How do you balance the need for discretion and confidentiality with the desire to showcase your successes and build your reputation as a leading property management company?

JG: Discretion can make or break a company in our industry. We do our best to showcase our work, but our clients’ confidentiality comes first.  Fortunately, many of our clients come via word of mouth, so it’s a relatively easy one to balance.

LLA: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a career in luxury property management?

JG: If you are someone who is naturally organised and empathetic, then it is an industry that will play to your strengths. I would gain as much experience across the industry from residential to commercial real estate. Both areas will offer you valuable knowledge.

LLA: Lastly, are there any exciting plans or innovations we can look forward to seeing from Footman & Butler Prime Property Management?

JG: As mentioned we are investing heavily in our infrastructure to provide the very best service to our clients. We will be making some exciting announcements in the next 12 months.