Meet Michael Fulford, Sheldon Bosley Knight’s new assistant branch manager, based in Stratford-upon-Avon. With a wealth of experience working in estate agency and latterly for Hyundai, Michael will be leading the team in Stratford. As well as three children who keep him on his toes, he’s passionate about football and F1 and is a regular at the gym, but don’t ask him who Tommy Walsh is!
What does your day-to-day look like?
I’m responsible for everything to do with residential sales including valuing and listing properties, managing vendor communication, negotiating offers, motivating and training the team, making tea and coffee and anything else needed to drive the business forward. There is never a typical day! It is always different with different challenges and successes!
What did you do before joining Sheldon Bosley Knight?
I worked for Hyundai in Stratford-upon-Avon as a sales executive for the last two years.
How did you get into the property industry and how long have you worked within it?
I started in agency in March 2018 with Connells and then latterly Loveitts. I have been in various sales jobs for the past 20 years!
What attracted you to working for Sheldon Bosley Knight?
The challenge of running a branch again and developing a team into a successful office.
What’s the best bit about your job?
The people! Both internally and also our clients. I love the stories that go along with every property transaction and the rewarding feeling you get from helping someone get from point A to point B in their life, whether it’s to sell their property or secure their dream home.
What qualifications or training do you need to do this job?
None officially to be able to do the job but I am working towards a mortgage advice qualification.
What motivates you to work hard?
My family. I want to ensure they have the best life I can give them.
Who or what inspires you?
I’ve been inspired by many people throughout my life, for various reasons. Past managers, my (late) father… but one particularly inspirational thing I have experienced was a book called “Who Moved My Cheese?” which I would recommend absolutely everyone reads.
What are your career goals?
I’d like to get into coaching at some point. I feel like I have a lot of knowledge which can be imparted onto others. In the meantime, develop my skills and be as successful as I can with whatever opportunity I am given!
What do you do when you are not at work?
I play football, I run, I gym, I have three kids, I love watching F1 and football amongst other things.
What is the best piece of career advice you have ever been given?
I have always tried to take something from every position I have held whether it’s learning something new or observing what not to do.
And finally.….
I once met Tommy Walsh of TV’s Ground Force fame (there’s a blast from the past) when I was working at an airport. He was checking in to an economy flight and he hadn’t paid for extra legroom. There weren’t any legroom seats left and when I told him, he uttered the classic line: “don’t you know who I am?” (I didn’t).
I took a second glance at his passport, looked at him and calmly said: “Thomas Walsh?” He was rather miffed and stomped off. My colleague next to me found this all hilarious. I still don’t really know who he is to this day!
