Widnes-based Nova Estate Agents named one of best in country

Becky Lamey had zero previous experience running a business, but having found a gap in the market, took the leap and launched her very own estate agents during the Covid pandemic in 2020.

And now the business has been recognised in the ‘Best Estate Agents Guide 2025’.

The Widnes-born businesswoman was furloughed from a local estate agents at the time of the pandemic and described how her new venture, Nova Estate Agents, “really took off”.

“I started the business from my own bedroom,” Becky said.

“I had never owned or ran a business in my life and thought, why not? I could see a huge gap for an agent who specialises in being empathic, kind, caring and equally passionate about the job. I genuinely love my job.”

Becky started the business from her bedroom during the pandemic (Image: Supplied) She continued: “The business took off hugely, being a Widnes woman myself and having a lot of connections, I was really fortunate to be recommended to sell for clients on a regular basis and rarely relied on having to pay for marketing materials to obtain new business.

“We are a five-star Google rated business and have some amazing personal reviews - which I am so proud of.”

The mum-of-three spoke of pouring her “heart and soul” into the business which is now “thriving” and has been recognised on a national scale - but it was not a straightforward road to success.

“I had to temporarily close Nova for a short while towards the back end of 2021 due to personal reasons. One year later, after a lengthy discussion, both myself and my partner Peter Foster, who is also a director of McCaffrey Mortgages, decided we would reopen Nova Estate Agents together as a fresh company and jointly owned for better support.”

And so, the estate agents reopened its doors in October 2022, owned by the couple which Becky referred to as the “dream team”.

Owners Becky and Peter are the self-confessed 'dream team' (Image: Supplied) She described feeling lucky for the support and backing received by both their families along the way, as well as their children with the pair being a blended family of seven.

“The children are fully involved in Nova Estate Agents and frequently when we are driving around love to point our signs out and tell us how one day they will also work for Nova and how proud they feel of us both.”

Nova Estate Agents was recognised nationally by the Estate Agent Masters during an awards ceremony held at the Evolution in Battersea, London last week.

The awards highlight top estate agents across the country, assessing how many properties each business sells, the length of time it takes for the agents to sell the homes, and the price achieved.

They also measure on mystery shopper calls and website enquiries and over a course of time, they awarded Nova with a Gold award for excellence.

 And the estate agents is now also published in the 'Best Estate Agents Guide 2025'.

Highlighting its key to success owner Becky said the business, based on Albert Road, offers clients a “fresh approach to selling a property”.

She added: “We believe that having excellent service standards is the main element to being a successful agent along with offering very competitive fees and saving our lovely local Widnes folk thousands in agents fee on commissions they won't pay with us.

“From a mum of three young kids jugging lockdown alone, to parenting my children and building a thriving business from my bedroom, it really does show that if you put your mind to it and truly believe in yourself, anything is achievable and I am so super proud if this.”