If you need to sell a property – and quickly, (guaranteed!) – without legal or estate agents fees, look no further! If you’re looking to buy a property – We can help with that, too!
If you’ve a ‘Facebook’ presence that doesn’t attract the kind of attention you want or need, ‘Fan Pages Are Us’ is the perfect solution.
South Wales Property Solutions and 'Fan Pages Are Us' are owned and run by Rhys Jones, based in Mamhilad, just two miles from Pontypool on the old road to Abergavenny.
This idyllic and semi-remote location provides the perfect base for Rhys to operate his two-businesses, each providing solutions in their own way, for an ever-growing demand.
Rhys is a Welshman through-and-through - but was actually born in London to his Welsh-speaking parents. So firmly embedded was the Welsh patriotism, that by the time he started school, he hadn't even learned to speak English!
Clearly, he rose above the traumatic challenges this may otherwise have entailed and by the time he eventually left school, he had gained the required qualifications to enter Teacher training . . . in Caerleon!
Whilst in college in 1974, he met his wife Judith, and 5y later they married. Rhys started his teaching career in Surrey and then spent the next seven-years teaching in various areas. . . . Well, not quite an un-broken seven years!
He and Judith took a year-out to tour Europe in their Volkswagen Camper van, travelling as far as Istanbul - but were prevented from going any further by the (then) Iran/Iraq war. "We spent many a happy evening camped next to the heavily-armed tanks, just after the military coup. We were made very welcome and made to feel very safe!"
Following their time in Surrey, (and Europe!) the Jones' moved to Staffordshire, where Rhys continued in the teaching profession for the next couple of years, during which time their daughters Kate and Sophie were born. But with a high mortgage, wife not earning and finding themselves getting deeper and deeper into debt, they made the decision to change career and move back to Wales.
Rhys went into insurance and became 'The man from the Pru' in Cwmbran, for the next sixteen-years. "Although it was in complete contrast to teaching, I loved the work and it proved to be a great career-change. Although it involved long and unsociable hours, I never once missed a parents-evening, school concert - or the embarrassing sack-race for Dads, on the schools sports-days!"
Various incentive schemes run by the 'Pru' also proved fruitful for Rhys, who amongst other prizes, won a few foreign holidays, Far-East, and Caribbean cruises!
In 2001 this came to an end when the 'Pru' restructured its operations and Rhys, along with many others, was made redundant. Placed on 'garden leave' for three-months as part of the redundancy package, Rhys took the time-off to - well, tidy the garden! - whilst looking for opportunities for other gainful employment.
Perhaps not so surprisingly, he chose to go and work as a Financial Advisor... in Dubai! - "One of those situations that arose where there was nothing to hold me back, and the tax-free incentives were a huge carrot!"
He left the UK on 11th September 2001.
Yes, THE September 11th, 2001. "I remember sitting in Cardiff Airport watching the Twin Towers drama unfold and thinking, 'What the hell am I doing?' I contacted Dubai by telephone and they did all they could to assure that it was perfectly safe for me to continue with my journey, and that all would 'be well' when I arrived. However, by the time I arrived at Amsterdam to change flights, I found that ALL further flights had been cancelled - and I was put in a 'Crisis Camp' - a big, hastily-erected tented village - until the following day, when I was able to resume my journey."
Family circumstance prevented Judith from joining Rhys in Dubai, and so, some three months later and with Christmas approaching, he returned to Wales - this time, for good. ("So far!")
"I spent the next five-years as an IFA, before deciding to concentrate on my (then) fledgling property business - and I haven't looked back, since - though the property-market has been more than a little depressed in recent years, there are still opportunities to help people."
South Wales Property Solutions primarily helps people who need to sell their property quickly. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as the break-up of a relationship, inheritance, moving abroad, or purely for other financial reasons. "Sometimes, people can't afford to wait months or even years to sell, and will therefore consider accepting a lower-price for their property in return for a guaranteed, quick sale. We offer a number of different potential solutions to the problem facing reluctant property-owners. We may keep-it and rent it out, or we can help first-time buyers who need help with deposits. It's our job to be creative and look for the 'win-win' situation."
But as one property door (partially) closed in the recent economic climate, another window of opportunity presented itself. Amongst many of Rhys' professional contacts were a number of individuals who were trying to 'get-to-grips' with the social-media campaigns that are flooding the on-line market. Recognising and understanding the niche, 'Fan Pages Are Us' was created to provide Companies and Businesses with a social-media presence that enabled them to attract and build a network of 'followers and fans'.
"The two businesses don't compete with my time or each other, in fact, there are many examples where one has actually instigated or complimented the use of the other. I provide solutions for people and businesses that require them, as my reviews will attest."