Hertfordshire

Local estate agency Connells has appointed David Stow as Residential Sales Manager of its Letchworth office.

David joined Connells just two years ago, but has been one of the company’s rising stars and his outstanding personal performance and has him quickly climb the career ladder.

In September last year, David joined Connells in Letchworth to work alongside the manager, a role that he excelled in and led to his promotion to Residential Sales Manager.

“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to manage the Letchworth office and I look forward to the challenges ahead and helping to push business forward,” said David.

“We are a new team within an established office, being Connells fourth office to open way back at the start of the company’s formation in the 1930s.

“We take great pride in offering a trustworthy and reliable service which through hard work, determination and a relentless attitude will soon make Connells the number one choice when it comes to selling property locally.”

The housing market in Letchworth is buoyant and properties that are correctly priced and well presented are selling well.

However, Connells is finding there are not enough properties coming on the market to meet the demand from buyers looking to purchase in the area. 

“We have had a successful few months selling a range of properties from first-time buyer homes to larger family properties. Three-bedroom properties priced from £175,000 are proving particularly popular with buyers,” added David.

“However, there is shortage of supply in most price brackets and we desperately need more quality properties to sell to meet demand.”

Connells recruited two new members of staff at the start of the year and is looking to expand the team further in the near future, in order to help deal with the high levels of business the branch is seeing.

To find out more about the local housing market or to arrange a free market appraisal, contact David and the team on 01462 685271 or visit the branch at 6 Station Parade.

Share

{ 0 comments }

Following the success of previous campaigns, leading local agents Wilson Peacock Estate Agents is planning to take part in what is expected to be the UK’s largest ever Open House Weekend.

Taking place on May 12 and 13, the sellers of properties marketed by Wilson Peacock will join thousands of sellers across the UK and open their doors to prospective buyers.

Wilson Peacock Estate Agents took part in an identical event last May, with 17,000 sellers taking part nationally, attracting a whopping 31,000 viewings over the weekend, which resulted in 2,000 successful sales.

The advantage of the National Open House Weekend is that it is time-saving and more convenient for all parties involved. The timing allows sellers and buyers to organise multiple viewings over the Saturday and Sunday, rather than trying to cram viewings into their busy weekday lifestyles.

To support the national event, property and mortgage experts will be available to offer specialist advice for all local buyers, sellers, investors and homeowners.

Peter Wallace, Managing Director, commented: “Our sellers are really excited to be taking part in the Open House Weekend as it’s been a huge success in previous years and it’s widely recognised as a great opportunity to match sellers and prospective buyers.

“We’re anticipating a significant amount of interest in the properties we currently have for sale in and around the areas where we’ve seen a high demand from buyers.

“So whether you’re a seller or buyer hoping to take part in the National Open House Weekend, or would just like some advice about purchasing or selling property, contact your local branch and we’ll be happy to help.”

Those interested in viewing a property can call Wilson Peacock Estate Agents to obtain a unique password to use for the viewings.

Just visit the following website to find details of your local office:
www.wilsonpeacock.co.uk.

All properties taking part in the Open House Weekend are listed on the website www.propertywide.co.uk

Share

{ 0 comments }

ONE of the country’s leading estate agencies with roots in Hitchin town centre, dating back to the 1930s, has just completed the final stages of a it’s radical refurbishment programme.

Connells in Hitchin, which now incorporates the launch of a lettings department, which will complement its already successful sales and mortgage services departments, fulfilling its ambition to become a one-stop shop for any clients looking to buy, sell, rent or arrange a mortgage. You can also arrange a professional survey, valuation or solicitor.

Daniel Peacock and Paul Smith of Connells

The major refurbishment programme has given the Hitchin branch a complete makeover designed to catch the eye of people walking by and improve the comfort of customers when looking for properties. The renovation includes the installation of the latest technology, increased seating, new external displays and new contemporary window displays which allow the agent to showcase a larger number of properties for sale.

“We are really pleased with the makeover which has resulted in a more attractive setting in which to conduct business. I would like to thank our customers who have been very patient while we have had the work done, this is a very exciting time,” said Daniel Peacock, Manager at Connells High Street branch.

“The Hitchin branch was Connells’ third office to open and launched over 60 years ago. We are very proud the branch continues to be successful and that Connells has become a large national estate agency network with 155 branches across the country.”

Connells’ new recruits include Paul Smith as Senior Negotiator. Paul has five years experience and knowledge of working as an estate agent in the area, priding himself on the many letters of compliment for satisfied customers over the years.

“Combining this with the Connells brand is sure to be a recipe for success,’’ said Paul.

Paul has thrown down a gauntlet with the urging of anyone with their property currently on the market with other agencies, to give him a chance to prove that with a tenacious attitude and relentless approach, he can achieve your goal quickly, efficiently and at the right price.

He added: “If the public trust me to act for them in selling their home, you can bet your bottom dollar, I’m not going to let them down.”

To find out more about the local housing market and Connells’ lettings service or to arrange a free market appraisal, contact the team at Connells Hitchin office on 01462 437666 or visit the revamped branch at 19 High Street.

Share

{ 0 comments }

Local estate agency Connells in Stevenage is delighted to announce it is now offering an award-winning range of protection products provided by insurer Friends Life.

The new insurance products, which include life, critical illness and income protection, also offer valuable additional services including the Bupa HealthLine and a service which offers policyholders the chance to get an expert second opinion on the treatment they need if they contract a serious illness or medical condition.

