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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Phil and Kirstie favourites to join Great British Bake Off
Speculation is growing that the UK’s most famous property personalities Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer stand a good chance of being the next presenters of BBC flagship programme The Great British Bake Off. After Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc announced they were to leave the show, along with Mary Berry, the hunt has been on for a new duo to front the programme. But although stars such as Jennifer Saunders, Davina McColl, Clare Balding, Geri Halliwell and Masterchef winner Lisa Faulkner have been in the frame, Kirstie and Spencer are now one of the betting favourites, placed third most likely at 7-1 by Betway. On Saturday it was revealed by Channel 4 that Phil and Kirstie, who are still contracted to the channel and continue to make Location, Location, Location and other series, had met the channel’s bosses to discuss a potential move from property to property tea. The duo are reported to have told bosses they are the “perfect fit” and a Channel 4 spokesperson told the Daily Mirror that “they poke fun at each other and are not afraid to go along with innuendos [and] they can match, if not better, Mel and Sue”. Other advantages of Phil…
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Is latest Foxtons branch opening such a bright idea?
The 64th Foxtons branch opening in London and the home counties is about to happen, featuring its signature café-style layout, design and green frontage. But it’s not been plain sailing for the agent, which is busy readying the site for its inaugural opening; window displays were still empty and builders appeared to be still working on the site when The Negotiator paid a visit. Missing from the front is any of the signature illuminated signage that most Foxtons are famous for, after planners turned down the company’s original plans for the site (see below) although change of use was eventually granted. Lambeth’s Assistant Director of Planning & Development David Joyce said in May this year that the advertisement (as he calls the illuminated sign) would be an “unduly dominant feature in the streetscene” and “detrimental to visual amenity” which is possibly his convoluted way of say “too garish.” He also said the signage, which in the plans was fairly small by Foxtons’ standards, was “unlikely to preserve, protect or enhance the locally listed buildings and the neighbouring Albert Embankment Conservation Area.” The branch is also being created within what was the headquarters of homelessness charity The Big Issue, whose magazine sellers…
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Why’s Duncan Bannatyne doing property viewings?
Duncan Bannatyne is known for his laconic Glasgwegian drawl, scathing opinions of entrepreneurs on TV’s Dragon’s Den and his fitness empire, but not for being an estate agent. But that’s all about to change. The 67-year-old recently ‘retired’ to Portugal with his new partner and future third wife, 36-year-old Nigora Whitehorn. But it would appear lounging around his luxury villa isn’t enough for the crotchety workaholic and he’s now launched a property business on the Algarve. Bannatyne’s buying up unfinished developments stranded by the recent and deep recession in Portugal, upgrading them into luxury villas and selling them on via overseas property firm Ideal Homes Portugal. His first project, within the inland town of Almancil half way between Vilamoura and Quinta Do Lago, is a gated community of five villa each selling for €475,000. Bannatyne is going to get his hands dirty marketing the development, it would seem; Chris White, owner of Ideal Homes Portugal, says anyone viewing the properties will be conveyed around their marble-clad floors by Bannatyne in person. “The recovery in the property market in southern Spain has been rapid and sustained. The effect is spreading to Portugal and the Algarve is at the beginning of a remarkable…
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STRUTT AND PARKER SPLASHES THE COLOUR
Strutt & Parker’s new store in South Kensington has opened with a bang!
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SOTHEBY’S LAUNCHES IN BELGRAVIA
United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty has opened a new office in Belgravia, the ultimate prime central London location.
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LORD MAYOR LAUNCHES NEW BESLEY HILL BRANCH
The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Jeff Lovell, performed the launch ceremony at Besley Hill Estate Agents’ Bishopston, Bristol, office.
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SDL Bigwood launches Coventry auctions
Midlands network will be expanded with regular Coventry auctions from this autumn.
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Hello? Is anybody there?
New research finds that agents ignore 1 in 3 leads… and they take rather too long to reply to emails.
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KFH EXPANDS PRESENCE IN CENTRAL LONDON
Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward (KFH) has expanded its network of branches covering London’s Zone 1, with the launch of new offices in Clerkenwell, EC1V and Earls Court, SW5.
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CENTURY21 OPENS IN READING
CENTURY 21 UK has opened its latest office, CENTURY 21 Reading, on Wokingham Road in the east of Reading.
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