Property Jobs Today - the movers, shakers and people in the news

The property recruitment market seems to be moving as fast as house prices.

Here are some of the latest moves that took place during April.

If you want your jobs or appointments news to feature here, email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk 

Cullen Property: Edinburgh based lettings and property management agent Cullen Property has announced the expansion of its contracts, accounts and maintenance teams to improve portfolio quality and customer service.   

The new additions include, Morven Kirkwood and Romana Begley as contracts managers and Suzan Shumasike as Client Accounts Manager.   

In addition, Philip Bednell joins as Maintenance Technician. This brings the total number of team members to 21. 

Steve Coyle, managing director, said; “We are delighted to welcome four new faces. 

“Our aim this year is to work with our landlord clients to improve the quality of our property portfolio even further. Offering the best quality homes for our tenants is vital in such a competitive marketplace.  

“The response from our landlords has been excellent as they are keen to re-invest in their assets and provide the best possible stock on the Edinburgh property market. 

“As a result of this staff investment we’re able to deliver day-to-day maintenance services more quickly to our tenants and more easily manage our very busy periods.  

“Adding new, highly qualified team members boosts our in-house maintenance service capacity to our landlords, resulting in the them saving money on the smaller joinery, plumbing and electrical type work.” 

Davidson Estates: Davidson Estates has appointed an experienced lettings manager to help meet growing demands for property in Birmingham city centre and its nearby plush suburbs. 

Jaime Duffy joins the expanding estate agency after spending nearly three years in lettings across the West Midlands. 

She started as a lettings negotiator at Connells in West Bromwich in 2019, was promoted to senior lettings negotiator at the company’s Wolverhampton branch in March last year and then became assistant lettings manager at the same branch in December. 

Ben Davidson, the founder and managing director of Davidson Estates, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jaime to our team and I am sure she will quickly settle in. 

“We were so impressed with her great personality at interview, and her positive attitude plus her experience at Connells made her the obvious choice for this job. 

“Jaime has three years’ experience in the sector and has a demonstrated history of growing skills in negotiation, lettings, home inspections and all landlord and tenant matters. 

“She is just the kind of lettings manager we need as we see demand for properties in the city centre, Edgbaston and Harborne continue to grow.” 

The growing demand for city-centre living has recently seen Davidson Estates opening a new office at 102 Colmore Row in the heart of the professional business quarter. 

This expansion and the reopening of its head office at 14a Frederick Road in Edgbaston has resulted in the company creating seven new jobs. 

Duffy, who was brought up and educated in the Black Country, added: “I’m thrilled to be joining such a modern and successful estate agency that focuses on prime areas in Birmingham. I can’t wait to help Davidson Estates succeed in its future growth plans.” 

The Country House Department:  TCHD, an estate agent specialising in the prime country house market has appointed Nick Loweth as regional director.  

Amassing 20 years of experience at Knight Frank and Strutt & Parker, Nick specialises and has a strong reputation in selling prime country houses across Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and South Oxfordshire.  

He said: “I’m really excited to get started at The Country House Department, it will be a shift of focus from paperwork to getting the job done for my clients.  

“The property market needs a huge shake up; complacency has set in and many agents are shackled by corporate bureaucracy. Refreshingly, I can now focus on what is important, marketing houses to their utmost potential whilst providing the highest level of service to my clients.” 

Andrew Russell, co-founder of The Country House Department, which was launched in 2020, added: “We set up The Country House Department because we demanded more and better for our clients and our numbers are starting to demonstrate our vision. We’re excited to be joined by Nick, who has a brilliant reputation within the industry.” 

Finlay Brewer: Estate agency Finlay Brewer recently appointed Debbie McFadyen to the position of head of sales.  

Working closely with directors Paul Cosgrove, Teresa Brewer and Simon Gresswell, she will lead the sales division, which covers the prime west London villages of Brook Green, Askew and Brackenbury. 

She said: “I’ve simply loved working with great clients and buyers alike in the wonderful Brook Green, Brackenbury and Askew Villages since I purchased a house through Finlay Brewer in 2014. 

“We have a great sales team at Finlay Brewer and I feel privileged to be both a key and integral part of such an excellent team which delivers unrivalled results in addition to our passion to make the entire experience easier and even enjoyable!” 

The appointment comes as Finlay Brewer marks 30 year in the business and follows a record breaking 2021 that saw the team close on more than 110 sales at a value of around £168m, and securing at least six new price records in the process. 

DM Hall: Chartered surveyor DM Hall has welcomed back Felicity Forbes-Davidson to the residential department of its Aberdeen office as a new director. 

Felicity began her career with DM Hall in 2009, securing her Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) qualification specialising in residential survey and valuation in 2011 and was then promoted to associate in 2016 before leaving for a position with another professional firm. 

She said: “I am delighted to have returned to DM Hall Aberdeen as a director and intend to apply my experience and expertise to the benefit of all of our residential property clients throughout the north east of Scotland.” 

Felicity’s role will be to carry out a broad residential workload including Home Reports, Mortgage Valuations and Energy Performance Certificates for lenders, solicitors, housebuilders and private clients across the north east, together with contributing to the strategic growth of the firm in this important market sector of the country. 

John McHugh, managing partner at DM Hall, said: “We warmly welcome Felicity’s return to the firm where she trained and qualified and we have no doubt whatsoever that she will be a significant contributor to our efforts to bolster and strengthen the strong presence which DM Hall has held for many years in Aberdeen and the surrounding marketplace. We wish her every success over the coming years as a highly regarded senior member of our team.” 

Walter Cooper: Land agent Walter Cooper has appointed Stuart Smart as senior land manager as the business continues to expand in its second year of operation. 

Within Walter Cooper’s first 18 months of trading, the firm has agreed or contracted on more than 2,000 plots in the south east of England with a combined land value of more than £370m.  

Stuart has been appointed to support the team on land transactions for developers and housing providers across Hertfordshire and Essex.  

He previously worked for Lanes Land and Heritage Group. 

The now seven-strong team will lead a proactive approach to match land opportunities with their growing pool of residential and commercial clients. 

Stuart said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team and be a part of the Walter Cooper vision, attracted by Simon’s fresh approach to delivering high-quality land deals. 

“My background at Lanes Land as well as Heritage Group has given me broad knowledge of Hertfordshire and the Home Counties, understanding the complexities and challenges of the land market to always provide a comprehensive client-focused service.” 

Heaton & Partners: National buying agents Heaton & Partners has appointed Patrick Bishop as an associate to join the expanding firm.  

With past experience at Knight Frank and Savills under his belt, Patrick’s role will be to help support the southern region of the firm across areas such as Berkshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire. 

Patrick said: “The commuter village market is incredibly competitive right now. I have never seen so much stock sold privately. Knowledge is crucial in being one step ahead of the market, to secure the best properties and results for our clients.”  

Edward Heaton, founder and managing partner at Heaton & Partners, added: “Patrick’s appointment comes at a time when the firm has had the most successful year on record.  

“None of us were quite sure at the start of the pandemic which way the market was going to go. But the race for space combined with exceptionally low stock has been the residing narrative. Patrick will be key to helping us keep up with this demand.”