30 Years of Dafydd Hardy Estate Agents!

We opened our doors in 1992 and 3 decades on we continue to strive to be a successful, local, independent business.

The company has certainly been on a journey since then, overcoming many obstacles along the way, the 2008 recession and the 2020 pandemic to name a few! But one thing remained, and that’s the dedication and passion all at the Dafydd Hardy team have, enabling us to hit this incredible milestone!

Mr Hardy held 40 years of experience in the property industry when he and RICS chartered surveyor Richard Thomas teamed up to form Dafydd Hardy Estate Agents. Both their expertise, ideas, and determination joined together to create a thriving local business, employing over 50 staff, focused on excellent customer service. 

Starting off with an office in Caernarfon, and an office in Bangor, 3 properties and 5 members of staff, it was apparent early on that Dafydd and Richard did not enter the property industry at the best of times, with the market dropping and house sales poor. Even the bank manager thought it was a bad idea! To really make a difference and stand out amongst other agents, they knew they needed to do something distinctive to stay ahead of the game. Richard came up with the idea that made the national press, and that was the introduction of floor plans, something that had not been done by other local agents at the time. 

Things took off very quickly from there, the stock levels were becoming increasingly high, and people were coming to them from other agents. It was imperative for the company to be upfront and give the customers realistic expectations to develop their trust. This was never going to be a flash in the pan, and they wanted to be part of the local community for years to come. 

The last 30 years has no doubt brought its fair share of uncertainties. In 2008 when the recession hit and there was a financial meltdown, the whole world stopped. Needless to say, this was a difficult period for the company, no one was buying and sales had stopped. The market switched to lettings, and thankfully our letting portfolio helped us stay afloat during this period. It was a long and slow recovery but eventually, the firm began to expand its services, introducing commercial, student lettings, property management and more. 

In 2020, the world saw another great hurdle, Covid-19. Like most businesses, we didn’t know what to expect and wondered how we would survive a global pandemic. Almost 3 years on, no one really knows what lies ahead, but during that period we had to adapt to every new restriction and rule to ensure operations ran as smoothly as possible whilst keeping the team and customers safe, even at a negative outcome for the business. Although restrictions have now been lifted and many of our team are back working in office, we will always be thankful to them for how hard they worked during the transition of working from home during such an uneasy time. 

Despite the difficult stages, Dafydd Hardy Estate Agents has continued to grow and are established as one of the region’s premier agents.  Over the years we have accumulated numerous prestigious awards, currently running on our 6^th year of ” Best Overall Agent in Wales” by AllAgents and our most recently recognised as being in the top 5% of estate agents in the UK by EA Masters. Each award is a true reflection of the team behind the business who are always striving to provide the best customer experience. They are also a reminder of how far we have come over the last 30 years and make all the ups and downs worthwhile. 

The company aim to be as involved as it can in the community, supporting local charities, clubs, and events where possible. Dafydd himself is a big advocate for this and it reflects in the many many roles he has taken on. From being president of Menai Bridge Rugby Club to a Trustee at St David's Hospice, and a mentor at Business Wales, you can even find Dafydd on your TV screens, appearing in shows such as Ar Werth, Homes Under the Hammer and The One Show.  

Here is what director Dafydd Hardy had to say: “Richard and I started the business 30 years ago from a cold start with two offices in Bangor and Caernarfon, we had 3 staff and no properties to sell! From that time to today we have received tremendous support and we are so grateful to clients and staff for their support / Dechreuwyd y busnes trideg mlynedd yn ôl gyda swyddfeydd yn Mangor a Caernarfon efo tri o staff a dim tai i werthu. Diolch i bawb am eich cefnogaeth.”

Here is what director Richard Thomas had to say: "I am so proud to celebrate our 30th anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's been that long, but at the same time, it feels like time has flown by. I am grateful to our past and present team members for their hard work and dedication, which has contributed to our success over the years. Some have gone on to other careers and started businesses outside the housing industry, which has been lovely to see. Here's to many more years of continued growth and achievement!"

There’s no doubt that we couldn’t have done it without an outstanding team behind us and the support from our incredible customers & suppliers. We take pride in what we do and helping people achieve their property needs along with the best customer experience is always our goal. Over the coming 12 months, we will celebrate this special anniversary with several events and the launch of an important local project so keep your eyes peeled for that! 

Once again, thank you for supporting Dafydd Hardy Estate Agents!