Some previously slow-moving organisations, it’s been reported in recent weeks, have suddenly discovered the ability to innovate, break down barriers and get things done. Individuals and organisations have learnt to re-engineer their lives and change the way they do things at a rate they never would have believed possible.
We’ve certainly done this at Smart, working as hard and as efficiently as ever despite the restrictions.
But at Smart we’ve always been in the life-changing business and have some insight into how to do it effectively. Retiring abroad, spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a holiday home, investing abroad or starting a business that operates abroad… – these are not things that people do on a whim. What we’ve learned from our clients – who tend to be highly risk-averse – is that even the biggest projects are quite straightforward if you break them down into simple steps.
It’s going to be fascinating how each country frees itself from the lockdown. If you take a step-by-step approach and remove the risk at each stage it starts to become not only fascinating, but also excitingly doable. For example, only using every other desk at work. Restarting schools but with classes staggered. Opening those shops where social distancing is easy to implement.
The property business should be an easy one to restart, and that is already happening in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, with many agents, lawyers and notaries working hard. Of course there will be restrictions, but as new cases come down to more manageable figures so contract tracing will come into its own.
Countries like Cyprus and New Zealand have had incredible success with effective community testing, contact tracing and quarantine. Even the President of Cyprus’s official residence was used for Cypriots returning to be quarantined.
As you go through each step you find the best people to work with and remove any risks. The key factor is being proactive about it and making that call.
The positivity is being reflected in a strengthening of sterling this morning. If you would like to take the next step in your own plans, do call your trader on 020 8108 5337.
