Sawyer & Co: New dawn
A new look and a new name for one of the city’s
best-known estate agents: Sawyer & Co
It’s been a tough 12 months for the property industry, with casualties along the way. But not all the news is bad and, for one firm based in Church Road Hove and Portslade, things are certainly looking bright.
For many years the distinctive branding of Tingleys has been noticeable on properties for sale across the city. Chris Sawyer launched Tingleys together with Ralph Tingley back in 1996, and when Ralph decided to retire overseas Chris and Ralph demerged. Following this, Chris Sawyer and his new business partner Adam Farrell have undertaken a massive rebrand and relaunched the company as Sawyer & Co that will continue to specialise in sales but will now also have a brand-new lettings department. Chris and Adam have worked together for some time now with Chris in the Hove office and Adam at Portslade.
The rebrand is smart and modern, a reflection of Chris and Adam’s attitude to the ever-changing property industry. At the same time it retains the classic dark green colouring that has been for so long part of the Tingleys brand.
“Tingleys has been an excellent company, well respected for many years, and we certainly want to retain everything that has been good and build on that. We have commissioned a brand-new website as well as subscribing to a far wider range of national property websites.
“We are also very lucky to have become a part of the Home Sale Network. Only one company in any town can become a member and you can only join by being invited. This is a relocation networking organisation and we will be actively referring business around the entire country through this network.“
So what will Sawyer & Co bring to the market in 2009? “Well, we are committed to building on our reputation. It’s not good enough simply to be good – you have to be exceptional. We will be investing in lots of new training and coaching and constantly improving our service.
“One thing that really is important is our belief in realistic pricing policies – sending properties to market at prices that we believe are achievable. In the second half of 2008 our figures were good because we ensure that our preparation is good before providing valuations.
“It is equally important to stay on top of applicants and and make sure that all potential buyers see everything we have taken on, he continues. We are equally committed to not taking on properties that we think are overpriced or ones where a vendor’s expectations are too high.
“All our clients will continue to see full reports fortnightly showing total activity, viewings, viewing feedback and advertising. Transparency is vital if we are to provide the best possible service and that is our goal.“
We had to ask if Sawyer & Co were worried about making this massive move at this time? “We have, despite the market crisis, continued to be a successful company this year and this is a great opportunity for us to build on that. Demerging from Tingleys was the right thing for us to do at this time and, although Tingleys will continue to operate in the lettings field, Sawyer & Co will also be offering a lettings service.
“We have decided to employ Jeremy Whittingham as our lettings manager. We know Jeremy well as he has worked for Tingleys in the past and has been in the business a long time at branch manager level, and we are delighted to have him on board. He is one of the most organised people we have ever known so we are confident that Sawyer & Co’s letting department is in extremely safe hands.“
“We have, despite the market crisis, continued to be a successful company this year”
Sawyer & Co will continue to be based in their Church Road office with a branch in Portslade where the family home market is still very strong. There will be both a sales and a lettings presence at both sites.
The directors and staff of Sawyer & Co are well known for their friendliness, professionalism and integrity, and Chris and Adam are delighted to have retained the team that has in the past made the business the respected success that it is and are excited about the coming months.
Open six days a week from 8.30am to 6pm and, with a flexible attitude to viewing in the evening and at weekends to suit clients’ needs, they very much look forward to hearing from you.
Call Sawyer & Co Hove, 46 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2FN on 01273 778844 or 10 Station Road, Portslade, BN41 1GA on 01273 383830, or visit www.sawyerandco.co.uk
