Voices in Property - Canan Wood

Welcome to our quick-fire spotlight on industry leaders and entrepreneurs in Property.

In this edition, Canan Wood, Director - Relocation Services, Short Lets & Prime Home Search at Hamptons International, shares personal insights and experiences with anyone who may be currently working in or aspiring to join the London property industry.

What are you most proud of in your career?

What I’m most proud of is the trust global corporations and HNW clients place in my team and me when relocating to the UK. While we’ve built a strong reputation in the relocation sector, most of the moves and hires we deal with are tied to huge life moments. Being the person corporate clients rely on during that process is something we never take for granted.

Our strongest and longest-standing relationships come through word of mouth, which is a real testament to the brilliant team we have.

First property job and how you got it?

Account Manager at Foxtons. It was meant to be a stopgap for the summer before starting my studies at the Institute of Education to become an English teacher… but here I am, 20 years later, still in the property industry.

What motivates you?

Leaving a lasting impression and being remembered for delivering a genuinely personal, best-in-class service.

The danger of being motivated purely by money is that you might be rewarded for a single transaction, but that doesn’t guarantee repeat business or a lasting legacy.

Best advice for preparing for an interview?

Don’t over-prepare by rehearsing your CV. Be curious and be yourself.

In a world of ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity, anyone can create a perfect CV but the one thing that will make you stand out is your individuality. Ask genuine questions about the role, the company, their values and vision.

Remember interviews are a two-way process, so treat them as a fact-finding exercise to see how aligned you really are with the business you might commit your career to.

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Be bold and take risks.

It’s never too late to change direction, but trusting your gut earlier saves a lot of time.

Which leader, entrepreneur, founder or CEO inspires you?

Barbara Corcoran.

She built one of New York’s most successful property businesses from a $1,000 loan, eventually selling it for $66m. She famously said buyers decide within the first eight seconds of seeing a home whether they’re interested which perfectly sums up how powerful first impressions are in property.

Your best deal?

We once hosted an event attended by 80 diplomats in a cool South East London warehouse that had featured on Grand Designs. The owner had been struggling to sell it.

The event created some great memories for our network and the owner ended up renting the property to one of the ambassadors who attended. Sometimes the best deals are the ones you least expect.

What’s your favourite restaurant?

The River Café. I have been going since 2011, and last year I was lucky enough to take my daughters and even host an event for 40 Relocation contacts to thank them for their loyalty.

Ruth Rogers co-founded it in 1987 and it still carries the same authentic values it did then. (pic of me with her attached and lots of other of me there 😊)

Top-quality ingredients cooked simply but brilliantly. It’s beautifully set by the river and, on a hazy British summer’s day, you can almost convince me yourself you’re in the south of Italy.

Apple or Android?

Apple. Does anything even work without the Apple ecosystem these days?

Find out more about Hamptons International here and connect with Canan Wood here.

Collins Property Recruitment is a business with a purpose: to enable talent and businesses to meet and do great things together. We make this happen through an unrivalled network, a values-led, consultative approach and a hard-earned reputation as the go-to recruiter in property.

Should you have any enquiries, email us at info@collinspropertyrecruitment.com or give us a call on 020 7435 0309.