PIX: Footballing legend opens Britain’s largest new estate agency branch

A famous footballer has opened what is claimed to be one of the largest estate agency branches at 6,000 sq ft.

Expanding Southampton and Hampshire firm Charters has opened what it describes as a showroom rather than a branch after a launch party attended by Matthew Le Tissier (pictured), who ‘cut the ribbon’ on the new premises.

The vast office brings together Charters’ financial services, property sales, valuations and lettings teams under one roof in the centre of Southampton on a site formerly occupied by a Land Rover dealership.

Other VIPs at the opening were Southampton Mayor Alex Houghton and Councillor Daniel Fitzhenry, Leader of Southampton City Council, as well as senior figures from the region’s property industry.

“I’ve been in the property industry for over 30 years, and I’ve never seen a property showroom as large, prominent and well designed as this,” said Robert Mott, Chairman of the Charters Group.

“It reflects our approach, which is distinctly different – it’s about offering traditional estate agency values, world-class IT and a face-to-face personal service within an inviting, accessible space.”

“There is also plenty of free parking to make it easy for visitors to get the best from their property search in a relaxed, comfortable environment.”

The agency, which has nine branches across the region, recently acquired Southampton lettings competitor Knights Porter, taking its portfolio to over 650 properties.

Its new branch manager, Andy Horn, adds: “Bringing the talent of so many property professionals under one vast roof in such a premium location is very exciting.”