South: RoyaleLife strengthen senior management team

Highly-experienced property professional Tim Simmons has joined RoyaleLife, the UK’s leading bungalow provider for the over 45s.

Simmons worked in the estate agency sector for more than 30 years starting as a negotiator in his home town of Weymouth and rising to CEO of Humberts, which at its height had offices across the country. He enjoys a reputation for strong leadership and delivering both sales and brand growth.

Now Simmons brings his impressive track record to Hampshire-based RoyaleLife where, as business development director, he will be responsible for managing the sales and marketing functions with a particular emphasis on customer relations.

He said: “Moving to RoyaleLife is an exciting new challenge. What interests me particularly is that I can marry my experience in the more traditional side of the property sector with RoyaleLife’s exciting new perspective. Without doubt, the company is making a big impression as it looks to redefine what living in a bungalow means to people.”

With locations throughout the country, RoyaleLife’s luxury gated communities can be found in both picturesque countryside and by the coast, where they boast wonderful views. The spacious one and two-bedroomed homes are of modular construction built to highest sustainable standards and come complete with furniture and fittings.

Simmons observed: “RoyaleLife’s USP is our part exchange service, where people can downsize their home and move into a fully furnished RoyaleLIfe bungalow in less than six weeks – 39 days to be precise. As we know, traditionally moving home can take on average more than six months so this a superb alternative.

“We find our customers see this as particularly appealing especially in the pandemic where people can enjoy a virtual tour of one of our bungalows from the comfort and safety of their existing home and essentially buy their new home online. They don’t have to worry about lengthy chains and the whole process collapsing. Crucially, in downsizing they can release cash from the sale and have the money to enjoy their new lifestyle. We really do take the pain out of moving.”

He added: “In our view we offer a real alternative to equity release. Often people take out a loan against the existing home, and while they can stay put, the compound interest increases over the length of the agreement. Eventually, it can reach a figure which wipes out the whole equity in a home and this can have a devastating effect on a family.”

RoyaleLife’s chief executive, Robert Bull, said: “We’re delighted to have Tim on board. Attracting someone of Tim’s calibre, talent and experience is a real coup for us and demonstrates our commitment to continually strengthening our senior management team. Tim’s focus will be ensuring our customer experience is unrivalled in the industry – from initial inquiry through the sale process… to purchase. Our customers are our greatest ambassadors, and their delight is central to our success.”

Away from work, Tim Simmons lives with his family in Dorchester and lists architecture and cycling – he owns a fleet of seven road bikes – as his hobbies.