1999 -2024

“It’s all about coming home”

1976 - The Prequel

I joined the long- established professional firm of chartered surveyors and land agents, Rickeard Green and Michelmore, with offices covering Devon primarily selling country houses, farms and rural property. Initially with two partners and from 1988 as sole director the business grew to seven offices in Devon and Cornwall. The South West was opening up with improved transport links – the M5 to Exeter, the A30 dual carriageway carving its way through Devon to Cornwall seeing the end of long summer tail backs on A roads. Devon and Cornwall became a destination not just for holidays but to live with investment seeing the commercial and retail markets open up leading the way for professional services to follow. The property market flourished and national estate agents recognised the opportunity setting up in the county town, City of Exeter. Demand exceeded supply and values rocketed - albeit with the inevitable dips caused by national economic dramas - but the lure of the region endured and prospered.

Fast forward to the late 1990s and the advent of the internet changing estate agency and the property market forever. “What is an email?” I recall asking someone!! Maybe my time to exit and let the corporates with the I.T. infrastructure take over. So, fate played it’s hand and I sold the company to a growing business leaving me free to explore pastures new using my then 25 years’ experience and knowledge of the South West property market. To be successful in the property world its all about contacts, knowledge and experience – of which I felt I had plenty.

1999 - Recoco

Recoco Property Search was born. Acting alone, initially for private individuals looking to find a special property in the South West. Often time poor, professional and retired people from London, The Home Counties and internationally, I offered local knowledge and a link to my contacts with the selling agents to negotiate successful purchases of country, city and waterside homes. As one of a very few Buying Agents at the time it proved the perfect way to earn a living in an environment I enjoyed but had its limitations. With careful approaches, it was evident the opportunity for the business to develop a team of like-minded, experienced property people across the South of England. Now, 25 years later, Recoco has Buying Agents covering from Cornwall to Norfolk including London. Still acting solely for individuals and adopting a non-corporate but personal hand holding service our success is self-evident.

From little acorns great oak trees grow - the formative years of any business are challenging to become recognised but once there it’s a proud feeling to have been the instigator.

2024 - 25 Years

The world of the internet - social media has taken over. Whilst essential to be part of this fast moving world it is also vital to maintain the personal approach using knowledge to guide our clients. Whilst values have changed out of all recognition in the last 25 years the principles are the same and, as with everything, we just look at greater figures and costs and accept the world has moved on. The first 25 years of Recoco Property Search have set the benchmark for the next 25 - who knows how the market will change in that time but underneath it, families will always want a home:

“It’s All About coming Home”

By Nigel Bishop

Founder & Managing Director