“No one wants to think about what might happen if something prevents them from earning an income for a period of time or, worse still, if they die,” said Mortgage Services Consultant Juliet Twining.

“It’s crucial to have insurance in place when you take out a mortgage. That way, if the worst should happen, your dependants and home are protected. We are urging those with or without existing policies to come and discuss our new insurance products and see if they could offer a better level of protection.”

Despite the importance of life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection, recent research by Friends Life found that only around 50 per cent of those surveyed have policies in place to protect them should the worst happen.

Of those who had policies, only half regularly reviewed their policy to make sure it provided adequate protection for their changing needs.

“Many people look at putting protection schemes in place when making big life decisions, like buying a house or starting a family, but there are still huge numbers who have no means of maintaining an income if, for example, they were diagnosed with a serious illness or lost their job,” added Juliet.

“The new range of Friends Life protection products, available through Connells, offers this peace of mind.”

If you are interested in speaking to Connells about the new range of protection products, please contact the branch on 01438 314666 or email juliet.twining@connells.co.uk

Share

{ 0 comments }

The next London and Country Property Auctions event will take place on March 29 2012 at the Millennium Hotel, Mayfair. 

The auction will have a selection of 12 properties ranging from a guide price of £225,000 to £2.8m, so it’s sure to set hearts racing.

The auction house, which launched last year and combines the expertise of three of property’s most prestigious brands, Hamptons International, John D Wood & Co. and Faron Sutaria, showcases some of the UK’s most desirable residential properties, including houses, apartments, cottages, farms and development opportunities.

Highlighting significant appetite for prime stock at its last event in autumn 2011, London and Country Property Auctions achieved sales of more than £3 million, with one property attracting 15 bidders and eventually selling at more than £100,000 more than its guide price.

 This spring’s event is set to be as successful as the last, with lots including renovation projects, a stunning former rectory, detached family houses, building plots, an immaculate South Kensington flat and an impressive six bedroom central London townhouse. With a guide price of £2.8m, this wonderfully preserved family house extends to over 4,500 sq ft and is a rare lot to come to auction.

Another lot, an attractive four-bedroom detached house in a rural village near Henley-on-Thames, has already attracted significant interest from couples, families and developers alike, with at least half a dozen  interested parties planning to attend the auction later this month.

Benefits of buying at auction:

• Speed – From start to finish, the process usually takes just seven weeks
• Certainty – Contracts are exchanged on the fall of the hammer, at which point the sale takes place and the purchaser must provide a deposit

Richard Delaney, Auction Consultant for London and Country Property Auctions, commented: “Whilst auctions have long held appeal to a certain audience, the difficult economic backdrop has led to more and more people considering auctions as a method to sell and buy property.

“This is reflected in the selection of properties that London and Country Property Auctions is offering at its upcoming event, with a range of properties and price points to suit a variety of potential purchasers hoping to get a good deal.

“Following on from the success of our last auction, we are excited to offer potential purchasers such an interesting selection of properties and invite anyone interested in experiencing the rush of an auction atmosphere to attend on March 29.”

London and Country Property Auction’s next event is on March 29 2012 at the Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London W1K at 2pm.

Share

{ 0 comments }

National awards and industry plaudits continue to pile up for Hitchin businessman Luke  Mason, who has just scooped a further two honours in an annual Awards scheme run by UK wide lettings specialist, Belvoir.

At a presentation ceremony held at the Belton Woods Hotel, near Grantham inLincolnshire, he topped the categories for Bronze Franchise of the Year Award 2012 and Belvoir Most Improved Office 2012.

These latest accolades come hot on the heels of him being named Negotiator magazine’s ‘Rising Star of the Year’ in 2011 and Belvoir’s Gold Award winner for Franchise of the Year one year earlier, adding to a further two collected since he first set up a Belvoir office, at 32 Bancroft, Hitchin, in December 2008.

Belvoir’s annual awards are highly contested by each of the 140 plus offices in its UK wide network and commenting on the latest wins, Luke said: “It’s a real tribute to the hard work put in by every member of the team and to their dedication in offering our landlord and tenant clients the very highest levels of professional, expert advice.” 

During 2011 Luke added a further two members to his growing company and undertook a full refurbishment of its offices, to allow for more capacity to service a rapidly expanding client base.

Presenting him with his awards, Belvoir Chief Executive Officer, Dorian Gonsalves was joined by the ceremony’s celebrity presenter, renowned TV wit, actor, writer and raconteur, Gyles Brandreth.

“The Hitchin office has become a real shining star in our UK wide network and has managed to increase business by a massive 63 per cent, year on year, despite already being incredibly successful,” said Dorian.

“It is a worthy winner of these categories and may Luke’s trophy winning run continue”, he added.

Crowning the Hitchin team’s achievements at the 2012 awards ceremony was the fact that just two days earlier Belvoir successfully listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Addressing attending franchise owners, Dorian Gonsalves said: “This is one of the most important structural changes in the history of Belvoir and becoming a public company has increased our profile and status on a national stage, showing that we are a transparent and stable company with a permanent future.

“We have entered a new era that could not have been possibly reached without the pro-active, positive support from the Belvoir network and the hard work put in by the committed and skilled

Luke Mason (centre) picks up his award

individuals who make up our company.”

Share

{ 0 comments }