During 2011 the agency doubled its staff, client enquiries, website visitor traffic, and its service offerings.
The company ended 2010 hiring key internal personnel and forming strategic alliances. These resources enabled it to capture the largest portfolio of high end, luxury and boutique properties for rent and sale in Barcelona City, Barcelona surroundings and Costa Brava, it said in a statement.
In the first quarter of 2011 it opened its Ibiza office, which has already gained a strong market position on the island. In the fourth quarter it announced the office opening in Mallorca.
Meanwhile, Juan Antonio March, the former Spanish ambassador to Russia became a shareholder in Lucas Fox Mallorca and will lead on internal strategy and consulting for Russian and Eastern Europe relations.
In terms of transactions the third quarter of 2011 marked the agency's best to date closing with €19.5 million.
‘We are delighted that the results from 2011 exceeded our forecasts and expectations. This is down to two key elements: high quality property that we know will appeal to our database of international clients and developing client relationships,’ said Alex Vaughan, director of Lucas Fox.
He believes that client relationships are essential to success in challenging times. ‘In an industry suffering harsh publicity and economic downturn the facts speak for themselves. Last month alone we received 125 qualified buyer enquiries just from referrals,’ he explained.
For the coming year the company is optimistic. ‘Our transaction pipeline is already looking strong and the outlook for the year is very encouraging. We start 2012 with over 5,000 active property buyers registered from Northern and East Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, the Middle East, the US and China,’ he added.
Aimar Valls, head of commercial and investment property said that in the last year the company has seen a dramatic rise in both the quantity and quality of enquiries for commercial and investment property. ‘Central Barcelona is a hot spot for hotels, hotel projects and buildings with potential for tourist apartment rentals,’ he added.
