Meet the Team

The People Behind Our Local Expertise

At HS Homes, every region is led by a dedicated Partner who owns and operates their local branch.

This means you’re not just working with an estate or letting agent — you’re working with someone who is personally invested in delivering an exceptional service to sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants.

Our Partners combine local area knowledge, industry experience, and a genuine passion for property to offer a service that is personal, proactive and trusted in their communities.

A Partner-Led Approach

Each Partner is responsible for their own territory and brings a unique blend of:

  • Local insight into the housing market
  • Specialist knowledge in sales, lettings and property management
  • A hands-on service from valuation to completion or move-in
  • Commitment to customer care and honest communication
  • A drive to help their community move with confidence

This structure ensures that every client — no matter the region — receives a consistent, high-quality service delivered by someone who genuinely cares about the outcome.
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Fran StallardFounder and Director
Nicola CraigDirector and Partner
Rachael ThorpePartner for HS Homes of Warwickshire
Emma SmithPartner, HS Homes of Rubery
xFran StallardFounder and Director

About Fran

Fran has worked in the property sector since 2011, when she purchased her first rental property. Since then, she has successfully bought, sold, and let a wide range of properties, developing strong market knowledge and a natural flair for property.

Enthusiastic, dedicated, and highly client-focused, Fran is passionate about helping people navigate what can often feel like a complex and time-consuming sales and lettings process. She prides herself on being approachable, proactive, and supportive from start to finish. Known for going above and beyond, Fran operates around the clock and ensures her clients always feel supported and well looked after — even when she is on holiday.

 

Why Fran Loves Working in Solihull

Having lived in Shirley for over 10 years, Fran has a genuine love for Solihull and everything it has to offer. The town centre provides an excellent mix of high-street favourites, designer brands, and independent boutiques, alongside a wide range of dining options — from fine dining and contemporary cafés to traditional local pubs.

As a parent, Fran particularly values the borough’s strong selection of good and outstanding schools, many of which achieve above-average results for Attainment 8 and Progress 8. Solihull also offers over 150 miles of public rights of way, making it ideal for countryside walks, outdoor activities, and enjoying an active lifestyle.

The area’s transport links are another major advantage. With Birmingham Airport close by and easy access to major motorways, travelling across the UK — and beyond — is straightforward. Having lived in a variety of places including California, Australia, Birmingham, Nuneaton, Tamworth, and Sutton Coldfield, Fran has experienced many different towns and cities, but Solihull truly feels like home.

 

What Clients Can Expect from Fran

  • Around-the-clock support
  • A highly personalised, hands-on service
  • Professional marketing packages, including drone footage
  • Listings on all major property portals, alongside tailored social media promotion
  • A natural problem-solver with a proactive approach
  • No job too big or too small — always willing to help

 

Contact Fran

Phone: 07926 974 734
Email: franstallard@hshomes.uk
Office: HS Homes, Avon House, 435 Stratford Road, B90 4AA

xNicola CraigDirector and Partner

About Nicola

Nicola has always had a strong passion for property, with many years of hands-on experience renovating, selling, and developing homes. Her love for property has been a constant throughout her career, driven by an eye for potential and a genuine enjoyment of helping homes reach their full value.

Before joining HS Homes full time, Nicola built an impressive career in education, working in the sector for over 20 years — 15 of those in senior leadership roles. Most recently, she served as a local deputy headteacher, where she became known for her strong communication skills, problem-solving mindset, and people-first approach. These qualities now underpin everything she does in property.

Born and raised in Ireland, Nicola relocated to the West Midlands 22 years ago and quickly fell in love with the area. So much so, she convinced her entire family to move over from Ireland to join her. Her transition into property full time was a natural next step, combining her leadership experience, organisational skills, and lifelong passion for homes.

 

Why Nicola Loves Working in Shirley

Having lived in Shirley for over a decade, Nicola has an in-depth understanding of the local market and a genuine connection to the community. Shirley offers the perfect balance of village feel and modern convenience, with excellent local amenities, independent businesses, green spaces, and strong transport links into Solihull, Birmingham, and beyond.

