Fine and Country Rickmansworth and Chorleywood – A Fresh Approach to Prime Residential Property Sales in WD3

Launched in July 2021, Fine and Country’s new office in Rickmansworth and Chorleywood is bringing a more innovative approach to marketing properties at the higher end of the market. Utilizing the power of social media, the internet and other tech tools, the target is to reduce the time it takes from the initial consultation and property listing to the final sale of the property. That way homeowners get the best possible price for their properties within a shorter period.
 
Fine and Country is the fastest growing premium estate agency in England with a global footprint. Based in Park Lane, London, it consists of a global network of licensed real estate offices that are specialists in the rental, sale and marketing of luxury homes and prime residential properties. Properties sold range from rural estates to luxurious houses. Utilizing international marketing best practices combined with local knowledge of the area means Fine and Country delivers a premium service to her clients.
 
The Fine and Country office for Rickmansworth and Chorleywood covers primarily the WD3 postcode area made up of Loudwater, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth and Chorleywood. This office is managed by Director, Darren Hopcroft, a highly experienced Estate Agent that has worked across London, Hertfordshire and Europe. Darren wants to position Fine and Country Rickmansworth and Chorleywood as the leading estate agency in the area for the upper end of the market.
 
Darren has lived in Rickmansworth for over 10 years and knows the area very well. Backed by Fine and Country’s very strong international brand and network as well as his local knowledge of the area, he is positioning Fine and Country Rickmansworth to be the most successful estate agency in the WD3 area for prime residential property.
 
“My approach is slightly different from the regular high street estate agency. It’s not just about marketing a property. It’s about a lifestyle. This means communicating the benefits of buying in the area in a simple way by highlighting important places to see, what to do at weekends or evenings, where to go with your kids and even where to get a nice coffee. People want to know what they are getting beyond purchasing the property. For each potential buyer, we communicate the benefits of living in the area."
 
“Rickmansworth and Chorleywood have excellent schools, beautiful green areas, very nice pubs and restaurants, golf courses, proximity to London for travel and business amongst others. It has everything for an upwardly mobile client or a client that is at the end of their career and is looking for an area that has a mix of that urban and rural setting. There is something for everyone here.” There are lots of entrepreneurs and senior business executives that call the area home.

Through its customer focus and personalised service, Fine and Country wants to be different from other estate agencies in the area. “Estate agencies get a bad rap. Lots of property sellers feel they are not getting a great service. The industry is currently changing. In the past, people were happy to walk down the high street and into an estate agents office to discuss buying or selling a property. Now everything happens online and very quickly.”
 
“I think the covid-19 pandemic is accelerating the changes in the industry. Virtual viewings and valuations are the norm. Agencies can no longer rely only on Rightmove.com and Zoopla.com to list and sell properties. Moreover, property sellers prefer dealing with one agent from the start to the finish of the transaction rather than picking up the phone and speaking to different agents each time.”
 
“With us, you have a point of contact from the beginning to the end of the transaction. I believe that this personal relationship works very well for most clients. They have complete assurance that the sale of their property is in good hands. For instance, I’ll handle the initial consultation, valuation, staging of the property and the launch to the general public myself. I’ll also set targets for the property to be sold giving the seller the best return and the buyer value for their money”
 
Fine and Country Rickmansworth is having an open house for one of its newly acquired properties for sale at Old Shire Lane, Chorleywood on September 18, 2021. “This property had been on the market but was not getting the desired enquiries. We have taken over the sale of the property with a different and more effective marketing approach. We utilize the online marketing tools – video social media and the Fine and Country magazine – Refined - to drive interest to the property. We have combined all these activities with the old fashion knocking on doors of people that have expressed interest in purchasing a property. We take all the necessary steps to get the property sold within a short time.
 
Darren has been an estate agent for about 23 years. “I started at the age of 18 and have worked for multiple estate agency brands across London and more recently in Hertfordshire. I also had a stint in Germany selling properties for a while.”
​

​Why the estate agency business? “I have always been very competitive. I was involved in sport and represented my school and the county on many occasions. So whatever I was going to do after I left school, I wanted to fully utilize that competitive part of me. My dad had a plumbing business before he retired. I recall going on a call with him when I was much younger to this really beautiful house. I asked my Dad what the owner did for a living and he told me that the owner is an estate agent. I suppose the seed was planted then.”
 
 “I was never going to be comfortable sitting behind a desk from 9am to 5pm. I love meeting and talking to people. I like building relationships and like the variety of dealing with various people from Solicitors to Mortgage brokers to Builders etc. I also like to compete. Being an estate agent gives me that variety which I enjoy. I have always wanted to have my own business too. With Fine and Country, I get the opportunity to have my own business and put in as much effort as I can to make it successful.”
 
Since the launch of the Fine and Country office in Rickmansworth, Darren has been creating a lot of awareness on the potential of the area through social media. On the Fine and Country Rickmansworth Facebook page, you will see uploaded videos of important areas in WD3 and interviews with some local businesses. “It is about creating awareness of things to do in the area, places to visit and reasons why Rickmansworth and Chorleywood are excellent places to live,” says Darren.
 
The next 6 to 12 months are crucial as the Rickmansworth office seeks to add more properties on the books and close more sales. “There are several available properties in the area which could use our service. We want to be more involved in taking properties to the market and selling them to buyers. We’ll utilize our strong brand, network and local knowledge of the area to make this a success.
 
For enquiries on property sales or purchases in Loudwater, Chorleywood, Croxley Green or Rickmansworth call 07944 283 290 or email darren.hopcroft@fineandcountry.com.