Connells has bought three-branch independent sales and lettings agency Optima Property for an undisclosed sum and is to rebrand its branches but retain all the staff.

The Cambridgeshire estate agency operated offices in the fenland towns of Chatteris, March and Wisbech and claimed to be one of the first estate agents in the region to offer both a high street and online/hybrid service side by side.

“The online market for selling properties is growing daily and we want to be able to offer sellers exactly what they want so we have designed an online only package to sit alongside out standard and more traditional service,” the company’s site said until being taken down a few days ago.

Its online service charged a £650 flat fee that included everything other than viewings (£50), negotiation and sales progression (£100) and a Rightmove Premium Listing (£156).

This aspect to the agency’s offer has been dropped following the sale and the March and Wisbech branches have already joined the William H Brown brand while the Chatteris office is trading under the Sharman Quinney brand.

“We are pleased to have acquired Optima Property which allows us to extend our presence in this market and demonstrates our continued commitment to expanding our business,” says Connells Group Estate Agency Chief Executive David Plumtree (left).

“We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues into the Group.”

All the existing staff at Optima are to be retained.