A leading Jackson-Stops director has handed over the reins at his branch to agents formerly employed at Savills and Knight Frank.

Long-standing Exeter boss Richard Addington, who remains with the business, has sold it to Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick, who until recently worked at Knight Frank’s branch in the city, and Tom Bedford, who similarly worked at Savills.

Addington started his career in estate agency back in 1979 and has worked covering the Devon market from Exeter ever since. He has been a director of the Jackson-Stops Exeter business since at least 2017.

The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed and the announcement is unusual largely because the organisation’s offices do not change hands that regularly.

Structure

Directors of each business are members of a national Group that meets regularly to steer the overall firms direction, but each is enabled to, within specific geographic areas, invest in and develop their business under the estate agency brand. The firm currently has five offices within London and 35 outside.

“Jackson-Stops ticks all the boxes – the business has been around for more than a century, has an outstanding national reputation and a real stronghold here in the West Country,” says Bingham-Chick.

“For me, this is about a return to traditional estate agency – putting the client first and delivering results.

“We’ve inherited a fantastic team and we’re thrilled that Richard is staying on – we don’t want him to retire any time soon.”

Stay agile

Beford says: “Jackson-Stops gives you the national brand and network of a major player, but the autonomy to run your own business and stay agile.

“We have control of our cost base and can deliver a personal, local service backed by a respected national name – it’s an unbeatable combination.”

Nick Leeming, Chairman of Jackson-Stops, adds: “The team are off to a flying start – I called them earlier this week to congratulate them on their first official day of operating under the brand, and Sarah had already secured a new instruction that morning while Tom brought one in later that afternoon.

“Their combined knowledge of coastal and rural markets is ideal for this region and their contacts are impressive. This is an incredibly strong team.”

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