Dave Wells Properties Votes Nissan Primastar Top of the Fleet
7 October 2011
An ever-expanding property portfolio and increasing demand for high quality, affordable rental accommodation has seen Dave Wells Properties in Bournemouth go from strength to strength. With 2,800 tenants currently on the books and 180 flats under development, the company recently looked to Westover Nissan to help expand its fleet of minibuses and vehicles, which are all used to drive people wishing to view houses, flats and bedsits from property to property.
The company, based in Bournemouth, has recently added four new Westover Nissan minibuses to its fleet of 11 vehicles – two award-winning NV200s and a pair of Primastars – bringing the total number of mini-buses in its ownership to eight.
“First and foremost, we need our vehicles to be practical and reliable because they’re out on the road six days a week,” says Steve Wells, a Partner at Dave Wells Properties. “We’ve developed over 1,100 new units of accommodation in the area since 2000 and, with so many properties and tenants, we’re always out and about conducting viewings. Sometimes people want to see several properties before they make a decision or to take family or friends with them - our fleet of minibuses means we can help them do just that.
“We’ve tended to stick with Westover Nissan vehicles, having had them since the business was set up – our first was a Nissan Serena which we bought in November 1999 and it’s still with us to this day. They meet our needs, they’ve proved reliable and we get a great sales and support service from Westover, which is extremely important to us. The Primastar’s the pride of the fleet at the moment – it’s a really practical vehicle but it also looks a bit different from other minibuses which makes it all the more appealing. The NV200 is a smaller vehicle, so it’s a great bus for nipping around town and sneaking into tight parking spaces – just what we need!”
Paul Gentle, Business Centre Manager at Westover Nissan adds: “We’ve been working with Dave Wells over a number of years and, like so many of our other commercial customers, he and his team like Nissan’s range of vehicles so much that they keep coming back for more. The company bought its first Nissan minibus back in TBC and we’ve been working together ever since. Reliability is key and we provide a strong back-up service so that even when vehicles are in the workshop there’s always a replacement on hand. We also offer a 24/7 collection and delivery service because we know that our customers are busy and don’t want to take time away from their businesses.”
Dave Wells Properties employs more than 80 staff and has around 2,900 flats and houses on its books. Each property is owned and maintained by the company and many have been built or converted specifically to meet the shortfall in affordable accommodation for local people. The company has a large office with dedicated staff on hand to accept rent payments; discuss issues or offer advice about housing matters; and provide details about available properties.
The NV200, named Van of the Year 2010 by the Institute of Transport Management, seats seven adults comfortably but it’s built on a car platform, making it agile and easy to manoeuvre in small spaces. It also has sliding doors on both sides, meaning people can get in and out safely in busy areas.
The Primastar has room for nine (including the driver) and benefits from great looks as well as strong fuel economy figures, allowing it to travel up to 700 miles between visits to the pump. Designed specifically for negotiating the hustle and bustle of city life, the Primastar has been crowned ‘The Taxi of Tomorrow for New York City’ after winning a competition organised by the Mayor of New York, who challenged manufacturers to design a taxi to serve the city for the next decade.
For more information about Westover Nissan’s commercial vehicles call Paul Gentle, Business Centre Manager on 0800 999 2325. Visit www.davewells.net to find out about the services offered by Dave Wells Properties.
