A sales and letting agent with national ambitions which launched less than two years ago is on track to hit £1.5m turnover in its current financial year.
Ascend Properties reached its target of 1,000 managed units a year ago and now has a management book of over 1,500 properties.
Sales director Ged McPartlin at the Manchester-based firm said: “This year alone, we’ve transacted on more than £15.1m worth of property on behalf of clients in Manchester.
“Sales instructions are up 300% and management instructions have gone through the roof.
“We like to think we’ve broken the mould of a conventional agent. The rise in the number of managed units is in direct response to the way we do things. Our portfolio team act as asset managers which allows landlords and investors to have a totally hands-off approach.”
Ascend has secured new managed units in Manchester, Stockport, Wakefield, Halifax, and further afield in Portsmouth, as it looks to develop its offering across the UK.
McPartlin added: “Our way of working is very blended. We’re a traditional agency at heart, but we utilise the digital world to the best of our ability.
“There are many new agents, high street and online, working in a highly competitive market. Whilst discounted fees, marketing tactics and online systems may be attractive, they just can’t beat actual experience in the marketplace.”
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Comments (7)
The above two comments just show what a great site this is….There’s always someone who knows a back story!
Think I can shed some light. Ascend Properties have not been born from a standing start. I don’t wish to be negative against a successful company, although the figures are unbelievable for a reason. I believe that they are linked to or maybe owned by Sequre Property Investment, and maybe the figures are more akin to both companies as a whole rather than just Ascend.
They started out by buying up the units developers couldn’t sell in the recession, stopping developers going bump, this was backed by investors etc.
These units were then sold onto their investors at a ‘discount’ – a discount on the price listed by the developer. This was done on the understanding that they were then allowed to manage the units following the purchase. A win win for Sequre and Ascend. I think the owner of the company may also have kept many units from himself, adding them into the managed figures.
Never truly believe all that a press release from a PR company says ……. or re-hash a story from the M.E.N.
Correct, not a cold start in the slightest, and the vast majority of their landlords wouldn’t have had a choice but to use them following their ‘discounted’ purchase. I would like to know how many new business landlords they’ve actually managed to win.
McPartlin did very well over a portfolio he was gifted and then sold on to Bridgfords.
I wouldn’t take my hat off nor call it a fresh start. With Curtis and Bains selling to countrywide and pretty much the whole team ending up at Ascend (including McPartlin) they would win old management stock back.
Furthermore with the attached Sequre investment (same owner) company recommending/ insisting every buyer should use ascend for management this is the reason that the agency will have a large number of management stock… Again not really a fresh start and I’m sure all of the free coffee they give out whilst curb crawling isn’t bringing anyone in to give them instructions.
Turnover is just a word when all that matters is profit and profit is just what isn’t being made here.
Hats off to them. If they really did it from a standing start or created a business to look after a business portfolio they’re website looks great.
It is a shame though that our industry seems so reliant on success in the messy lettings industry.
In the old days (15 years ago) people who were rubbish estate agents normally went and set up letting businesses…
now they are the ones with the range rovers…no justice 😉
What a strange post/boast; if someone can from a cold start turn those figures what does it say about the market in that area?
I dont buy the ‘breaking the mould’ chuff. Exactly how? ……ah, Sorry because its ‘blended’, I see now. Tomorows team meeting theme is introducing a blended approach, lets see how we can gain 1000 new instructions!
Agreed and whilst 1500 managed properties in 2 years is an unbelievable achievement for which they should be applauded, I would argue the first line on this article should be changed from sales and lettings agent to just lettings agent because there is no sales income there, or if there is, then its very low management fees!