An expanding independent estate agency has bought a long-standing firm and rival in the East of England.

Oakheart Property, which describes itself as a ‘traditional estate agency that uses cutting edge tech’, was founded in 2020 in Colchester and, following the acquisition of Ipswich firm Thompsons Estate Offices, now has six branches across both Suffolk and Essex.

Thompsons on the other hand, was founded in 1933 by A.H.V. Thompson and is one of the oldest estate agencies in the town. Its three staff (main image) are moving over to Oakheart including its property manager, administrator and an accounts manager. The owner of the business, Gary Farley, is believed to be moving on.

The acquisition of his firm means Oakheart now has branches in Chelmsford, Colchester, Mersea Island, Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, and now Ipswich.

Oakheart says the new branch is proof of the company’s ambitious growth strategy “while maintaining its commitment to delivering outstanding service at every stage of the property journey”.

Rich heritage

Dan Mitchell, co-founder of Oakheart, says: “We are incredibly excited to bring Thompsons Estate Offices into the Oakheart Property group.

“Thompsons has a rich heritage and a strong presence across East Suffolk, and we are committed to preserving its values while introducing our dynamic approach to the market.

“We look forward to working with [the Thompsons team] who bring invaluable expertise and dedication to the business.

“Together, we will continue to provide the outstanding service that clients of Thompsons have come to expect, while also expanding our presence in Ipswich.”