Nicola particularly values the sense of community in Shirley and the area’s reputation for excellent schools, making it an ideal location for families, professionals, and downsizers alike. Its accessibility, combined with a welcoming atmosphere and continued investment, makes Shirley a highly desirable place to live — and one Nicola is proud to represent.

 

What Clients Can Expect from Nicola

  • A calm, supportive, and highly organised approach
  • Exceptional communication and guidance at every stage
  • Strong local knowledge of Shirley and the surrounding areas
  • A background in leadership, ensuring clear direction and accountability
  • Honest advice focused on achieving the best possible outcome
  • A hands-on, client-first service — no question too small, no detail overlooked

 

Contact Nicola

Phone: 07708 400 070
Email: nicolacraig@hshomes.uk
Office: HS Homes, Avon House, 435 Stratford Road, B90 4AA

xRachael ThorpePartner for HS Homes of Warwickshire

About Rachael

Rachael leads our Warwickshire branch with a passion for property and a commitment to providing a personal, results-driven service. With experience in property sales, lettings, and customer care, they pride themselves on offering clear guidance, honest advice and a smooth moving journey for every client.

 

Why Rachael Loves Working in Warwickshire

  • A genuine connection to the local community
  • In-depth knowledge of neighbourhoods, schools, amenities and market trends
  • A drive to help sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants achieve their goals

 

What Clients Can Expect

  • Tailored marketing strategies
  • Clear, consistent communication
  • Expert advice throughout the sales or lettings process
  • A friendly, approachable service backed by the wider HS Homes brand

 

Contact Rachael

Phone: 07748655243
Email: rachaelthorpe@hshomes.uk
Office: HS Homes, Avon House, 435 Stratford Road, B90 4AA

xEmma SmithPartner, HS Homes of Rubery

About Emma

Property has been a huge part of Emma’s life for over ten years, so partnering with HS Homes felt like a very natural next step. As an award-winning professional property photographer, Emma has spent a decade working closely with homeowners and buyers, seeing first-hand how emotional and significant moving home can be.

What Emma has learnt above all else is how important trust, clear communication and honesty are throughout the entire journey. She prides herself on being approachable, transparent and genuinely supportive, ensuring clients always feel informed, reassured and listened to.

With a strong background in customer service and a passion for marketing and social media, Emma brings together people-focused service with modern, high-quality presentation. Her aim is simple — to make selling your home feel smooth, well-managed and positive from start to finish.

 

Why Emma Loves Working in Rubery

Rubery is an area Emma knows and values, offering a strong community feel, great local amenities, popular schools and green spaces that attract a wide range of buyers. Her in-depth local knowledge means she understands exactly what buyers are looking for, how to price homes competitively and how to market each property to stand out. This allows Emma to present homes confidently and effectively, ensuring they reach the right audience and achieve the best possible result.

 

What clients can expect from Emma

  • A personal, hands-on approach from initial conversation through to completion
  • Clear, honest and consistent communication at every stage
  • Straightforward advice with no overpromising or hidden surprises
  • A calm, supportive presence throughout what can be an emotional process
  • High-quality, tailored marketing that presents each home at its best
  • Regular updates so clients always feel informed and in control
  • A genuine commitment to achieving the best possible outcome

Emma believes selling a home is about trust, relationships and people — not just transactions — and she works hard to ensure every client feels supported, listened to and confident throughout their journey.

 

Contact Emma

Phone: 01217500485
Email: rubery@hshomes.uk

Why Our Franchise Model Works

Our franchise model ensures every region is led by someone who is fully invested in the success of their branch and the satisfaction of their clients.

Each Partner benefits from:

  • National brand support and systems
  • Training, marketing and compliance guidance
  • A proven, trusted estate agency structure
  • The freedom to run their own business with local autonomy

This combination gives customers the best of both worlds: local care with national strength.

Become a Partner

If you’re passionate about property and want to run your own successful estate and lettings business under a trusted brand, you can learn more about joining us as a Partner.

Interested in becoming a Partner?