Hybrid agency expands beyond London after recruitment surge

A hybrid estate agency which uses freelance agents operating from a central hub is now expanding from London into the Home Counties.

The Agent and Homes agency, which launched only last year, has recruited a fleet of 18 freelance agents who work either on the road, or from home, or from the firm’s office hub at Notting Hill. 

Now the company is seeking a larger hub and is extending its agents’ reach into parts of the Home Counties. 

“Growth has been quicker than we anticipated and we now have properties for sale and to let across central and west London and have even started marketing properties as far away as Essex after recently agreeing the sale of an apartment in Brentwood” says Agent and Homes founder Rollo Miles.

“The growth in numbers of people joining us has also been very pleasing” he says. “We love the fact that people are keen to embrace a new way of working within the property industry and particularly pleased that they are choosing to work with us.” 

Miles, a former manager at Marsh & Parsons and Countrywide’s high-end John D Wood brand, co-founded the hybrid in June along with Bob Crowley, who also managed at Marsh & Parsons and John D Wood as well as at PropTech firm Nested.

The firm, which has taken on over 40 sales and over 200 lettings instructions, targets what it calls “disillusioned agents” from established bricks and mortar firms who want an opportunity to work for themselves, manage their own days and work the hours they want or need to fit in family life or other business interests.

Its agents are all self-employed, keep 90 per cent of what they earn - customers are charged on a commission basis - with 10 per cent going to the hub to provide support. 

Miles says Agent and Homes is expecting to considerably increase its number of agents in 2019, hence the requirement for a larger base - but he insists it will be in central London. 

“We want the hub to be easily accessible for everyone that wants to pop in, we do a lot of business in Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.”

The agency is just one of a number that has adopted the hub principle in recent months. 

Humberts famously came out of administration last year with the pledge to replace its branches with a far smaller number of hubs, while the Keller Williams, Harding Green and Orchards agencies also champion the hub principle.