Former Douglas & Gordon agent Edward McCulloch has joined Harding Green, a network of self-employed agents operating across London.

Harding Green was set up two years ago by former Chestertons director Nick Carter.

It operates out of offices in Kensington, and allows its agents to manage their own portfolios of instructions. They can choose to work from the office or home, and can work whatever hours suits them.

The agents deal with every part of the instruction, from valuation through to viewings, offers and progression, and retain up to 70% of the fees they earn.

McCulloch headed Douglas & Gordon’s Kensington office initially, and then its Chelsea branch. Before that, he worked for both John D Wood and Hamptons.

McCulloch said: “I’m delighted to have joined Harding Green.

“I knew that I needed to leave the corporate model as I sought more control over the sales process, and I wanted to give a much more individual service to my clients.

“My experience over the years has gone on to underpin my fundamental belief that sellers and buyers alike want a more personalised service than the mass-market model can offer, and it is the boutique estate agents like Harding Green who are dedicated to providing that offering from beginning to end of the process.

“They are a young, well-respected high street agent with a modern approach, who understand the needs of today’s buyers and sellers, as well as the people who work for them.

“The big corporates will always be there, of course, but I think there’s a change happening in the way they operate, which ultimately has started to have a negative impact on client rapport.

“With agents like Harding Green coming through, they will become more of a threat to the corporate agencies because people want that personalised service.”

He added: “At the same time, with the benefit of being able to work the hours I want, Harding Green are allowing people like myself – a single dad with two children to care for – the opportunity to be with their family, whether that’s taking them to school or competing with the other fathers on sports day.

“I am able to live in the beautiful countryside in Surrey and only commute into London when necessary, at times that suit my lifestyle.

“These are things I’ve never been able to do before, and it has made such a difference on family life already. My children are absolutely thrilled that I am around so much more.”