HUNTERS, the York-based estate agency, has signed a four-year contract with international property adviser GVA Grimley.

The deal will see Hunters market all newly-built residential properties throughout the North of England and Scotland that are handled by GVA Grimley.

Responsible for the marketing will be Hunters' New Homes and Investors divisions.

Hunters New Homes specialises in selling high volumes of newly-built property to owner-occupiers and investors throughout the world, and it is estimated that this latest deal will result in 2,000 home sales each year.

Keith Hollinrake, director of Hunters, said: "GVA Grimley has a global presence and an excellent reputation within the industry.

"Agreeing this deal is a major coup and we're delighted to be working with the organisation.

"Hunters' success in securing this deal is based upon the company's ability to reach a wide spanning market and this is boosted further through our relationship with the Home Sale Network, which assists private buyers and companies that are relocating to unfamiliar areas throughout the UK."

Ed Rooney, regional head of GVA Grimley, said: "Establishing a residential sales arm enables us to continue building on the extensive range of services that GVA Grimley offers its property developer clients.

"Hunters already has a well-established office network and the company's continued growth and extensive presence in city living markets throughout the North complements GVA Grimley's development portfolio and geographical profile, making it an ideal company for us to work with." The Home Sale Network works with more than 740 independent estate agents throughout the UK.

Hunters has more than 170 employees, across ten offices, working in residential sales and lettings, land and new home sales, investor sales, commercial property, financial services, survey, overseas sales and conveyancing facilities.

Updated: 10:26 Friday, October 29, 2004