Reflecting on 30 Years of Keith Ian - Managing Director, Ian Robertson "My journey into estate agency started way back in the early 1980s after I completed a City and Guilds qualification in carpentry and joinery. I started as a weekend worker for Keith Sampford and Steve Williams (at that time running as a company called Keith Steven). Throughout the 1980s, the company grew considerably and I became branch manager of the Ware office. In the late 80s the company was sold and, for a brief spell, I became area manager for a corporate group with estate agents. Disillusioned by the corporate style of running estate agency, I approached Keith Sampford where he and I agreed to set up anew. In 1990, Keith Ian was formed. Our first office was in High Street, Cheshunt and we quickly established ourselves as a market leader in that town. Shortly after, we obtained premises in Ware, and subsequently Buntingford. The company grows from strength to strength and we have successfully been selling houses along the "A10 Corridor" since. Sadly, in 2003 we lost Keith to ill health. Keith's ethos of customer service has remained with the company and is a core value of our brand. We have experienced a rollercoaster of market places over the years, from slumps and then booms in the market. Over the years, I have seen fluctuating mortgage interest rate percentages, as high as the mid teens right through to the current rates, of which are below 2%. I remain passionate, motivated and continue striving to provide levels of service rarely experienced within our industry."