Paul, who has considerable experience in the field, will spearhead the expansion of the firm’s valuation panel management business, as well as leading LMS’s drive to recruit Home Inspectors and Energy Assessors to support its market leading Home Information Pack (HIP) service.
There will be a one month handover period with current MD, John Archbold, who is leaving to make a career change into property development.
Paul was previously head of SP Property Services, a company set up to provide professional services to the property industry and HIP providers.
He has also headed up two companies in the survey and valuation fields – Direct Valuations and Shepherd Surveyors – and he helped create Mortgage Force, the first UK mortgage franchise brokerage, which was eventually sold successfully to the West Bromwich Building Society.
Said Paul: “LMS is the market leader and I am joining at a very exciting and challenging time for the market as we count down to the deadline for HIPs in June.
“Many lenders are now looking at how they want to manage their valuations and surveys in the light of the Government’s decision to make Home Condition Reports optional, while the smarter brokers and estate agencies are looking at how they are going to provide a HIP service with Energy Performance Certificates and HCRs for their customers.
“John has done an excellent job in creating a streamlined and transparent process which offers clients high quality services at exceptional value, and I will be developing this further – extending our services for the emerging market for HIPs, and expanding the survey and valuations business as we enter a new era in residential property. The potential is enormous.”
Andy Knee, Managing Director of LMS, said: “Paul will provide seamless continuity of our Survey and Valuations service for our clients, and he also has the experience and talent to grow that business.
“We are delighted to welcome him on board and I look forward to him making a major contribution to our continued success.”
