Chris, James and Jeremy
Local expertise, sound advice and a personal touch make Whitman & Co W4’s leading agent for sales and lettings
‘This year’s numbers are unprecedented,’ says Chris Chalmers, the Sales Director of Whitman & Co. ‘By the end of April we had agreed 72 transactions and we’ve been taking sealed bids on four to five properties each week. To say the least, there’s a huge pent-up demand among buyers.’
That Whitman & Co is spearheading activity in Chiswick should come as no surprise. Thanks to its tried and tested philosophy of focusing solely on W4 and its immediate surroundings and using an experienced, close-knit team that knows the area street-by-street, the estate agency has consistently led the field in Chiswick. ‘That’s still the case,’ confirms Chris. ‘In the last calendar year we sold over 24% of properties in W4 and arranged 10% of lettings, making us No 1 in both sectors according to official Rightmove figures.
‘Currently, the key drivers in the market are people deciding to upgrade their main asset, the stamp duty extension and low borrowing rates. Local residents are trading up – moving from flats to houses, houses to larger houses – and there’s plenty going on in the £2 million plus range; we’ve had sealed bids on a number of properties and quite a few transactions have been concluded with no advertising. If the price is right, things are moving.’
That positivity is reflected in Commercial property. ‘The market has come back with a vengeance over the past two to three months, with many new occupiers trying to gain a foothold in Chiswick,’ explains Director, Jeremy Day. ‘Enquiries from shop and restaurant users have meant that nearly all our currently listed High Road shops are either under offer or have been recently let. The highlight has been bringing in a new addition to the W4 dining scene with the US burrito and taco restaurant Chipotle taking over the ex-Byron Burger site. We’ll also be announcing some exciting new retailers very soon!
‘Specialist businesses are also busy, with the wider Planning Use Class (E) presenting options for the likes of gyms, clinics and day nurseries to find new premises. The Office sector is less busy, but we are now starting to see companies making plans for their return to work and that might involve upsizing, downsizing or just moving nearer to home.’
Whitman & Co has always believed in investing in the community, particularly in light of the last year. ‘We’re delighted to help out if we can,’ says Chris. ‘We support Chiswick Cricket Club, Chiswick Rugby Club Juniors and the Bedford Park Festival and we’re pleased to be one of the sponsors of the Flower Market, which is back on the first Sunday of every month. It’s an initiative that has given a huge boost to Chiswick’s profile; it has been listed as an exemplar project on the Government’s High Street Task Force website and new arrival Megan’s has even named their Chiswick restaurant Megan’s at the Flower Market.
‘The Whitman’s way is all about building relationships – that’s why people often pop into the office for a chat and advice about the market. We’re transparent, we don’t put our clients under pressure, we flag up issues and we try to solve them without any fuss. No matter how busy we are, we keep it personal. Longevity is at the core of our business.’
Whitman & Co
5-7 Turnham Green Terrace,
Chiswick, W4 1RG
+442087478800
sales@whitmanandco.com
lettings@whitmanandco.com
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