haart has closed its Kesgrave branch in Ipswich for good with all members of staff at the office switching to working from home permanently.

The estate agency, which was located on Ropes Drive, IP5, has closed its doors following the company’s decision to move operations away from the office, with staff instead now operating from home, as part of haart’s new structure involving a partnership scheme with agents working remotely.

haart unveiled plans for its national partnership scheme in July, which includes adding more than 250 locations to its network over the next two years across England and Wales.

At the same time, the company will be investing in its ‘elite’ branches as well as a new senior management structure, to take advantage of the changing estate agency landscape, post coronavirus.

Partner estate agents will work from home or from haart’s Local Property Centres and will be supported by its national call centre.

Samantha Webb, who has taken charge of the local agency in Kesgrave, told the press: “Moving out of the office has been a really positive step.

“None of my clients need me spending time at a desk, they want me out and about selling their homes. Now my phone is my office I can do just that.”

The decision to close the Kesgrave branch will create a better work-life balance and save the company money, according to Antony Lark, group managing director at Spicerhaart.

“It really is a win-win all round,” he said.

The closure of the Kesgrave office is the latest in a long line of branches to close this year.

haart, which laid off staff during the early part of the pandemic in March, announced in July that it was closing 23 branches, as it looks to focus on helping agents work remotely.

“We’re just doing things differently in response to the changing market place,” said haart CEO Paul Smith.