Agencies & People
News covering the businesses, activities, people and personalities in estate agency and letting agency and wider residential property industry.
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Purplebricks and Yopa boosted by demise of eMoov and Tepilo
Purplebricks and Yopa benefitted the most from the demise of Emoov and Tepilo, a report into the online and hybrid estate agency market has revealed. Analysis of the sector’s growth by housing market advice service PropertyRoad.co.uk has revealed that Purplebricks increased its slice of the cake from 53% to nearly 60% while Yopa increased its from 9.6% to 15%, helped in part by the two competitors disappearing. The research found that Purplebricks picked up the most market share during the year, unsurprising given its dominance of the field and its recent offer to take on former customers of eMoov and Tepilo for free. Its other nearest rival, Express Estate Agency, now has 12.4% of the online market, up by just 1%. The remaining ‘big six’ hybrid/online estate agents now have just over 95% of the market between them. This includes Purplebricks, Yopa, Express Estate Agency, House Network, Housesimple and Doorsteps. “Consumers are increasingly turning to the brands they recognise despite the recent news about the difficulties faced by previous big brands such as Emoov and Tepilo,” the report says. It is also clear from the research that the battle for second place is now on. Purplebricks looks unassailable with 20,272 active…
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Hamptons International kicks off celebrations for 150 years in business
Hamptons International has revealed extensive plans to celebrate its 150th year in business during 2019 including an extra day’s holiday for all its 1,000+ staff, a fleet of branded London black cabs, plans to raise £150,000 this year for Cancer Research UK and the introduction of a ‘green plan’ for the business. Also, the 150th property to be sold or let this year will be commission-free for the client involved and all its branches now have ‘150 years’ window stickers (see above). Hamptons International was established in 1869 by George Hampton at an office on Cockspur Street in Pall Mall, central London although his original business, a furniture shop, was started up in 1830 in North London. The property business was sparked into life employing eight staff when the furniture business and all its records burned down. The firm endured several challenges including being bombed out of its premises during WWII but by the mid-1930s was successful enough to be separated off from the parent company, and during the 1980s was bought by Abaco Investments for £15 million and then sold to Bristol & West building society in 1990. Challenges A less happy period ensued for the company during which…
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Young estate agent made her firm’s MD just eight years after joining industry
A young estate agent from the SW has risen quickly through the ranks locally to become one of the industry's rising stars.
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Posh Purplebricks? Seven-month old central London hybrid estate agency expands
Central London based hybrid estate agency Agents & Homes is expanding fast just seven months after starting up in Notting Hill.
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Purplebricks’ growing dominance revealed by Google search analysis
Searches for hybrid estate agency Purplebricks increased by 18% over the past 12 months, research by consultancy MediaVision reveals.
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Century 21 opens in Salford
Century 21 UK celebrated the opening of its new branch in Salford, near Manchester Arndale Centre, with an opening event in November.
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‘Going into administration was good for Humberts’
Read how estate agency Humberts' COO has claimed that going into administration last year was good for the business, which is now trading profitably.
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SDL franchise scheme grows
SDL Property Partners has gone strength to strength within its first year of launch – and its franchisees are no different.
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Howzat? Famous cricketer cuts ribbon on new property sales operation
Famous cricketer David Lloyd has helped 10-branch the Property Shop officially launch its sales division after 15 years in lettings.
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Surrey-based PLC Centro buys rival estate agency Christies
Sutton based property expert Centro PLC has announced its acquisition of Cheam estate agency Christies.
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