Stride & Stephens Estate Agents

About Stride & Stephens

Stride & Stephens has served the Chichester area and surrounding West Sussex communities for over 150 years, establishing themselves as one of the region's most respected estate agents. This longevity speaks volumes about consistent service delivery, adaptation to changing markets, and deep community connections built over generations. Few estate agents can claim such enduring local presence and accumulated expertise.

Operating from Chichester and serving the beautiful coastal and countryside areas surrounding this historic cathedral city, Stride & Stephens combines traditional values with modern service delivery. Their teams understand the unique character of Chichester's varied property markets—from city center period properties to sought-after coastal villages like West Wittering and Bosham, to rural properties in the South Downs countryside.

Heritage and Experience

150 Years of Service

Operating continuously since the 1870s means Stride & Stephens has navigated every property market cycle, economic change, and industry evolution imaginable. This experience provides perspective that newer agencies simply cannot match. They understand how Chichester's property market has developed over decades, which areas have consistently held value, and how local factors affect property prices over the long term.

Many Chichester families have used Stride & Stephens for multiple generations—parents, children, and grandchildren all trusting the same firm with their property needs. This generational loyalty demonstrates the consistent quality and community respect they've earned through reliable, professional service over many decades.

Award-Winning Service

Recognition through industry awards validates Stride & Stephens' service quality. These accolades come from both professional organizations and client feedback, confirming that their traditional approach delivers modern results. Awards recognize excellence in customer service, marketing effectiveness, and professional standards—areas where Stride & Stephens consistently excels.

Comprehensive Property Services

Residential Sales

Stride & Stephens handles property sales across all price ranges and property types in their coverage area. From city apartments to substantial country homes, coastal cottages to family houses, their experienced teams provide expert service tailored to each property's unique characteristics and market position.

Their sales service encompasses free property valuations drawing on comprehensive local market data, strategic pricing advice based on current market conditions, professional photography and detailed property descriptions, extensive marketing across all major property portals and local media, accompanied viewings with knowledgeable staff, skilled negotiation to achieve optimal prices, and full support through the often complex process to completion.

Lettings and Property Management

The Chichester area attracts strong rental demand from professionals, families, and people temporarily relocating to the area. Stride & Stephens' lettings service meets this demand with professional tenant finding and comprehensive property management for landlords across their coverage area.

Lettings services include thorough tenant referencing and credit checks, detailed property inventories, legally compliant tenancy agreements, regular property inspections, efficient maintenance coordination, professional rent collection, and responsive handling of tenant and landlord communications. Full management services provide landlords with hands-off investment while ensuring properties receive appropriate care.

Local Market Expertise

Chichester City

Chichester's property market combines historic city living with modern amenities. The city center features beautiful Georgian and Victorian properties, with varied accommodation from apartments to substantial townhouses. Stride & Stephens understands what makes Chichester appealing—the cathedral, excellent schools, cultural amenities, Goodwood proximity, and good transport links to London and coastal areas.

Buyers appreciate Chichester's combination of heritage architecture, independent shops and restaurants, cultural events through Festival Theatre and other venues, and quality of life. Stride & Stephens helps buyers understand different city areas and find properties matching their requirements, whether seeking period character, low maintenance apartments, or family homes near good schools.

Coastal Villages

The coastal area around Chichester includes some of Sussex's most desirable villages. West Wittering, Bosham, and Selsey each offer distinct character while sharing coastal location advantages. Stride & Stephens' long presence in these communities means intimate knowledge of what makes each special.

West Wittering attracts buyers seeking blue-flag beaches and village atmosphere. Bosham combines sailing heritage with picturesque harbor setting and historic character. Selsey offers more affordable coastal living with good local amenities. Understanding these distinctions helps Stride & Stephens match buyers with locations fitting their priorities, whether that's beach quality, sailing access, or value.

South Downs Countryside

The countryside surrounding Chichester provides beautiful rural living within reach of city amenities. Properties range from village cottages to substantial country homes, often with land or gardens. Stride & Stephens understands rural property considerations including land management, planning restrictions, and the practicalities of countryside living.

Why Choose Stride & Stephens

Unmatched Local Knowledge

Over 150 years operating in the same area creates knowledge depth that cannot be replicated. Stride & Stephens teams know neighborhood characteristics intimately, understand how local factors affect property values, maintain awareness of area developments and improvements, and can advise on school reputations, commuting practicalities, and community character based on genuine long-term experience.

Professional Excellence

Award recognition and enduring reputation reflect consistent professional standards. Stride & Stephens maintains high service levels through experienced staff, comprehensive training, investment in marketing technology and methods, and commitment to ethical practice. Clients benefit from professionalism backed by extensive resources and established processes.

