An Ashby-based husband and wife estate agency team are approaching a year in the town - and building solid foundations.

Lewis and Catherine Potter are the directors of EweMove Estate Agents - which has been operating in Ashby since May.

But it was 12 months ago that the groundwork went into place before being able to launch their business.

There are many differences between EweMove and other high street estate agents, including being 24/7 and offering a more personal service so that customers are not just a number.

The business model is geared up to the times we live in.

That means working from home - but with flexible hours so that enquiries can be dealt with outside of the recognised 9-5 timescale.

Lewis said: "So many things are going online now, so we work from home, but we're always on the end of the phone, email or able to come to you in your homes.

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"That means we can talk to you about selling your house at a time to suit you.

"We see it with so many institutions now, banking for instance, that are moving away from town centres towards online. Estate agency is no different and that's how we work."

Like all newcomers, EweMove has had to work hard to make an impression.

But Lewis says that is happening and believes the people of Ashby are loyal once they can see you are trying their best for you.

He added: "We set up because we have used other estate agents and always felt something was slightly lacking. So we wanted to do things in a way that we would have loved to have been treated as a customer.

"That's always been an ethos for both of us and what we want to try and continue to do.

"We're now being recognised and not a completely unknown entity. So that's what the first year has all been about, really trying to build the brand and build recognition, and to speak to as many people as we can. 

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"But there's been plenty of obstacles for a new business. The election, the budget and Christmas, but we're picking up again now in the new year."

Lewis' background is in financial services, having spent 10 years working for several banks, building societies and mortgage brokers. 

For the last five years, he has worked within mortgages in both mortgage support roles and as a mortgage and protection advisor.

Catherine brings with her 10 years of experience as a teacher, nine of which were spent working at a Church Gresley primary school in years 1-3, then one year as an online tutor teaching English as a second language.

But they also have strong local knowledge of Ashby and the immediate South Derbyshire area, having lived in both areas.

Lewis added: "So we are focusing on Ashby, Woodville, Gresley and the surrounding areas, as those are areas we know and so we can give customers our knowledge of the housing in those areas.

"A lot of what we do is on the weekends and evenings. Very often, Saturday and Sundays will be our busiest days. Due to our flexibility, we can work when our customers need us to."

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You can contact EweMove Ashby on (phone) and (website).