Marsh & Parsons

Marsh & Parsons estate agency (www.marshandparsons.co.uk ) is thrilled to launch the New Web 2.0 website featuring leading new functionality. The property search engine works similarly to Google making Marsh & Parsons the sole agency to offer this advanced style of search.

Fresh content is added daily by the Marsh & Parsons Marketing Department and the site updates hourly, feeding out to the principal property portals to extend the arm of online marketing. This is further supported by paid search campaigns which ensure that Marsh & Parsons’ properties are easily found. Peter Rollings, Managing Director of Marsh & Parsons says, “With over 80% of our enquiries coming via our website, I am particularly excited about the look, feel and usability of our new site. It is a big step forward for the Marsh & Parsons online marketing strategy.”

Full width “Featured Properties” on the home page create instant impact and more can be found under the “Properties” tab where an innovative sliding draw technique allows for multiple “Featured Properties” fed in live from all 14 offices. Search results are quick with Ajax driven “Refine Search” fields down the right hand side of the page to ensure an exact match. Smart photo galleries launch immediately upon search completion along with all necessary property details, including large floorplans. Google Maps, fully integrated throughout, offers both street and aerial views and a postcode driven area information feed provides vital local know-how. The “Book A Viewing” function facilitates out of hours searches and during the working day the Skype button provides telephone access to the relevant office and department.

Ben Sellers, director of web development company Starberry says “Marsh & Parsons is the first estate agency to seriously embrace the new technology on offer today, putting them firmly at the leading edge of property marketing.”

Marsh & Parsons estate agents is the proud sponsor of the Clapham Common Fayre – London’s largest church fair and unquestionably the greatest family day out in South London!

The fayre is held at the Holy Trinity Church and is an all day event beginning at 11am and ending at 5pm. Entry is free for children under 16 and only £1 for adults and all proceeds go to Emmaus, which tackles the problem of homelessness and the Holy Trinity Church. 

There is something for everyone - as well as the traditional trappings of a church fayre attractions include a Pimms tent, boutiques, donkey rides and children’s games which Marsh & Parsons is delighted to provide. Volunteers from the Marsh & Parsons Clapham office situated at the Old Town will be on hand to ensure the day goes with a bang and they look forward to seeing you there!

Marsh & Parsons estate agents is proud to sponsor, for the third consecutive year, The St John’s Festival– a fortnight long celebration of community and culture, and the May Fair at the St John’s Church in the heart of Notting Hill, which runs from the 1st-18th May 2008.

The St John’s Festival is unique in its celebration of artistic diversity and its universal appeal. Adults will especially delight in the renowned author PD James’ lecture on the craft of the detective novel and children may enjoy the music workshop and opportunity to showcase their budding talent. Adults and children alike will adore the many music and choral recitals and, of course, the May Fair on Saturday 10th May from 2-5pm – an afternoon of fun for all the family including stalls, a raffle, fancy dress contest, dog show, entertainment, and a face-painter and children’s games courtesy of Marsh & Parsons.

Last year £5, 463 was raised and distributed to various local charities and mission projects – we hope for an even greater result this year!

Marsh & Parsons has just launched a new text service in association with Intelligent Property, offering a new mobile content service delivering pictures and property details to your mobile phone. The service enables interested parties to access information on their properties instantly from, in particular, property boards as well as other print and online media.

The LBS (location based services) software allows for Marsh & Parsons to run a mobile marketing solution without the need for unique codes on every board. A house buyer can simply text an agent's brand to a short code and instantly receive the closest properties [via Michelin map], with pictures, detailed descriptions and a response "button" to request a viewing or valuation. Access to property information is therefore easy, quick and cheap.

Marsh & Parsons is always looking for innovative methods to assist purchasers with their property search and with the numbers of mobile phone users accessing the internet on their handsets rising they felt that this service was simply too good not to implement. According to figures announced by the Mobile Data Association (MDA), a total of 40.7 million users were recorded as having used their phones for downloads and browsing the mobile internet in the UK during the third quarter of 2006; confirming the rise in usage.

