The prospect of having his own company car drove Ian Butcher into the property business.

And it proved a good move for the principal of Butcher Residential, who has lost none of his enthusiasm for estate agency – and cars – after 33 years in the sector.

“I was a civil servant working at the county court in Sheffield,” he recalls. “Whitegates had a branch opposite and there was an advert for a trainee valuer. It came with the possibility of a company car. This was in 1983. I got the job and a Ford Fiesta 1.1 which I thought was wonderful.”

Sheffield-born Ian subsequently worked in a number of branches with Whitegates, including Rotherham, Wakefield and Huddersfield. His first marital home was in Dalton and he later moved to Holmfirth in the 1990s. Ian’s wife Anne attended Huddersfield Polytechnic.

Ian later joined Rotherham-based agency Merryweathers, which handled commercial, agricultural and surveying as well as residential. In time, he became a partner in the firm and opened its Barnsley branch in 2000. For most of his time there the branch was the top performing agency in the town.

In September, 2009, Ian struck out on his own to set up Butcher Residential in Barnsley. By 2011, his business could lay claim to top spot in the town. That year, Butcher Residential also opened its second branch, in Penistone.

Encouraged by a vibrant housing market in the “border country” between South and West Yorkshire, Ian opened a branch in Denby Dale earlier this year.

The branch is managed by long-standing employee Jenny Smythe and is also the base from which Ian works.

Said Ian: “We saw at Penistone that there was quite a bit of movement of people moving house ‘just over the border’ – from Scissett to Oxspring or from Penistone to Denby Dale for instance – and we were selling houses in places like Skelmanthorpe and Flockton.

“We’ve been in Denby Dale since February and it’s going nicely.”

Recent instructions include a three-storey early Victorian semi in Denby Dale and another property in Clayton West.

Butcher Residential uses the UK’s two best-known websites to showcase its properties for sale while the branch also offers rentals as well as sales.

Ian’s daughter Holly, who studied music production at Huddersfield University, has joined the team and handles much of the social media for the company.

Eye-catching online strategies include a weekly mystery photo competition with a prize for the first person to identify the location as the picture is revealed bit by bit.

Ian, who now lives at Silkstone Common, is happy to leave such matters to Holly. ““I’m quite a traditionalist,” he admits. “Even in the modern media age there’s nothing to beat having sales boards for getting the name out there.”

Ian also believes in playing a part in the community – with the business sponsoring Denby Dale FC and taking on the mantle of sole sponsor for this year’s Denby Dale Lions scarecrow competition. It also sponsors Penistone Show every year and Penistone Literary Festival.

Across all three branches, Butcher Residential has a 20-strong team, It includes director Steve Betts, who has worked with Ian for more than 20 years and is based at Barnsley.

The Barnsley branch has recently relocated to the oldest commercial property in the town, a building dating back to 1463.

That couldn’t suit Ian better.”I like valuing properties that are interesting and there are plenty in South and West Yokshire – old cottages or large detached houses,” he says.

“When we go on holiday we often rent cottages and we enjoy living in a building that’s a little quirky. I enjoy visiting properties like that. In that part of the job, I feel quite privileged.”

Ian detects “a real vitality” returning to the property market in the wake of the 2008 recession.

“The whole HD8 and HD9 postcode areas are very aspirational,” he says. “There’s the fabulous countryside and very good commuter links, both road and rail. Places like Cawthorne are very highly rated.

Ian Butcher and Jenny Smyth of Butcher Residential, Wakefield Road, Denby Dale.

“Penistone is becoming a mini Holmfirth, although house values don’t compare.

“There’s a real vitality coming back in the market and there’s a good amount of positivity among potential buyers. The market is very healthy; it’s not extreme, but it is active.”

However, issues over supply and mortgage availability remain. “Until a few years ago, South and West Yorkshire had a plentiful supply of houses, but there has been a reduction,” says Ian.

“At the same time, it is estimated that as many as 30% of people who wish to buy cannot get a mortgage because of the criteria they have to meet. Lack of demand is controlling the market to some extent, but the average age of the first time buyer is now over 40.”

Ian said there was also uncertainty in the market. “You can plan to a degree, but you can’t predict what is around the corner,” he says. “For instance, what will be the outcome of the EU referendum and what will be the implications?”

Says Ian: “I’m a great believer in specialising in what we’re good at.

“We have very good relations with a number of regional and national builders and we’re very active with traditional smaller developers with single or small multiple plots.

“I’m also very experienced with the ‘top’ end of the market. In Barnsley, the two most valuable houses to sell on the market were ones I dealt with personally.”

Ian enjoys looking at ‘top’ end properties when it comes to time away from work with the family. “We enjoy visiting National Trust houses,” he says.

Then it’s back to cars. Says Ian: “My other main hobby is motor racing – sprint and hill climbs. I take part in the Harewood Championship Hill Climb every year and I’ll be there again in a few weeks’ time. I also take part in national championships.

“It’s a relatively affordable level of the sport. I have been doing it for 10 years. I race a road-going car, an old Renault 5 Turbo around the track and against the clock. It’s how I get rid of my stresses and strains!”

Role: Principal

Age: 55

Family: Married to Anne with daughter Holly, 20

Car: VW Golf

Holidays: We holiday at home more than overseas. We had a great break a few weeks ago at Malton and we like the Lakes

First job: Civil servant at Sheffield County Court

Best thing about the job? Giving what I think is good quality, relevant and accurate advice

Worst thing about the job? Everyone’s an expert! Property is a main topic of conversation in social circles so lots of people think they know more about than you do

Business tip: Every challenge is an opportunity to do things better if you have the energy and tenacity

Work: Residential property sales and lettings

Site: Wakefield Road, Denby Dale

Phone: 01484 943020

Email: ian@butcherez.co.uk

Web: www.butcherez.co.uk