Company Timeline
Trainee Branch Administrator Appointed
We're delighted to welcome Karina Petrauskyte to the team. Karina joins us in a full time trainee role and we feel sure she will become more than capable of dealing with the most difficult of maintenance issues.
Weekend Property Consultant Appointed
We're pleased to welcome Andrew Wilson to the weekend team. Andrew has a background in agency and we are sure that his cool, calm approach will suit the business perfectly.
Thank You Harry Carter
We were delighted to host a local lad this year for work experience fortnight. Harry joined us for two weeks in June and got stuck in from minute one. He made a big impression on us and the public. We wish him well with his remaining studies.
Website LiveChat Introduced
We appreciate that it's not always convenient to pick up a phone to call us, so now we've introduced LiveChat. There's a link at the top of every page of this website whenever someone is avilable to chat. Simply click and chat.
Launch of OnTheMarket.com
We've opted to list all of our properties with OnTheMarket.com, instead of Zoopla. Why? It's cleaner, faster to search, and clutter free from those annoying ads found on other property portals. And whatsmore, OnTheMarket.com won't sell your registration details or use them for marketing. 100% agent owned, discover www.onthemarket.com today.
Three Years On
2014 saw several changes within the business with new faces arriving and our association of the Guild of Professional Estate Agents confirmed. This opened the door to window displays and marketing via a showcase office on the Marble Arch end of Park Lane. So into 2015, with likely stagnation of the market as we await the outcome of the General Election in May, and we hope post election market recovery. Our branch office will this year be overhauled, with the exterior repointed, guttering and facias updated, and redecoration planned. And later in the year..?
We're Now Part of a National Estate Agency Network
Approved for membership of The Guild of Professional Estate Agents, an inter-linked network of independent agent offices, we can now market your property through more than 750 offices across the UK. Find out more about the Guild at www.guildproperty.co.uk
We're Supporting Friends of Hamble Primary School
As a business that has sponsored the occasional event at the school, we are delighted to confirm that we have agreed with the Friends of Hamble Primary School to fully sponsor all major events at the school, including film nights, discos, and the summer and christmas fairs. Our commitment to the school truely reflects our commitment to support our local community.
New Apprentice Appointed
We're delighted to welcome Shannon Beresford to the team. Shannon joins us in a full time trainee property consultant postion and we feel sure that her confident outgoing personality will be a winning combination.
New Saturday Assistant Appointed
With longer opening hours on Saturdays, we've upped our regular Saturday staffing to four. We're pleased to appoint Hannah Henwood to the team and we're sure her local knowledge will be most helpful.
We've Extended Our Opening Hours
We're absolutely dedicated to helping you move, with a knowledgeable team available when you need us most. So we're now open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 5pm on Saturday.
New Office Administrator Appointed
With a long history of providing first class customer service, new team member Johanna Easton joins us to provide support to our rapidly expanding clientbase.
Another Local Agent First: Secure Browsing By Default
As of today, ALL site users will by default browse our website securely using https in the address, rather than http. This feature means that your browser is told to communicate with us using a secure connection and makes the communication between your browser and our server much more secure.
Another Local Agent First: High Level Photography Introduced
Giving a new perspective to our listings, we're raising the camera quite literally and introducing high level exterior shots where possible.
New Property Co-ordinator Appointed
We're pleased to announce the arrival of James Barnes to the company. James joins the team as full-time Property Co-ordinator, and will be connecting together vendors, landlords and applicants.
Need a Boat? Boat to Sell?
We've partnered with with local company River Yacht Sales and are now able to offer boat sales from our high street premises at 6 Coronation Parade, Hamble. Stop by and have a look in the window, or pop in for a chat.
Two Years On
It's two years since we launched from the landing. With maintained growth, we met our objective for 2013 with an increase in staffing numbers and a move to a high street office. In 2014 we'll be looking to complement our land based activity with the addition of boat sales, and by the end of the year appoint a full time administrator and additional weekend staff.
Rentals Now Online
We've now fully integrated our rental stock into the website, no longer sending applicants to external property portals to view what we have to offer.
New Assistant Manager Appointed
We're thrilled to announce the appointment of Tracey Plumridge, who joins us today as Assistant Manager. A former colleague of Mark's, Tracey has extensive knowledge of the local area and market, often one of the first 'in the know'.
New Assistant Manager Appointed
We're thrilled to announce the appointment of Tracey Plumridge, who joins us today as Assistant Manager. A former colleague of Mark's, Tracey has extensive knowledge of the local area and market, often one of the first 'in the know'.
Work Experience Fortnight
Mark's daughter, Kimberley, joins us for two weeks in the hot seat and you'll find her getting active in all areas of the business, including appraisals and viewings. Kimberley will remain with us on Saturdays.
New Website Launched
A little later than scheduled due to some technical difficulties, and co-incidentally a year to the day since Director Mark Armé left the employ of The Art of Living, the first phase launch of our new website, replacing riverlettings.com, is launched. The next phase launches 1 January 2014, two years since we launched our business.
Appointment of Anita Gee
Another former colleague of Mark's during his days as Branch Manager of the Art of Living, Anita's appointment as Property Consultant sees her as first point of contact for those seeking property in the locality.
Introduction of Residential Sales
Completing a 'Day 1 Objective', River Lettings reopens as River Sales & Lettings, bringing back together sales, lettings and property management under one roof on Coronation Parade, Hamble.
Appointment of Nicola Williams
Experienced weekend negotiator, Nicola joins us in the role of Property Consultant.
Appointment of Emma Kennedy
As a former colleague of Mark's during his days as Branch Manager of the Art of Living, Emma joins us as Senior Property Consultant, her principal role being in the appriasing of sales properties.
High Street Office Acquired
Mark returns to his previous 'home' of some six and a half years after successfully completing lease arrangements for premises formerly occupied by The Art of Living on Coronation Parade, Hamble and now departed from the village. Rebranding of the building commences.
Departure of Vicci Reynolds
Vicci joined us April 2012 and was instrumental in our early success. Really missed, we continue to wish her and her family every success in their new country of residence.
Introduction of Floor Plans
In the spirit of continual improvement, we announced the introduction of full colour floor plans now included as standard on our listings.
One Year On
It's a year since we launched from the landing. With steady growth to date, the objective for 2013 is an increase in staffing numbers - and a high street office.
Card Payments Now Accepted
We added the acceptance of Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, V Pay, Electron and JCB as payment options.
Awarded First Large Portfolio Contract
We were delighted to have been entrusted with the management of TEN properties across the local area from a single Landlord, proof positive in our commitment to our landlords.
Acquisition of Stay in Hamble
Announcement of the acquisition of Stay in Hamble, a four year old Hamble based business specialising in self-catering holiday cottages and short term accommodation. The business went on to be rebranded The Little Holiday Company Ltd, launching on 1 August 2012.
Appointment of Vicci Reynolds
Vicci joined us in the role of Property Consultant.
Launch of Hamble Lifeboat's new website
As a sponsor of Hamble Lifeboat, our tech-whizzy Director rebuilt their website from the ground up - www.hamblelifeboat.co.uk
Our First Proper Office
After just two months, we simply outgrew the landing at home! With new offices secured, we arrived at Hamble Court opposite Hamble Primary School. It felt great to have space to breathe and of course meet our landlords and tenants in more conducive surroundings.
First Rental Instruction
A £395 per month studio flat located in Woolston, Southampton becomes our first instruction.
Launch Day!
Launching from a desk located at the top of the stairs at home, River Lettings is officially open for business.
Incorporation of River Lettings Ltd