Estate agent haart has opened its first branch in Ilford.

The company has invested over £25,000 transforming the interior and exterior of the former Spicer McColl offices on Cranbrook Road in Ilford.

This has included new fascias, walls and carpets together with state of the art computer and telephone systems. The branch now comes with a break out area where customers can discuss their needs in a more relaxed, informal environment, whether they are looking to buy or sell. There are also touch screen computers in branch for browsing properties. The look has been finished off with a number of highly colourful back lit blinds to help promote the branch at night.

Heading up the six-strong branch in Ilford is Gero La Lomia, Senior Branch Manager. Gero, who has worked with the company and in East London for over 20 years, is joined in Ilford by Asha Kaur, Sales Manager; Jazz Rai, Assistant Manager; Riz Hanif, Sales Negotiator; Jag Singh, Sales Negotiator; Raheel Ahmed, Apprentice and Ahmed Chughtai, Mortgage Advisor. Between them they have over 50 years experience in estate agency.

The opening of the Ilford branch forms part of an ambitious programme of growth by haart across East London. haart is investing over £250,000 over the coming year in its branch network in the area as it looks to cement it’s position as East London’s leading independent estate agent.

Gero La Lomia, Senior Branch Manager for haart of Iflord said: “The response from the public to the new haart office in Ilford has been extremely positive. People really seem to like the branding, which is very different from other estate agents, and this is being reflected in the number of enquires we have received from prospective customers, which is great news.”

A brand new lettings team is just one of the features that have been introduced following a £50,000 plus makeover of the haart in Walthamstow offices in London.

The branch, which is based at 143-145 Hoe Street, was earmarked earlier this year for transformation as part of an on-going programme of change by haart, the largest chain of independent estate agents in the UK.

As a result the outside of the building has been given a dramatic facelift with the signature purple and white corporate branding while four state of-the-art LCD displays advertise the latest properties in the window.

Inside, it has been completely redecorated with new floors, walls and carpets. What’s more, the computer and telephone systems have been upgraded. The sales area has also been made into a large open plan space complete with a full-scale map of the Walthamstow area.

A dedicated three-strong lettings team has been recruited for the branch working alongside the long-established estate agency team with a fourth person pencilled in to join in early 2012. Headed by David Greenslade, who has over 20 years worth of experience within the industry, it also includes Jason Smith, Senior Lettings Negotiator and Natalia Zdolska, Lettings Negotiator, who joins the branch from haart of South Woodford. Together they will offer a range of services to people from the area (as well as outside) looking to let or rent properties.

There is also now a dedicated haart financial advisor based in Walthamstow to provide expert advice on everything from mortgages through to insurance-related products.

Says Hayley Steele, Branch Manager for haart of Walthamstow: “The response to the new look Walthamstow branch has been absolutely fantastic. Customers really seem to like the new branding, which is fresh, vibrant and quite different from everything else on the high street in the area. Plus, with David and the lettings team now onboard, we are in a position to be able to offer clients a complete one-stop service – whether they are buying, selling, letting or renting.”

Source: haart.co.uk

Award-winning estate agent haart has appointed Michael Johnson as its new Divisional Sales Director for South East London and Kent.

Michael, who joins haart after seven years with Countrywide, most recently as a Director, will oversee the running of the company’s branch network in the region. The 42 year-old started his career with Page & Wells in Walderslade.

haart currently has 14 sales branches throughout South East London and Kent, including 11 which were formerly Spicer McColl before a year-long £300,000 rebranding programme that finished this summer.

Says Michael: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining haart and look forward to working with such a forward-thinking team to raise greater awareness of the brand and what it can offer to anyone thinking of buying or selling a home in South East London and Kent.”

haart has become the first major independent estate agent to offer customers the option to track the progress of the sale of their house online.

The feature, part of the myhaart section of the new-look haart website, which went live in early September, enables customers exclusive access to the activity on their property 24/7.

Accessible with the use of a pin code, customers can see the number of times their property has been viewed on the haart website over the past 7, 14 and 28 days as well as the number of further information requests received by their local haart branch.

What’s more, customers who register for the free service will be able to see all of the offers that have been made on their home together with the progress of their sale.

Explains Paul Smith, CEO of haart: “haart has a long history of innovation in the property industry and the launch of the ‘my property stats’ section of the haart website is another example of the focus we have on adding value for our customers.

