Agency entrepreneur merges with first employer to expand reach

North east agency My Property Box has announced it has merged with Sandersons Lettings, the firm which gave its founder his first job in the industry.

The deal sees My Property Box, which was founded seven years ago, significantly expand its portfolio of managed properties.

Sandersons Lettings' office in Darlington is now closed with three members of staff are relocating to My Property Box’s premises in the town.

"The inclusion of Sandersons Lettings, which is an experienced and highly-reputable letting agency, is significant for My Property Box," says Ben Quaintrell (pictured above right), the agency's founder and managing director.

"In that time, My Property Box has grown its customer base thanks to an innovative approach which embraces digital marketing and technology to streamline and improve the whole lettings process."

Interestingly, Quaintrell's first role in the industry was with Sandersons Lettings, where he worked for eight years, joining straight from university in 2003.

"This deal is special both on a personal and business level. It’s a privilege to incorporate the business which gave me my start in the profession into My Property Box," he says.

"I’d like to thank Gordon Catterick for providing me with my first job and equipping me with the necessary skills and knowledge of the lettings industry that enabled me to start my own business."

Sandersons Lettings, led by Gordon Catterick, was established over 25 years ago from the estate agency Sanderson Townend & Gilbert, which was itself in business for more than 150 years.

Catterick (pictured left) says: "[Sandersons Lettings] was founded on the principles of providing the very best of professional advice, an ethos continued by Sandersons Lettings – a fact reflected in the loyalty of its clients and the professionalism of its staff, something I’m sure that will continue under the banner of My Property Box."

The merger with Sandersons Lettings follows My Property Box's recent takeover of Holt Estate Agents, which was based in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees.