Countrywide’s new team caters for Covid house moving trend

Countrywide’s high-end brand John D Wood and Co has launched a new country house department, to take advantage of growing demand for people to quit London and head to rural areas. 

This new team will specialise in country sales in Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, Sussex, Berkshire, Oxford and surrounding areas.

The agency says the initiative is entirely because of John D Wood and Co seeing a 68 per cent rise in buyers registering to move out of London. 

It’s a big departure for the brand, established in Mayfair in 1872; it also puts John D Wood & Co in direct competition with the other Countrywide high end brand, Hamptons International, which has substantial exposure to the country and out-of-London markets.

“In recent years our focus has predominantly been within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, South West London, and Surrey” says John D Wood & Co managing director Polly Ogden Duffy. 

“As a result of the pandemic we have seen a significant increase in buyers looking for a second home or weekend retreat outside of London. That coupled with existing clients looking for our expertise to help them sell their country house or estate provided us with this exciting opportunity to expand” she adds.

Vince Dennington, who’s leading the Country House department, says: ”This expansion allows me and the team to showcase our agility as a trusted agent, whilst more importantly satisfying the desires and requirements of our clients. And we have an extensive database of buyers looking for their next home, particularly from London, wanting second homes or a complete move away from the city.”