Estate Agent Today can reveal that a new property firm is being launched specialising solely in the sale of off-market homes - and it wants to recruit agents to win new business.
Former estate agent Marcus Gondolo-Gordon (left) and British designer Dominic Skinner (right) have launched the firm, to be called Incognito Property.
Although primarily focusing on prime UK country markets and on Greece, other locations will include Barbados, the Alps, Seychelles, South of France and the US.
The emphasis will be on the benefits to vendors of selling ‘quietly’.
Gondolo-Gordon previously worked as managing partner of Ionian International for nine years, moving onto head of international at Sotheby’s International Realty and then Strutt & Parker’s country house department.
Skinner, a property entrepreneur based in Greece and the UK, has worked on renovations of historic old villages, private luxury villas and a private super yacht.
The firm will have offices at Petworth in West Sussex, and another in Corfu, Greece.
In the UK country markets the operation will cover Surrey, Hampshire, Kent, Sussex, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is for these areas that it wants to recruit new property professionals.
It says a minimum of three years of relevant experience is required, ideally with a background in off-market sales, along with a strong track record on selling and valuing properties in the home counties.
“Having a self-motivated attitude and passion for the business is essential, coupled with a strong understanding of social media and future property technology” says Gondolo-Gordon.
Meanwhile in Greece, Incognito Property will operate in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens and the Ionian Islands.
Properties will range from country estates, farms and farmhouses to waterfront estates, villas and new-build developments.
“The UK’s prime country house market has shown strong signs of serious buyers looking to buy something special under the radar. Approximately half of the properties I was selling in my previous country house role were off-market, as opposed to around 30 per cent in 2016. Meanwhile, savvy British buyers tired of the Balearics are now taking advantage of a realignment in Greek prices due to the debt crisis. Now the local economy is stable and displaying exponential growth” claims Gondolo-Gordon.
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So they will be targeting chancers, time wasters and anyone else not fully committed to selling their home? How can you sell ‘quietly’ and get the best possible price for the seller?
Whatever next!
I totally agree, “Sell my Property please but don’t tell anyone “ great after 48 years of selling Houses , do you know I have never been able to sell a property and get the best price by keeping it a Secret!
This is actually much better than featuring everything online and largely depends on the kind of properties they will be dealing with. At the end of the day, featuring properties for sale online is in most cases done at the owner's expense as agents typically use the bait-and-switch technique. When there's no bait, who is actually being protected. Much more straight forward in my view. It is all about silent sales and pocket listings these days and especially when dealing with niche properties...
There is a place for ‘discreet’ sales, we’ve used them to great effect, but only on very specific properties and circumstances. I don’t pretend to know enough about their specific market or target client, but I’d be concerned about having an agency ONLY dealing in those vendors.
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