Marketing: proposed home information packs fuel rise

The Solicitors Property Shop (SPS) saw a 10% rise in the number of properties sold in 2005 compared with the previous year, figures have shown, despite a general slowdown in the housing market.


The news came as three SPS firms were launched in the north with another 27 in the pipeline, while six are soon to be set up in the midlands.


The 58 firms across England in the marketing organisation sold 1,313 properties worth a total of £164.3 million, up from 1,192. The number of instructions to sell was also up 20%.


As a result the average number of properties marketed through SPS at any given time in 2005 was up by 67% on the level observed in 2004, with an average of around 900 properties on the market.


The volume of sales for the 18 SPS firms in the midlands increased by 63% from 583 to 948. SPS is now the fastest-growing independent estate agency in Leicester, according to Maggie Husband, regional manager for SPS South.


The largest rise was in Durham, where the three SPS firms that started business 18 months ago saw sales go up from 27 to 73.


Lorna Wharton, a spokeswoman for SPS, said 2006 had got off to a good start with an acceleration in enquiries from firms wanting to join. Ms Wharton said this could be attributed to the proposed introduction of home information packs (HIPs), adding that the SPS is working on its own HIP solution tailored to its members' needs.