Peter Rollings, Managing Director of Marsh & Parsons says that "We are becoming a generation where mobile devices are commonplace and the technology that is available should be embraced. If mobile devices replace the everyday desk top PCs as a primary way for people to access the web then we want to be able to accommodate for this".

David Furguson from Intelligent Property says that "The most obvious benefit is that vendors immediately see the value in the service and we have seen that agents adopting the service will benefit from having a new marketing channel proven to be an instruction winner."

Marsh & Parsons are delighted to announce the opening of a Pimlico office having acquired the local niche estate agent InProperty at 53 Warwick Way on the corner of Guildhouse Street. The office will be managed on the sales side by William Hughes-Ward who has been internally promoted having been based in the Kensington office for nearly three years. Having previously worked in Pimlico, William brings with him a wealth of experience and local knowledge to the office. The lettings manager will be Claire Thomas; a highly experienced, ARLA qualified professional with over five years experience in West and South West London. The office has the ability to cover a wide geographical area, from Westminster and Albert Embankment in the East to Covent Garden in the North and as far as Vauxhall in the South. Furthermore, the office ‘dovetails' superbly with the Chelsea office to the East and the Clapham office to the South.

Marsh & Parsons was established in 1856 and is one of London's premier estate agents. Peter Rollings, Managing Director comments "The acquisition of InProperty in Pimlico takes our London coverage to 14 offices in Central, West and South London. We have a cherished reputation for unrivalled knowledge of the local market and a well mannered professionalism that sets the tone for our dealings with our clients. This coupled with our ability to get excellent results for our clients, makes Marsh & Parsons a unique proposition" Rollings goes on to say that "We are never more convinced by the straightforward belief that great results and outstanding service is the key to our success and we are never more committed to delivering it".

Sales Manager, William Hughes-Ward says that "Following nearly three years with the company I am inspired by the continued growth and success of Marsh & Parsons. I am delighted to be coming back to the Pimlico market to open our new office and I believe we can bring a fresh and dynamic approach, matching excellent client service with innovative marketing". Claire Thomas, Lettings Manager comments "With over five years of experience working in Central London I am excited about the opening of the new office. We already have an impressive portfolio of properties and I am eager to start establishing Marsh & Parsons as the agent of choice in Pimlico."

Despite August being a notoriously quiet month we have seen strong demand for property with a steady flow of buyers registering. As a result, we have seen like for like sales 16% higher than June/July 06.

Properties for sale have tended to stay on the market slightly longer than earlier in the year however this is to be expected given the speed of sale in the first months of ‘07. The post Easter market saw a return to normality, this was caused by spent bonuses, rising interest rates and fears over the American Sub-Prime market all contributing to a less confident environment. A lessening of buyer confidence was more noticeable at the sub £750k price range where buyers are more interest-rate sensitive however the market remains robust and our second quarter results are the best on record. Peter Rollings, Managing Director of Marsh & Parsons says "With such turbulence in other world markets perhaps the stability of the London property market is being viewed as a safe haven."

As expected, buyer enquiries have dipped slightly but well researched and astute buyers are taking full advantage of the summer period. We are finding that buyers are not feeling the same sense of urgency that was experienced earlier in the year with less pressure to commit to a purchase immediately and an increase in stock levels making them less likely to compromise. However, with sellers becoming realistic, prices are holding firm with sealed bids still common and high quality property still attracting substantial interest.

We have seen a high number of enquiries coming from overseas investors who are in London for the summer; particularly evident in Kensington & Chelsea. Chris Lloyd, Associate Director, based in the Chelsea office says "We have seen a substantial number of foreign investors and homeowners registering in our Chelsea office with up to 25% more than in the month of June". These buyers tend to come from a variety of locations but particularly Russia, the Middle East, India and perhaps more surprisingly, Italy. Lloyd continues "Most investors are cash buyers looking for lateral space with good security".

