Peter Leete & Partners - Hindhead

Peter Leete and Partners was established in 1971 and now celebrating 50 years! - for other significant events in 1971 visit the link on our website.

The founder who had cut his teeth running a chain of estate agents in and around the Sutton area moved out to the ‘sticks’ where his wife’s family had retired to. Initially running his business from home it soon became necessary to find premises and the old estate office on The Green at Grayshott became available (at that time in use as a hairdressers, previously a cobblers and originally the village estate office where rents were paid by local tenants). This offered an ideal office in a prominent position with adjacent free public car park (the ‘Fox and Pelican’ watering hole being located ‘at a convenient remove’ having no influence).

Peter became a well-known local figure with his trademark ‘My Lord’ and ‘see you when you’re older,’ among other ‘Peterisms.’ Many enjoyed his sense of humour reflected in his old-style advertising copy (permissible prior to the introduction of the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991). A particularly memorable advert follows:

"Not for the faint-hearted, a property to endow your personality upon! View with caution and whatever you do don’t view in stilettos as you will damage the floorboards which are suffering from rising damp, which is helping to drown an infestation of the death watch beetle."

A stampede ensued and a sale was concluded that weekend.

Peter Leete ran the office until his retirement in 2005 when the reins were handed over to his 2 sons who have continued the traditions of the firm centred on independence, impartial advice and client first principles – one might suggest traditional estate agency values largely lost in today’s world of corporate chain sales agents.

The firm continues to trade from the original premises in Grayshott.