Member Article

“Open house” for Open Door

Over 75 people from across the region have celebrated the success of local property business Open Door at the official opening of its new office in North Nottinghamshire.

An independent, family-run property company, Open Door has invested in transforming an old rural farm building. Its new home, a previously-derelict cartshed, has been turned into a state-of-the-art office. The sustainable property, located in South Wheatley, equidistant between Retford and Gainsborough, is powered by solar energy and heated using some of the latest eco-friendly technology.

Open Door was originally founded in July 2012 by Graeme Naish (26) during the back-end of the recession, working from his parents’ dining room. He subsequently sat and passed trade exams with the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) before moving to the Retford Enterprise Centre and selling the company’s first residential property in November 2012.

Since then, Open Door has hosted more than 20 auctions and sold homes worth more than £30 million to local residents. It has also extended the scope of its services: in the last 12 months, it has hosted an additional auction in Sheffield as well as launched a traditional, flat-fee estate agency called Open Door Sales.

Open Door’s open house was hosted at the new offices and attended by customers, partners and representatives of local businesses community. Open Door’s Director Graeme Naish, said: “The move to the new premises and this event marks a huge milestone in the development and evolution of the business. We’re delighted that so many of our supporters could attend tonight and mark this occasion with us.”

The Chief Executive of local enterprise partnership D2N2, David Ralph, officially opened the office and said a few words in support of Open Door. D2N2, one of the largest LEPs in England, covers an area with a population of over 2 million people and economic output of over £36 billion.

At the event David Ralph commented: “I’m pleased to formally open the new home for Open Door in this lovely rural setting and it is great to see an old building restored and brought back into full use. Open Door is a fine example of a thriving young business – who are essential to help grow the local economy in our region.”

Open Door is hosting its next property auction at The Elms Hotel in Retford at 7pm on Tuesday 19th May and, at the time of writing, has a record number of listings – more than 40 – with a total value in excess of £5.3 million. For more information about the lots, you can visit the Open Door website or call the team on 01777 322 777.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Greenwood .