Hybrid estate agent who works from home takes over high street competitor

A glimpse of the industry’s future has been revealed after a Staffordshire estate agent who works from home with his two sons today announced he has bought a high street competitor. Chris Walthall (pictured, above), who set up a Ewemove franchise covering Leek and Hanley in Staffordshire four years ago, runs it with his son and fellow director Dan as well as another son, Conor. “I’ve operated the business from my home since 2014 and have a dedicated office space where I can have clients round and focus on my day-to-day work,” he says. The trio’s business, which Ewemove gathers together with other franchisees to create ‘Ewemove Staffordshire’ on Rightmove, offers both a sales and lettings service and, Ewemove claims, is now one of its most successful branches. Chris, like an increasing number of franchisees across the industry, had no experience of sales or lettings before acquiring the franchise, having previously been a salesperson in other sectors. But, although his family’s business is based from home, Chris has now bought a high street branch in Biddulph, to the north of Hanley, previously operated by a franchisee from Ewemove’s parent company Martin & Co (pictured, above). Its former owners will be…