TWO of the best known independent estate agencies in South Bucks have joined forces.

The merger announced this week between Wye Residential and Wynyard-Wright & Ellis has brought together two companies from different areas of the property market but with a shared ethos rooted in the communities they serve.

Wye Residential is a leading estate agency in the urban areas and villages surrounding the commuter hotspot of Wycombe. Here the house market has a higher turnover, the lifestyle has a buzz, prices are more affordable and the environment is family friendly.

The other partner in the merger has a stronghold in the more rural communities either side of the Misbourne Valley, a market largely characterised by quirky cottages and lovely old houses often standing in their own grounds. It’s dream home country punctuated by more recent estates of stylish homes built for the 21st century. In general the market is middle-to-upper end. Once there, families tend to bed in for the long term.

One of the main reasons for the merger was to create an overlap, for the agents to pool their expertise to the advantage of both partners in the new town and country alliance.

Consequently the three offices of the former Wynyard-Wright & Ellis agency - in Great Missenden, Prestwood and Naphill - will carry on as before but under the new brand name Wye Country.

There will be no change of title for the offices of Wye Residential in High Wycombe town centre and Hazlemere but the branches will become a one-stop-shop for clients who want to move further afield.

Similarly there will be greater choice for tenants and an expanded market for landlords both at the Great Missenden office of Wye Country and Wye Residential Lettings based at 21a High Street in Wycombe town centre.

How does Peter Ellis regard the future development of the agency he founded in early 1996 with Danny Wynyard-Wright, now one of the six partners in The Wye Partnership?

Mr Ellis retired last year but has remained a consultant. “Bigger and better,” he proclaimed with gusto. “We built up a nice rural image in the villages on both sides of the Misbourne Valley and they’ve built up a similar image in the urban market surrounding High Wycombe.

“Anyone who remembers the merger of Hetherington and Pretty & Ellis [his previous agency where he first worked with Danny] will remember how well that worked out and this should be no different.

“There’s not a lot to be negative about,” commented the man whose reputation as a first class estate agent and true gent is second to none. “Danny seems very happy with it.”

Garry Almrott who founded Wye Residential in 2009 along with Darrell Litchfield, Rob Mackay and Stephen Harnett says both companies have an established pedigree. ”The result of the expansion is that we will be one of the most progressive and knowledgeable estate agents and letting companies in South Bucks.”

Each partner has a special area of expertise.

Neil Wood was an on-line agent before he joined Wye. He says it wasn't long before he was providing all the services of a traditional agent, explaining “selling a house is not a diy job for homeowners. It’s most people’s biggest asset. You can’t risk making mistakes.“

One of the first decisions taken by the new partnership was to name their inner sanctum The Sean Owen Boardroom after their colleague who died of cancer last year at the age of 46.

The father of three young sons and highly regarded estate agent is greatly missed by his colleagues.