High Street Endorsement - agencies celebrate new branch openings

The concept of the High Street estate agency branch has been given an endorsement by two companies announcing new offices.

Fine & Country is increasing its activity in Yorkshire with one branch opening in Thirsk and another in Northallerton. 

The Fine & Country brand will offer its services from James Winn Estate Agents, which was acquired by the Castledene Group late last year. 

The James Winn Northallerton branch was closed to the public until recently, when Chancellor Rishi Sunak - the local MP - officially reopened the office for business in new and much larger premises.

Nicky Stevenson, managing director of Fine & Country UK, says: “With Yorkshire’s premium price threshold growing year on year, this is a great time for … the James Winn brand to have come on board with Fine & Country.”

Meanwhile Spicerhaart - despite a corporate move towards more working from home - says it’s opened new Local Property Centres in Leeds and Aylesbury, as well as the new Plymouth and South West Property Centre. It is also introducing a new City Partnership model for metropolitan areas including London, Bristol and Birmingham.

Chief executive Paul Smith comments: “As well as investing heavily in our teams and branches, we also have ambitions to acquire other estate agency and letting businesses that share our ethos.

“As early pioneers of the Partnership business model, it is important to stress that home-based working does not mean we no longer need branches, it’s the exact opposite, we need both. Technology means you don’t need physical High Street branches in every location but you can still offer exactly the same service and reach more postcodes, it’s just a different way of working.”