The 360 Company Blog

Cross Keys Estates

Someday all estates agents may be like this

Walk through the door of Cross Keys Estates and you'll find much more than your usual property agent's office.

Of course, there are the obligatory desks, chairs, property photographs, and computer screens. But you might have to stop and look for a while before you find them amongst all the other rather fabulous furnishings.

No ordinary office

As it says on their website, Cross Keys Estates is an 'innovative and contemporary estate agency founded on traditional and reliable standards.' Established 11 years ago in Plymouth, they have opened two new branches in recent years, taking their number of offices in the city to three. Each one has been strikingly designed in its own very individual style.

Gentlemen's club

The Mannamead area on the outskirts of Plymouth was particularly affluent in Victorian and early Edwardian times with its wide avenues and impressive housing. The Cross Keys Estates office here is decorated to emulate this history. On entering, you find yourself whisked back through time to a rather splendid gentleman's club, adorned with classic leather furniture, a grandfather clock, gramophone player, stately portraits, and glass chandeliers. There's even a wonderful old Victorian hall stand on which to place your bowler hat and walking stick as you arrive.

"We wanted to evoke the era of many of the properties in this area," said Cross Keys Estate's director Steve Jones, "which fits with our belief in the importance of traditional values in delivering a professional and quality service. We are so far removed from the featureless agency approach, and Gentlemen's Club

we've aimed to reflect that in our surroundings."

Shabby chic meets pop art

An inner suburb of Plymouth, Stoke is made up of many different types of family houses, both traditional and modern. "Here, we wanted our office to be a combination of both old-fashioned and contemporary," said Steve. "We've used shabby chic furnishings and classic wooden flooring, and combined this with modern lighting, big mirrors and pop art on the walls."

Boy meets girl

Also in Stoke is the Cross Keys Estate's first-time buyer's centre. Decked out in a modern and quirky 'pink for a girl, blue for a boy' style, it's designed at putting those first entering the property market at ease.

"Just like our service to clients," said Steve, "each office is bespoke and personalised."
First Time Buyers

Designer reincarnated?

The funky fixtures and fittings are the work of another of Cross Keys Estate's directors, Jack Merriott.

"We think Jack was probably an interior designer in another life," said Steve. "He's always appearing in the office with something new, and we're like 'Where did that come from?'

"Most of the items are sourced locally from places like Little Camden market, which is a great for anything vintage. From stags' heads to stuffed mice, many interesting pieces have been discovered here."

Happy customers

And there are clearly some very satisfied clients. With more than 100 reviews on the independent website allagents. co. uk, Cross Keys Estate's current ranking is 4.95 out of 5.00 http://www.allagents.co.uk/cross-keys-estate-limi...

Cross Keys Estates can be found at Mannamead Road, Devonport Road and Milehouse Road in Plymouth. Tel: 01752 500018 or 01752 500099. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
They’re also at facebook.com/crosskeysestates and twitter.com/CrossKeysPlym. Take a look at the Mannamead tour below. Or you can virtually visit the Stoke office here http://goo.gl/ONLMj2 and the first time buyers’ office here http://goo.gl/kIxg9A.

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Date: 20 June 2014
Author: The 360 Company