Estate agent profile: Andrew Milsom

Andrew Milsom is a privately owned estate agent with five residential sales offices in Maidenhead, Marlow, Cookham, Bourne End and Stokenchurch and lettings handled from a second office in Bourne End and centrally at its head office in Marlow.

From these offices it serves a large area stretching from Stokenchurch and Turville and the west side of Wycombe through Marlow and Loudwater to Maidenhead and its surrounding villages

It’s 25-strong staff specialise in residential sales and lettings but the firm also has an independent mortgage advisor, Atfield James, based in the Maidenhead branch for anyone who wants to take independent advice.

“We think conveyancing and legal advice should remain independent of estate agents so we recommend local firms who we hope can enhance the sales process,” said director Simon Minter. 

“We like clients to have the best service possible and believe recommended local conveyancers can best deliver this and thereby support our business and its reputation,”

The firm has been in business since 1989. It was set up in Marlow by Andrew Milsom when he left Giddy & Giddy after it was sold to Hamptons International.

Andrew later joined forces with Brett Rivett and the business expanded into Cookham, Bourne End, Stokenchurch, and Maidenhead. The Maidenhead branch in Queen Street was opened in 2004.

Simon said the company is ‘all embracing’ in the type of property it deal with. He added: “We are set up to deliver on all types of property from flats to larger homes. I would hope that we might appeal to all potential vendors seeking a professional yet personal service from experienced staff.”

The firm’s philosophy is to provide a personal service to everyone it does business with.

Simon continued: “We have a very experienced team and know our markets extremely well. We have a small business mentality, but are progressive and well-known in the Bucks and Berks area for doing things well.

“A lot of that is based on reputation and repeat business. But we also want to attract new people to the market.

“Personally, I think we do things the old fashioned way in a sense, and aren’t all about number crunching.

“We are a company that wants to help service our community and we have evolved in the area we work in.

“I think we have a brand that is recognised for its integrity and the reputable service we provide.

“The best  estate agents provide an honest and open atmosphere in which to best match people to property when selling houses.”

The business sees its people as one of its greatest strengths.

Simon said: “We have got some vastly experienced estate agents who are well known within the property world.

“There is Andrew and Brett, and I have been in the business for 27 years. Tim Dore, who is the manager of the Bourne End office and a director of the business, and Colin Nagle, manager of our Cookham office are both vastly experienced.”

The firm also actively engages with the community and branches have charity boards supporting promotions for schools and local events.

Looking to the future, Simon believes the coming of Crossrail is going to be fantastic for Maidenhead.

“We already attract Londoners being the first desirable ‘out of town’ setting on the Paddington Line which provides a fast service for commuters working in Town,” he said.

“Crossrail will magnify the impact by enabling fast access to both central and East London and is sure to have a beneficial effect on Maidenhead and, importantly, its property prices.”

 He said that the ongoing plans to regenerate the town centre – The Kings Triangle Scheme and Little Venice project linked to the Waterways – were also quite exciting.

“We believe that an improved shopping centre and the coming of Crossrail  will result in Maidenhead becoming an excellent opportunity for discerning buyers whose children can always bank on a good education while they in turn will enjoy ease of rail and motor access to London and surrounding towns, villages and airports.

“Indeed shrewd buyers are now getting in quick as prices are set to rise in the knowledge that profitable times lie ahead.”