The summer is always a busy time for the lettings market and interest rate rises have certainly increased the pace of the market with many more tenants registering. As a result, rents have increased, in some cases substantially and yields are improving to a more solid 5%. Properties are being let within 48 hours with record prices being achieved. June and early July was particularly buoyant for families looking to secure a property before the summer holidays and August has been a busy month for sharers who are looking for properties with good transport links into the city.

The short let market has been steady and the level of corporate tenants is increasing. In July, Marsh & Parsons saw a 45% increase in Corporate revenue on the previous month and August is forecast to be even busier with ex-pats, graduates and foreign nationals alike flocking into London to begin new contracts ready for September. Emma Walker, Corporate Services Manager says "The competition between major firms has never been so strong and as they battle to attract new talent the offer of relocation assistance with increasing length of tenancies is evermore the norm."

The remainder of 2007 will see a return to a more ‘normal' market with perhaps a 3-5% growth in prices for the remainder of the year. Demand still outstrips supply however the expected rise in interest rates later in the year will almost certainly stunt major growth in prices.

Marsh & Parsons has just launched a new service that promises to offer clients a totally stress-free move in the last hurdle of their house purchase. The Marsh & Parsons Moving Experience is designed to make sure that everything is under control from organising the removal to the changing of address and sourcing appropriate suppliers.

A personal Move Manager will be appointed to create a bespoke move plan. A single point of contact will recommend and appoint reputable removal companies, arrange parking bay suspension and organise any storage requirements. They can negotiate with the best suppliers agreeing up to 40% off with companies that they know and trust.

They will manage the entire process of transferring all your accounts including, but not limited to telephone, internet, gas, electricity, water, council tax, permits and satellite/cable services. They will write to all companies and organisations to inform them of new contact details including financial services, government bodies, health care, insurance and all membership and subscriptions.

The service will arrange locksmiths on moving day, arrange a security survey and even stop junk mail and unwanted telesales calls! A professional spring clean will be booked for both homes and new change of address cards will be printed.

All personal details are stored on a secure 128-bit encrypted server and protected by individual passwords that can only be accessed by the Move Manager. On completion, all details are destroyed.

Peter Rollings, Managing Director of Marsh & Parsons says "…we recognise that there is a need for such a service, especially in London where our client's time is precious. We have all moved house and understand the pressures that are involved and hope that the service will help our clients have as stress free a move as possible." Mrs S. Staunton from Battersea who recently used the service says "…it provided me with all the answers to my questions and gave me all the information I needed. Great service, great idea, great experience!"

When it comes to the ins and outs, Marsh & Parsons are the out and out experts. Everything out of your old house and into your new one for only £325 (+VAT).

The Government has introduced amendments to the Housing Bill which mean that landlords and agents letting under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy will no longer be able to hold onto the deposit during the tenancy unless they are part of an approved scheme. Currently, many landlords who let privately hold onto deposits and even those who let through an agency choose to hold the deposit themselves during the tenancy. Under the new rules, this will no longer be possible.

The system aims to be fairer to tenants by guaranteeing that the deposits are securely held and that disputes about their return are resolved quickly and at minimal cost to all parties. It will also ensure that deposits are returned to tenants quickly provided that they have met all the terms of the tenancy agreement. This is a significant departure from the present state of affairs. Presently, if an unscrupulous landlord makes unreasonable deductions on a tenant's deposit, the tenant has little recourse other than a costly court case.

Once the legislation comes into force, deposits will either be held by a lettings agent who is part of an approved scheme (such as The Dispute Service – the new name for the Tenancy Deposit Scheme for Regulated Agents) or in a statutory custodial scheme, a government scheme into which landlords letting their properties privately can transfer the deposit.

After 6 April, if a landlord lets a property and fails to place the deposit into one of these two approved schemes, they will be subject to penalties and fines. The tenant will have the right to demand that the deposit is transferred back to them, leaving the landlord in a very vulnerable position. The landlord will have absolutely no protection against damage and non-payment of rent during the rest of the tenancy. Furthermore, the landlord will be ordered to pay the tenant a fine of three times the deposit amount.

