Existing Martin & Co Franchise Owner David Rebe has acquired the Martin & Co Basingstoke business, continuing his plans to build a larger portfolio of property businesses within the network.
Rebe joined Martin & Co in March 2024 when he acquired the Oxford and Thame businesses. The latest acquisition sees him take on the established Basingstoke operation following the retirement of its previous Franchise Owner.
The business has built strong local relationships over many years and has an experienced team, with almost the entire staff contingent having significant length of service.
Rebe said the acquisition was a natural next step following his experience with the Oxford and Thame businesses.
“I have been very impressed with the Martin & Co business that we acquired two and a half years ago. We receive a lot of support from The Property Franchise Group and, in the current environment of legislative change, the importance of having this type of support cannot be underestimated,” he said.
“From the initial acquisition, my goal has been to grow a network of branches, as I believe the economies of scale allow us to offer our clients exceptional service through the pooled resources we have access to.”
Rebe was also attracted to Basingstoke by its established client base, track record of growth and experienced team.
“I much prefer acquiring an established, well-performing branch with an established team, and then only introducing changes if they will add value to all stakeholders in the business,” he commented.
His immediate priority will be to understand the business before identifying opportunities for further development. “For the next few months, it will be a soft approach to understand the business thoroughly. Thereafter, we will evaluate what opportunities are available to us,” he added.
Rebe says his experience in Oxford and Thame has reinforced the importance of service in driving both retention and referrals. “There is no substitute for exceptional service. Real estate is a competitive industry and, if you are not providing your clients with quality service, there are plenty of other operators looking to win your clients. We make sure to give them no reason to look elsewhere.”
He also credits the support provided by Martin & Co and The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) with helping him navigate the increasingly complex regulatory environment.
“There is support across every facet of business ownership, from due diligence and compliance through to operational guidance, training and ongoing updates on the changing legal framework. The national marketing, technology support, scale-of-economy discounts and networking opportunities are also invaluable.”
The acquisition forms part of Rebe’s longer-term ambition to grow through both acquisitions and organic expansion.
“We believe that we have established a very strong management team that has the ability to oversee a larger team and make sure that they are delivering exceptional service across all functions of the business,” he said. “This acquisition is another step towards establishing a material-sized business in the UK. We are not done yet.”
Toby Phillips, Group Managing Director of Martin & Co, said: “We are delighted to see David continue to grow within the Martin & Co network. Since joining us in 2024, he has embraced the franchise model and demonstrated a clear focus on exceptional customer service and sustainable growth.
“Basingstoke is an established business with strong local relationships and an experienced team, making it an excellent fit for David and his existing portfolio. It is particularly encouraging to see Franchise Owners using the strength and support of the network to pursue further growth through acquisition.”
