Local property expert believes this could be the first closure of many.
The Haus Properties estate agency fronted by Jamie Lester, a former contestant in the BBC's 'The Apprentice', closed its office at 229 Chiswick High Road, as reported by local news website
ChiswickW4.com.
Local estate agent Christian Harper at
Harper Finn had
predicted closures among his competitors last May before the Brexit vote and there is now increased local speculation that Haus Properties will be the first of several branches to close in the area. There is anecdotal evidence of shortage of supply, prices being dropped and a sharp fall in the number of transactions taking place.
Chiswick estate agents have had a tough two weeks following Brexit with some deals collapsing and others having to be re-negotiated, according to one local agent who predicted that the days of the high street office in W4 were 'doomed'.
Christian said, "I feel sorry for any staff that may now find themselves without work but I am not surprised to hear that Haus has gone as the model of high street estate agents is doomed. Property web sites like Rightmove allow estate agents that charge a few hundreds pounds, as much chance of providing the same buyers, as the agents that charge tens of thousands."
He said that he believed that things would improve for the market with the new government and recent stabilisation of the FTSE. "Within the next five years most of the corporate estate agent chains will move away from Turnham Green Terrace as they have very little to justify the huge fees they are currently charging to cover rents and shopfronts and provide little or nothing extra to the client.
"Walnut Veneer desks and fresh flowers in the shop window don’t get you more money for your house so please don’t pay +£50k for the privilege!"
After working in Chiswick for almost twenty-five years, Christian advised customers to opt for long-term local agents such as
Andrew Nunn & Co on South Parade, and James Matthews at Whitman & Co on Turnham Green Terrace, who had experience and knowledge.
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