Sawyer & Co celebrate the launch of Fine & Country

The team at Sawyer & Co are celebrating the launch of their new prestige property division Fine & Country

Ever since their launch in 2009 Sawyer & Co have been respected as one of the best estate agents in the city. Their traditional approach balanced with an openness to modern ideas and technologies has meant they have made their mark in the city’s property market. Year on year they have gone from success to success, and despite the varying markets over the last few years they have grown in both strength and popularity.

It’s that kind of success that gets a company noticed, which is exactly what happened back in July of this year. Directors Chris Sawyer and Adam Farrell were surprised by a phone call from Fine & Country, an international estate agency brand operating at the prestige end of the property market globally.

“We took the call and they explained that they were looking for a company to represent the brand in this area of the country and would like to meet us as they thought we were exactly right for the brand,” says Chris Sawyer. “We eventually went up to meet them at their Park Lane offices in September and they outlined what they were looking for and how they thought that we were the right people to take on the brand.

“Fine & Country operates as a licence rather than as a franchise and after much consideration we decided that it was exactly the right move for Sawyer & Co to be making. The nearest branches of Fine & Country are in Eastbourne and Uckfield to the East and Portsmouth to the West. A Fine & Country licence gives you defined territories and we operate using their unrivalled marketing techniques and network in that designated area. It is internationally recognised as being an agency offering the very best properties in the top quartile of the property market. As it is not a franchise but a licence, we pay an annual licence fee to operate in that market and that means that we are able to use all of our existing skills and their massive exposure to the right markets with no impact on what we charge our clients.

“It was very flattering to be chosen by them to operate in this area as Fine & Country as we know just how hard they work and the rigorous lengths that they go to in choosing a company to represent the brand. To win this was a great accolade to our company and to the team that has contributed to our success.

“From the moment we decided that this was the right move for us we also knew that Dominique Scott would be the right person to run and head up the brand for us. Initially we had to move fairly fast. Our biggest problem was where we would trade from. We soon realised that expanding our current office was possible,the location is superb with great public exposure. But as with all these things the refurbishment was our next issue, a complex rebuild that exposed lots of previous mistakes that had to be made good. But it’s all done now and it looks superb with the Fine & Country branding sitting very well next to that of Sawyer & Co.



“This is a massive opportunity for us,” Chris continues. “Things have changed massively over the last few years and a lot of the local property coming to the market needs a completely different approach and strategy. The style and marketing material used by the Fine & Country brand is ideal for top of the market property and there is so much of that here in the city. Their impressive glossy publications have a massive effect across a global market and as we see far more interest from international buyers in Brighton and Hove properties this is a perfect opportunity.

“For us the branding is quite flexible and the way we use it too. We can use our own writers and photographers but we can also use their approved team of journalists and photographers too. They produce very beautiful brochures and promotional materials that we will be able to offer vendors. We will also get national ads in The Times and The Telegraph featuring the properties we represent.

“We can take all our skills and expertise at Sawyer & Co and add that to the Fine & Country brand to become the perfect choice for property at the very top of the market”

“A huge part of the market is overseas and London buyers continue to be very important in the market here. More people are moving to Brighton and Hove from London than anywhere else in the UK. At Sawyer & Co over the last 18 months we have seen a massive growth in international buyers from Hong Kong, India and the Middle East. Part of that growth is people wanting a holiday home with part time lettings potential.

“At the top end of the market there are many long term family homes, homes where people stay for 20 years or more. But there are also lots of beautiful apartments too, a massive part of the local market and a very appealing one for overseas investors.”

Fine & Country went live on Friday 6th December and they opened with three great instructions with a bid on one of them already in place.

Adam Farrell says: “Now we have to make the name known. We have thought very carefully about this and we are confident that this brand is right for us at this time, the team is right too and we are ready.”

Chris Sawyer adds: “Good is no longer good enough; you have to be excellent in every way and we see that we can take all our skills and expertise at Sawyer & Co and add that to the Fine & Country brand to become the perfect choice for property at the very top of the market.”

The Fine & Country team is headed up by Dominique Scott with Natasha Dunk and all the existing experienced team lending support as well as directors Adam Farrell and Chris Sawyer.

It is a massively exciting time for the whole team and here at Latest Homes we wish them the very best of luck with their new venture.

Personal statement: Dominique Scott
“I have loved working with Chris Sawyer and Adam Farrell for almost a decade and I’m absolutely delighted to be heading up Fine & Country for them. I’m particularly proud to have played a part in establishing Sawyer & Co as ‘a team you can trust’, and that Chris, Adam and I have earned a reputation within the industry as fair and decent estate agents who can deliver for our clients.

“Fine & Country allow us to provide, for our clients, a standard of marketing that we feel is unrivalled in Brighton & Hove. Whilst retaining our independence – Fine & Country is neither a corporate nor a franchise but a marketing machine with its core values in creative compliant strategies – we can package and market to local, national and international buyers. This is achieved through comprehensive national newspaper advertising, Fine & Country’s various publications, local magazines, 374 websites, 300 offices worldwide and a slick PR department based in Park Lane made up of highly skilled journalists and PR staff.

“Fine & Country have won an impressive number of awards over the past five years and we are very proud to have been selected by them to represent the Brighton and Hove area. I think that with the marketing power of Fine & Country behind us and with some good old fashioned estate agency skills, I am confident that this new brand will meet the demands of the present market and take us, as a team, into the future… here’s to the next decade!”

52 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2FN
Fine & Country 01273 739911
Sawyer & Co: 01273 778844, brightonandhove@fineandcountry.com
brightonandhove.fineandcountry.co.uk
www.brightonestateagents.com