Agency launches with eco-friendly focus on sustainability

A new family-run estate agency in Cornwall claims to be the first in the county to focus on green thinking, championing an eco-friendly and sustainable ethos.

During the spring lockdown Richard Brown, who has some 20 years in the property industry and 35 years as a resident of Cornwall, created what he believes is a new type of agency.

At Home Cornwall is a hybrid with no bricks and mortar office. It says on its website: “Sustainability and our impact on our environment are fundamental to how we run our business.

“Living in Cornwall and having the wonders of nature all around us we are keen to have as minimal impact on our local environment as possible. We therefore take sustainability and our working impact on the planet very seriously.

“We don’t have a high street office; our agents work from home and the business is managed from our hub which is powered by solar and wind turbine.

“Our for-sale boards are made from a fully recyclable correx which is also made from recycled plastics and other recyclable materials. 

“The company that makes the boards also run a free scrappage scheme, whereby they collect used ‘end of life’ boards so that they don’t end up in landfill. The ink used for them is a specialised hard-wearing ink which is environmentally friendly requiring no strong chemically based primers.

“Our fleet of vehicles are low emission (hybrid/electric)

“Most of our paperwork communications/documentations are created electronically to reduce the use of paper and printing. We use DocuSign to electronically sign documents to avoid timely postage delays and reduce paper waste.”

The agency charges a flat one per cent commission in return, on a no-sale/no-fee basis and with no minimum contract time. 

In return vendors get professional photography, advertising on Rightmove and social Media including Facebook and Instagram, a for sale board, accompanied viewings, negotiation assistance, sales progression and extended working hours - company staff are available 8am until 8pm six days a week.

A virtual tour is available for an additional £120.