“For the first time, haart will have the option of tracking the progress of the sale of their home in real time, in addition, of course, to liaising with the staff in their local haart branch.”

haart has become the first estate agent to offer free secondary legal searches.


haart, the UK’s largest independent estate agent, will provide a full complimentary search on a second property in the event that the sale of the first property falls through – a saving of over £300.

This search pledge forms an integral part of the new legal search pack launched by haart. Created following widespread consultation with haart customers, the new pack provides a one stop solution for all property search requirements including a Local Authority Search, Personal Drainage and Water Search, Environmental Search and Chancel Search.

Explains Paul Smith, CEO of haart: “We have a long history of innovation in the property industry and our new legal search pack is another example of the efforts we are going to as a business add value for our customers.

“Not only have we created a one-stop solution that is more cost-effective than anything else in the market but we are the first estate agent to offer a free search on a second property in the event that the sale of the first property falls through.”

To find out more about the new haart legal search pack contact your local haart branch.

Jasmine Harman, presenter of Channel 4’s ‘Place in the Sun – Home or Away’, is set to feature on the new website being launched by haart, the UK’s largest independent estate agent.

Jasmine, who has appeared on the TV show since 2004, will star in a new promotional video located exclusively on the home page of the company’s new-look property website, www.haart.co.uk, when it goes live early next month.

Spicerhaart has completed the acquisition of Brooks, one of the most-established independent property agents in North London.

Brooks, which is based on Church Street in Stoke Newington, has been a mainstay of the area for over 25 years, providing a wide range of sales and lettings services to customers.

Spicerhaart, the UK’s leading independent estate agency group, will take over both divisions with immediate effect prior to the branch being rebranded as Brooks – in association with Felicity J Lord. All of the remaining staff have been retained by Spicerhaart. Brooks founder Lynn Brooks is exiting the business to spend more time at her second home in Deal in Kent.

Brooks is the second acquisition by Spicerhaart in as many months in North London. Recently, it completed the purchase of Islington-based Thomson Currie, which has subsequently been rebranded as Felicity J Lord. In the last 12 months alone, Spicerhaart has bought no fewer than half a dozen companies nationally as part of an ongoing acquisition strategy by the multi-award winning company.

Explains Paul Smith, CEO of Spicerhaart: “The acquisition of Brooks reaffirms our position as the most active independent estate agency group in London. I am confident that with the backing of Spicerhaart, and in particular the Felicity J Lord brand, Brooks will continue to play its part in the development of Stoke Newington into one of the most sought after areas in London.”

Source: haart.co.uk

Service proves a hit with haart customers.

Over 80% of haart customers would recommend the company to their family and friends.

A new survey by the estate agent found 82% of customers would happily pass on the company details whilst a further 54% of those quizzed said they had already chosen haart to market their property based on a recommendation from family or friends. And, in a further endorsement, 97% of people rated the service they received from haart as good, very good or excellent.

The monthly study of 515 customers follows another strong showing by haart at the ESTAS’ (Estate Agent and Lettings Agents Awards), where haart received a bronze in the best National Chain category based on votes by home buyers throughout the UK.

Says Paul Smith, CEO of haart: “We are totally committed to providing consistently high levels of service at haart so it’s extremely reassuring to see so many of our customers delighted with the service we are delivering through our branch network.”

Source: haart.co.uk

Spicerhaart acquires well-known London estate agent Thomson Currie.

One of London’s best-known independent estate agents Thomson Currie has been acquired by Spicerhaart.
Thomson Currie, which opened its offices on Upper Street in Islington Street in the mid-1980s, offers its services to customers in areas such as Canonbury, Clerkenwell, Farringdon, Highbury, Hoxton, Kentish Town, Islington, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington among others.

Spicerhaart, the UK’s leading independent estate agency group, will take over both the sales and lettings divisions with immediate effect prior to the branch being rebranded as Felicity J Lord. All of the remaining 11 staff have been retained by Spicerhaart. Thomson Currie Founder and Managing Partner Iain Currie will be focusing on developing a New Homes business.

Thomson Currie is the latest acquisition by Spicerhaart in recent months. Recently it bought Hamiltons in Northampton and prior to that it purchased Rooftops Sales and Lettings in Plymouth and Summerfield Properties in Croydon as part of a nationwide acquisition strategy by the multi-award winning company.

Explains Paul Smith, CEO of Spicerhaart: “The acquisition of such a well-known name as Thomson Currie confirms our position as one of the most active estate agency groups in London and I am confident that our combination of national presence and local knowledge will prove of huge benefit to Thomson Currie’s customers moving forward.”