Community Connections

Long local presence means Stride & Stephens is woven into Chichester's community fabric. They maintain relationships with local solicitors, surveyors, tradespeople, and other professionals involved in property transactions. These connections often smooth the buying and selling process through trusted networks and established working relationships.

Who Stride & Stephens Serves Best

Chichester Area Property Sellers

Sellers in Chichester and surrounding areas benefit from Stride & Stephens' established local reputation, extensive buyer database, and expert market knowledge. Whether selling city property, coastal homes, or countryside dwellings, their experience across all property types and price ranges ensures professional handling and optimal results.

Buyers Exploring the Chichester Area

Buyers unfamiliar with the Chichester area find Stride & Stephens' local expertise invaluable. Their agents can explain differences between locations, suggest areas matching buyer requirements and budgets, provide honest assessments of properties and values, and share insights about community character, schools, and amenities that help buyers make confident location and property decisions.

Landlords and Tenants

Landlords appreciate professional lettings management that protects property investments while ensuring regulatory compliance. Tenants benefit from good property availability, efficient application processes, and responsive service during tenancies. Stride & Stephens' experience managing lettings across varied property types ensures all parties receive appropriate service.

Working with Stride & Stephens

Initial Contact and Valuations

Getting started involves contacting their Chichester office by phone, email, or in person. For sellers, they arrange free property valuations where experienced agents visit properties to assess condition, features, and market value based on comparable sales and current buyer demand. These valuations provide realistic pricing guidance essential for successful sales.

Buyers can register requirements online or by visiting the office. Registration involves discussing needs, budget, preferred locations, and essential features. Stride & Stephens then provides property alerts when suitable homes become available, ensuring buyers don't miss opportunities in competitive markets.

Marketing and Communication

Properties receive comprehensive marketing including professional photography, detailed descriptions emphasizing unique features, prominent listing on major property portals including Rightmove and Zoopla, social media marketing, local advertising, and window displays in their well-located office. This multi- channel approach ensures maximum exposure to potential buyers.

Throughout transactions, Stride & Stephens maintains clear communication. Sellers receive feedback after viewings and regular updates on marketing performance. Buyers get guidance through the often complex purchase process. This communication ensures all parties stay informed and transactions progress smoothly.

Fees and Charges

Stride & Stephens operates transparent fee structures. Sales typically work on no sale, no fee commission basis, with fees percentage of sale price. Lettings charges cover tenant finding and optional management services. Detailed fee information is provided upfront during initial consultations so clients understand all costs before proceeding.

Chichester Area Property Market

The Chichester area property market remains consistently strong driven by multiple attractive factors. Excellent schools draw families, the cathedral city's cultural amenities appeal to professionals and retirees, coastal proximity attracts lifestyle buyers, South Downs location provides natural beauty, and reasonable London commuting enables city workers to enjoy better quality of life.

Recent market trends show sustained demand across property types, with particular interest in coastal villages, properties with gardens or outside space, homes in good school catchments, and countryside properties offering privacy and natural surroundings. Stride & Stephens helps clients understand how these trends affect specific properties and areas.

Market Insights and Trends

Stride & Stephens' long market observation reveals patterns that short-term agents miss. They've tracked how the Chichester area evolved from primarily retirement destination to increasingly popular with families and professionals. Understanding these long-term trends helps advise clients on areas with strong future potential and properties likely to hold value well.

Current market conditions show continued interest in the Chichester area as remote working enables more flexibility in location choice. Buyers increasingly prioritize quality of life, natural surroundings, and good local amenities over proximity to major employment centers. This trend benefits the Chichester area which offers these qualities in abundance.

Compare Other Estate Agents

While Stride & Stephens offers exceptional service in the Chichester area, viewing our complete estate agents directory helps compare options across different areas and approaches. Some buyers and sellers benefit from working with multiple agents to maximize property exposure or choice.

Final Thoughts

Stride & Stephens represents estate agency at its best—combining extensive experience, deep local knowledge, and modern professionalism. Their 150-year presence in Chichester demonstrates consistent adaptation to changing markets while maintaining core values of honest advice, expert service, and client-focused approach.

For anyone buying, selling, or renting property in Chichester and surrounding areas, Stride & Stephens offers advantages that come only from genuine long-term local presence. They understand the area intimately, know the property market thoroughly, and maintain the professional standards that have earned them enduring respect and loyalty.

Whether you're drawn to Chichester's cathedral city charm, coastal villages' natural beauty, or countryside tranquility, Stride & Stephens' expertise helps navigate the local property market successfully. Their heritage, knowledge, and award-winning service make them the natural choice for property services in one of West Sussex's most desirable areas.