Humberts signs up to Zoopla four years after quitting to join OTM
The 176-year-old company is now listing properties from its high street franchised and owned branches as well as five new 'hubs' based off the high street.
Humberts has returned to property portal group ZPG and has already begun listing its 941 sales and 118 rental properties from its five new on and off high street hubs alongside listings from its six franchise branches.
The move follows its departure from ZPG in 2014 prior to the launch of OnTheMarket. At the time the company said Rightmove was the ‘obvious choice’ to comply with OTM’s then ‘one other portal’ rule.
Listing on ZPG now are Humberts’ new ‘hubs’ within industrial estates including in Exeter covering Devon, Yeovil covering Dorset and Sevenoaks covering Kent and Sussex.
Humberts today joins the growing number of larger agents who market their properties via all three portals following OTM’s cancelling of its one other portal rule.
Corporate recovery
The 176-year-old Humberts closely avoided bankruptcy in April when it asked corporate recovery specialist Begbies Traynor to find a buyer for the profitable parts of the business.
Redundancies of up to 50 junior and senior staff including Country House director Jeremy Campbell-Harris followed before it was sold to upmarket holiday cottage firm Natural Retreats.
At the time Humberts said it was ‘business as usual’ and that its acquisition by Natural Retreats was a ‘perfect fit’
Its Managing Director Ian Westerling remained in post but now reports to Natural Retreats’ CEO Matt Spence.
“We’re pleased to be returning to ZPG and to now be listed across both Zoopla and PrimeLocation,” says Humberts’ Director of Sales and Marketing .
“ZPG have demonstrated the value and insight they can bring to both our business and customers and we feel now is the right time to return.”
Charlie Bryant, MD of ZPG Property Services, says:
“We’re delighted to welcome Humberts back to the ZPG platform. Their return is another example of an agent really understanding our proposition and the value we can bring to their brand and customers and we’re looking forward to working with them.”
