Experience

Castles Estate Agents

• United Kingdom
• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Branch Partner

  • Nov 2022 - Present

• Branch Manager

  • Nov 2022 - Present

• Branch Partner

  • Nov 2022 - Present

• Senior Valuer

  • Oct 2020 - Present

  Starting the 1st of October 2020 I will be working as a Senior Valuer in both Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted. My role is to value residential property and list these properties with the individual offices dependent on location. I will be making contact with my land and new home contacts that I have established over the last thirty years to create new home opportunities to sell via the Castles estate agency network.



Michael Caterer

• Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

• Owner

  • Sep 2008 - Oct 2020

  I own Ashtree Direct jointly with my wife Patricia McKeown, formally a partner at A F Barker solicitors. My wife an I started the company when the recession first hit but have built the company year on year to the steady and successful company it is today. We pride ourselves on the highest levels of service in the residential letting and property management business. The majority of our Landlords come from recommendations of our existing network of contacts in the property market. My wife an I have over forty years in the property industry, covering conveyancing law, residential sales,development work, lettings and property management. I have currently taken on the role of self employed senior valuer for Castles estate agents in Boxmoor and Berkhamsted. Show less



Brian Finn and Company

• Hemel Hempstead

• Assistant manager

  • Aug 2005 - Sep 2008

  My role with Brian Finn followed on from my success within the Remax organisation but whilst Brian Finn and myself still produced the majority share of the business, the network of associates previously working under the Remax banner dwindled. It was at this point that my wife and I decided to move on to start our own company, initially called Ashtree Lettings and Property Management. Now known as Ashtree Direct. My role with Brian Finn followed on from my success within the Remax organisation but whilst Brian Finn and myself still produced the majority share of the business, the network of associates previously working under the Remax banner dwindled. It was at this point that my wife and I decided to move on to start our own company, initially called Ashtree Lettings and Property Management. Now known as Ashtree Direct.



Remax

• Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

• Associate Partner

  • Feb 2000 - Aug 2005

  As an associate partner within Hemel Hempstead I was responsible for creating a network of contacts, primarily in the residential development and construction industry. My role in bringing new homes and land sites for sale to Remax to the network of Associates Partners working under the franchise owner Brian Finn. This business and my connections were a key part in the success in the Remax franchise. I stayed with Brian Finn when he decided to dissolve his connections with Remax. As an associate partner within Hemel Hempstead I was responsible for creating a network of contacts, primarily in the residential development and construction industry. My role in bringing new homes and land sites for sale to Remax to the network of Associates Partners working under the franchise owner Brian Finn. This business and my connections were a key part in the success in the Remax franchise. I stayed with Brian Finn when he decided to dissolve his connections with Remax.



Spicer McColl

• Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

• Manager

  • May 1998 - Jul 2001

  I moved from an assistant managers role at Aitchison Rafferty to take a Management position with Spicer McColl. I was in charge of a sales team who forged a large slice of both the residential sales and lettings in the Dacorum Borough area. I moved from an assistant managers role at Aitchison Rafferty to take a Management position with Spicer McColl. I was in charge of a sales team who forged a large slice of both the residential sales and lettings in the Dacorum Borough area.



Aitchison Rafferty

• Assistant Manager

  • Feb 1993 - Apr 1998



Woolwich property services

• Hemel Hempstead

• Assistant manager

  • 1990 - 1993

  I moved from Stevenage when Hansard had problems with funding by their backing company Liberty Life. This was at the time when Endowment mortgages became unpopular, when Life companies realised it was not lucrative any more to own Estate agents groups. I moved from Stevenage when Hansard had problems with funding by their backing company Liberty Life. This was at the time when Endowment mortgages became unpopular, when Life companies realised it was not lucrative any more to own Estate agents groups.



Hansard estate agents

• Stevenage

• Senior sales executive

  • 1985 - 1990

  I left the RAF to gain experience and training in the dynamic Hansard estate agents, at the time owned by Liberty Life Financial Group. This was my initial training and experience under some very capable industry experts. At this time I was tasked to sell and list as many properties as I could muster, with great success. I left the RAF to gain experience and training in the dynamic Hansard estate agents, at the time owned by Liberty Life Financial Group. This was my initial training and experience under some very capable industry experts. At this time I was tasked to sell and list as many properties as I could muster, with great success.



Royal AirForce

• RAF Henlow

• Senior Aircraftsman

  • Feb 1982 - Mar 1985

  I joined the Royal Air Force initially training at RAF Swinderby at the end if the Miners stikes, then moved to train as a Motor transport driver at RAF St Athan in South Wales. After driver training I was posted to RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire. I joined the Royal Air Force initially training at RAF Swinderby at the end if the Miners stikes, then moved to train as a Motor transport driver at RAF St Athan in South Wales. After driver training I was posted to RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire.