Rio Ferdinand: Football legend on mission to help out home-buyers in London

Rio Ferdinand of BT Sport looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium
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Rebecca Speare-Cole21 October 2019

Rio Ferdinand is on a mission to help people with "the biggest purchase of their lives" as they try to buy homes in London.

The former England captain wants to help buyers make "informed decisions" and "cut through the layers" before signing on the dotted line.

The born-and-bred Londoner said he also wants to see more affordable housing in the city, allowing more people to get onto the property ladder.

​Ferdinand said his time as a footballer has helped him become a better business man.

Since retiring, he has also campaigned against Brexit and knife crime as well as making a documentary about the death of his wife, Rebecca Ellison, who died from cancer, aged 34.

Rio Ferdinand is backing a small surveying firm.
Man Utd via Getty Images

"One thing that Sir Alex Ferguson taught us as a manager, which I’ve translated from the pitch into business, is to always be one step ahead mentally as well as physically," he said.

"Business is about hoping for the best but always being ready and prepared for the worst – anticipation is key."

Ferdinand has now signed on as an ambassador to London-based firm Reliable Surveyors, which aims to revolutionise the surveying industry so that people can make "informed decisions" amid the many complicated and baffling layers of buying a home.

He signed up after being impressed by the "smooth experience" he had with Reliable Surveyors.

"I’d like to see more affordable housing - allowing more people to get onto the property ladder," Ferdinand said
Getty Images

"It’s incredibly rewarding to know we’re giving people peace of mind while they make the biggest purchase of their lives," he told the Standard.

"I’ve been through the process of buying a property and there are so many layers to it that can baffle someone so easily and many end up missing things through just not knowing what to do."

Reliable Surveyors founder Ray Harriot said they are carving a "secure and friendly approach" in an industry "full of sleeping lions."

In the past, Mr Harriot worked as a trader but when he was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis he joined a surveying company that "didn't quite cut the mustard".

"It’s crucial to ensure you're thoroughly checking the property you’re looking at purchasing before signing on the dotted line, or you risk being out of pocket by thousands of pounds if you later come across something unexpected," he said.

On his decision to get behind the firm, Ferdinand said: "When Ray asked if I was impressed, and explained his vision to me, the concept made complete sense and was something I was keen to support," he said.

The football legend discovered Reliable Surveyors as a secret shopping when he needed a service carried out on his property.

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