The Dispute Service and other approved schemes will encourage disputes to be settled privately between landlords and tenants. If an agreement cannot be reached, the case will be referred over to the Independent Complaints Examiner (ICE). He will adjudicate within 10 working days of receipt of documentation. The Dispute Service will then pay out the relevant amounts to each party based on the ICE's adjudication.

Landlords need to ensure that they arrange for a professional independent inventory or schedule of condition. If this is not done, the ICE will take this into account and will most likely determine in favour of the tenant. It is, therefore, crucial that every landlord has an independent inventory and schedule of condition done at both the start and end of the tenancy and that these documents be signed by both parties.

Wherever possible, landlords should endeavour to settle matters privately with their tenants. Recently, one of our landlords tried to claim over half of a £2000 deposit. The tenant disputed the landlord's claims but offered a settlement of £250. When this was rejected, the matter was referred to the ICE. The ICE ruled that the landlord's claims were unreasonable and that of the £1029 that the landlord was attempting to claim, he should only be awarded £20.

Marsh & Parsons Group, the successful West London estate agency, led by Peter Rollings has today announced that, it has agreed to acquire Vanstons, a highly respected and well known London estate agency. This transaction follows the successful acquisition by Rollings and Sherry FitzGerald Group, Ireland's leading estate agency of Marsh & Parsons in June 2005.

Vanstons currently employ 35 people and has five offices covering Clapham, Fulham, Battersea, Balham and Barnes. This will bring the total number of Marsh & Parsons offices to 12. The branch location is a natural fit with the Marsh & Parsons existing branch area in Central / West London

The business is being acquired from Michael Winter the founder of the company and his fellow director, Gay Kaye. Both will remain involved with the business on an ongoing basis. Vanstons will be run as part of the Marsh & Parsons Group with Peter Rollings as Managing Director of the overall Group.

The business will be wholly owned by Marsh & Parsons, in which Sherry FitzGerald Group holds a majority share-holding. Other shareholders in Marsh & Parsons include Peter Rollings, Managing Director, Liza-Jane Kelly, Sales Director and Finbarr Jones, Director of Operations.

Commenting on the transaction Peter Rollings, Managing Director, Marsh & Parsons said, "The acquisition of Vanstons is an integral part of our corporate strategy to provide a first class service to the London property market. My experience in Marsh & Parsons to date has proven to me that there is a significant opportunity in the London residential agency market to provide a more personal and professional service to clients. By addressing this need in the market we have successfully doubled the sales in our branch area in a matter of 15 months. It is an ethos which I hope to develop further with our greater branch network. While we do not aspire to be the biggest, we do aspire to be the agents of choice for many sellers and landlords in London."

Mark FitzGerald, Chief Executive, Sherry FitzGerald said in London today, "The London property market is a key global real estate centre. It is the capital of European property. London and its citizens deserve and are entitled to a world-class standard of service and excellence in the area of residential property advice. This is why we were excited about our first venture into the London market with the winning combination of the Marsh & Parsons brand and the excellent leadership skills of Peter Rollings. Marsh & Parsons has been a phenomenal success story to date with turnover already up over 100%.

Vanstons is a natural geographical fit with Marsh & Parsons, and its acquisition will allow us to fast track the Group to a leading position in the London property market."

Looking at the performance of the UK and London markets in the past decade Mr Rollings noted that prime central London property had suffered most from the global economic downturn following the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks, however evidence in the past eighteen months indicates that we are now enjoying the start of the next phase of price expansion with real signs of recovery evident throughout Central London.

"Prime central London property has outperformed all regions in the past twelve months with a shortage of supply and renewed confidence fuelling strong demand. Investors are retreating from the oversupply in the North of England with London very much back in favour. This is evidenced from an annualised price growth rate of 15% in the twelve month period to August 2006, the strongest since 2002."

Mr Rollings noted that the Prime London market is a resilient market offering very attractive yields which compare very favourably with its counterparts in other international cities, making it an attractive option for investors. Looking to the year ahead Mr Rollings predicted that the rental market would grow by 6-8% in the next twelve months due to a shortage of supply and strong demand from the City.