Celebrating 45 years of Russell Simpson

Alan founded Russell Simpson in 1979. As he explains, back then ‘London was completely different.’ Chelsea was still the bohemian neighbourhood that had attracted the Rolling Stones and Bob Marley in the Sixties and Seventies. The locals were mostly English and punks remained a common sight.

Meanwhile, the houses were ‘not in a particularly good condition.’ For example, one property that Alan sold in Selwood Terrace had chickens and rabbits running around in the garden. They were also much cheaper: another client purchased a house on the Boltons for £200,000 – its current value might be 200 times that.

However, Kensington and Chelsea had plenty of potential. Large houses divided up after the Second World War were being turned into single properties again. Margaret Thatcher was elected in 1979 and by the mid-80s deregulation saw London’s financial markets taking off. Economically there were still bumps on the road, but the depreciation of the pound after Black Wednesday meant overseas buyers began snapping up properties in the neighbourhood. That trend has only become stronger over time, so that now RBKC is among the most international parts of the capital.

These days, ‘we are seeing a better quality of properties than ever before’, Alan adds. At the same time, changing tastes mean that clients have exacting standards for the interiors as well as the location. There’s less demand for formal dining rooms, while open-plan kitchens and living areas are more popular than ever, with features like air conditioning and underfloor heating increasingly expected.

The growing quality and value of the properties in these neighbourhoods has matched the growth of Russell Simpson. From two people and a secretary at the start, to seven people in a garden shed, to the 15-person team that eventually occupied Anderson Street, the agency’s home for more than three decades.

While in Anderson Street, the lettings department was started, which helped to keep the agency afloat during several dips in the market. Now Russell Simpson has two offices: Sydney Street with 25 employees, and Kensington Square with another 12. And, as the company expanded, every one of Alan’s children joined the team.

The Kensington office was opened by Alan’s son, Bertie. ‘We were so busy we couldn’t provide the service we wanted,’ he explains. Previously, an agent might take two hours out of their day to drive up to Holland Park, open a house, show round a potential customer, and then drive back. So, an office dedicated to West London properties was established, which now provides more than a third of annual turnover.

Work is also conducted very differently these days. Alan recalls how, before mobile phones were widespread, people relied on an ‘Air call’ system in their cars, while his own Range Rover contained a fax machine. There was also a premium placed on an agent’s knowledge, as prospective customers had fewer resources to do research themselves.

As Bertie points out: ‘There was no internet, no email, no WhatsApp. New businesses often relied on personal recommendations. Relationships mattered much more.’

For Bertie, this is still the most rewarding part of the job. ‘When people ask about property, they are usually interested in glossy interiors and quantities of money, but the interesting thing for me is the people you work with. I sold a house to someone my own age the other day, and we were both having exactly the same problems: no time, no sleep, not sure how best to be a parent.’

Many agents have lost that hunger for building relationships, but Russell Simpson are determined to continue the tradition. ‘Someone rang me at seven o’clock last night,’ Alan adds. ‘They wanted to sell a house they bought through me, right back when I started the agency.’ In fact, the first house Russell Simpson ever sold – on Old Church Street – is also on their books again.

Which brings us to the future. The speed of technological change makes it hard to predict what the property market will look like in 10 or 15 years. At the same time, Russell Simpson is eager to keep growing, whether that means building their presence in RBKC, expanding to different parts of Prime London, or looking beyond the city. However, for now the priority remains focusing on their areas of expertise, providing the best possible service to every client, and building relationships that will last another 45 years.