The agency department is involved on a day to day basis with commercial and industrial property and commercial and residential development land. We do not sell houses but can refer enquiries to local, regional or national residential agency firms if needed.

The agency service includes disposal or acquisition of property, on behalf of clients.

Disposal

Disposal is generally by way of letting or sale and involves open marketing of the property or, if required by the client, discreet marketing to a targeted market. Open marketing of the property can include exposure through the website, local, regional and national press advertising, erection of For Sale or To Let boards, promotion through development agencies or local authorities, brochure publication and editorial. Discreet marketing may include targeting specific tenants or purchasers that may be registered on our database as having specific requirements matching our clients property details.

Durham City Retail Park, completed 2005.

Carlsberg Tetley, Belmont Industrial Estate

When letting property we advise on matters of rent, lease terms and marketing strategy. We also liaise with the clients solicitors, providing them with heads of terms and, if required, liaising with the solicitor during conclusion of the legal process. When selling property we advise on the appropriate marketing price and strategy. Subsequent to agreeing a sale we issue heads of terms of sale and follow up the legal process towards completion.

Services can include Land Registry searches and digital mapping.

Acquisition

Acquisition of property on behalf of clients may include negotiating a new lease, for example for a retailer expanding their retail outlets, or the acquisition of freehold interests for owner occupation or investment purposes. This involves advising the client of market rental values or freehold values. If purchasing a freehold investment we will advise the client on matters relating to the occupational lease and investment appraisal.

Neville House, sold for conversion from college use to residential flats.

Due to conflicts of interest we cannot act on behalf of a client in acquiring a property, if that property is on the market through our agency.

Please click here or the [ VIEW CASES ] button above to view cases for illustrations of past agency work including disposals and acquisitions. For details of current availability of properties through Ashley Smith please view our Properties Available section.