Voices in Property - Craig Draper

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

In this edition, Craig Draper, Founder of Draper London 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?

Probably the fact that I started work at 17 with no real roadmap and have managed to build a career, reputation and business that I genuinely believe in. My life wasn't particularly straightforward before I started working, so to have built a career from the ground up that now supports my family and serves clients who have trusted me for nearly two decades is something I'm incredibly proud of. Launching Draper London is undoubtedly my proudest professional achievement, although we're only just getting started, it’s been a rollercoaster and I am grateful for how far the business has come in a short period of time!

 

What was your first property job and how did you get it?

My first role was working for David Saul at Business Environment, which quite literally changed the direction of my life. I met him on his doorstep whilst delivering sushi and repeatedly asked him for work experience. Eventually he gave me an opportunity, I left school, and ended up staying there for almost six years. Looking back, that experience was pivotal to everything that has followed and I will be forever grateful for the chance.

 

What motivates you?

Sounds cliché but genuinely, my wife and children.

A huge part of what drives me is wanting to create opportunities for my kids that I didn't have growing up, whilst also showing them that hard work, resilience and integrity still matter. Beyond that, I've always had a healthy fear of standing still. I believe if you're fortunate enough to have the ability to build something meaningful, you owe it to yourself to try.

What's your best advice for preparing for an interview?

Work out why the company would benefit from hiring you and why they need you specifically. If you can't answer that, it's probably not the right role. If you can, the interview becomes a two way conversation about whether you should join them, rather than simply whether they should hire you. I've never believed in taking a job purely for the sake of taking one.

What advice would you give your 18 year old self?

Stay true to your beliefs regardless of your age, but always be open to advice from people you respect. Don't be a know it all.

I'd also tell myself to be very careful about who I spend time with. Over the years I've realised that the people around you have an enormous influence on your outlook, standards and ultimately your future.

Which leader, entrepreneur, founder or CEO inspires you?

Two people.

 

Sam Lampert, CEO of Whitepaper and one of my closest and oldest friends, who has worked relentlessly to build an exceptional business and reputation whilst always treating people properly along the way.

 

David Pollock, former CEO of Greene & Co, who in my opinion built one of the finest estate agencies of its generation, creating a culture centred around purpose, standards and development. I'm fortunate enough that he is now Non Executive Chairman of Draper London.

 

The common theme between both is that they've achieved success without losing sight of their values. I've always believed that how you achieve success matters just as much as the success itself.

 

Your best deal?

 

One that always sticks with me wasn't necessarily the biggest sale, but probably the most unusual.

I was selling an exceptional house in Marylebone and had a strong feeling that the eventual buyer might not be actively looking for a property at all. I pushed for the house to be featured in the Financial Times, believing the right person could simply come across it whilst reading the paper.

Remarkably, that's exactly what happened.

 

A gentleman saw the article whilst travelling on a train, recognised the house because his best friend growing up had lived next door, called immediately, viewed the property and ultimately bought it.

 

Whether it was conviction, manifestation or pure luck, I'll never know, but it reinforced my belief that sometimes achieving the best result for a client means looking beyond the obvious and being prepared to try something different.

 

What's your favourite restaurant?

 

Le Petit Maison in London.

Apple or Android?

Apple.

 

Find out more about Draper London here and connect with Craig Draper 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.