Former Office Manager Sharon Davidge takes on Hunters Knowle Bristol office

Congratulations to Sharon Davidge, who in March 2025 became the new owner of the Hunters Knowle Bristol office after working there for 14 years.

“I am absolutely delighted to be the new owner of Hunters Knowle Bristol,” said Sharon. “It is 14 years since I walked into the office, with no estate agency experience. My background prior to that was in retail, but the manager who was here at the time gave me the opportunity and I can remember thinking that estate agency couldn’t be that hard – I soon realised that wasn’t the case! However, perhaps because of my background in customer services, I’ve always been able to communicate easily with people from different walks of life. It doesn’t matter whether I’m talking to solicitors, buyers, vendors, or anyone else - I am the same with everyone and I’ve found that people respond well to that.

“I fell in love with the job and knew very soon that this was the career for me. I gradually working my way up to the position of office manager, and over the years I have done many training courses. I now have all the necessary qualifications to ensure that I can provide people with the very best possible professional advice.

“An opportunity first arose for to take on the business six years ago, but the timing just wasn’t right for me at that time, as my children were younger and more reliant on me. However, I’d always slightly regretted my decision and when the opportunity came my way again 18 months ago, I was determined to make it happen. There were set backs and delays along the way, but I felt more than ready for the challenge, and kept driving through until the deal completed.

“Becoming a business owner feels exciting, as well as a bit surreal after working here as an employee for so long. I’ve wanted this for such a long time and now it’s all completed I’m very proud to be part of the Hunters network and can benefit from the recognition and credibility of being part of such a strong brand, which is so important when going up against your competitors. I also receive marketing support, training and IT support, as well as lettings support, and although I’m part of a franchise I like being able to run things in a way that works for my area. Another big benefit is being able to access discounts with Rightmove and Zoopla etc. Hunters are always looking at ways to negotiate packages on our behalf which will make us stand out against other agents.

“Throughout the resale process I received fantastic support from Penny Sanders, the TPFG Group Franchise Services Director, and Natasha Wonham, the TPFG Franchise Integrations Manager. They advised me how to make the transition from employee to franchisee, and supported me throughout the entire process, advising me what to do, and when to do it. It was great to always have someone on the end of the phone, or who I could email if I had any queries. I also received great support from George Offer, the outgoing franchisee, and through networking with other franchisees in the Bristol area. Although we are all individual franchise owners, we like to try and work together as much as we can.

“From the perspective of our amazing clients, nothing will change for them, as I’ve been very much involved in the day to day running of the business and they all know me. I’m looking forward to providing everyone with exactly the same levels of customer service that they’ve always enjoyed, and welcoming new clients who have heard about our excellent reputation.

“I am supported by an amazing team, which includes a broker, photographer and a part-time negotiator who will be full time in June. When I took on the business, we were extremely busy, completing on three times as many exchanges as normal, because it was at the time when there was a race to beat the stamp duty deadline, but we are a great team, and we got everything done.

“With regards to the future, I’m really looking forward to continuing to grow our estate agency business, because we are currently predominantly focused on residential sales. However, I am also looking at expanding further into the lettings market. It’s going to be a busy and interesting time, and I’m incredibly excited for this next chapter to begin.”

Rob Smith, Group MD of Hunters, part of The Property Franchise Group, says: “I would like to congratulate Sharon on completing on the resale of Hunters Knowle Bristol, and to welcome her as a franchisee. It is always a good move when someone who works in a business goes onto to become the owner as they have so much experience in the day to day running of the business, with lots of ideas on how to develop the business further. Sharon is a highly professional individual who knows the market in this area very well, so her clients can rest assured that the business is in extremely safe hands. I am confident that this resale will be a huge success for Sharon and wish her every success for the future.”