Graham Forbes

Formerly based at 3 Ardross Terrace in the city centre, the new office on the city’s Cradelhall Business Park will provide more flexible and user-friendly space for the eight-strong DM Hall team.

The office’s new address is Hope House, Castlehill Drive, Inverness IV2 5GH.

DM Hall partner Graham Forbes said: “We have a more comfortable space in the new premises, including improved daylight, better artificial lighting and a superior heating system – all especially vital in this geography. Dedicated car parking spaces means that the parking situation is also much better for all staff and visitors.

“Our team, who cover Inverness and the Highlands, has grown over the past few years and the need for superior premises became apparent, particularly in late 2020.

“An opportunity arose earlier this year to step away from our existing lease agreement and we are delighted to have made this move. Our clients are now spread out throughout the city and we have no specific requirement to be in the city centre.”

He added: “As with many other areas of the country we have experienced almost manic market conditions within all areas of our patch during 2021. This puts extra pressure on the team but even during the week of the office move itself we were able to service our customers’ needs.

“Following on from Covid some members of the team are working more remotely, particularly surveyors, and as a result, the need for a city centre office is now less appropriate. Our new set up allows flexible working space, where we can all park up, plug in our laptops and turn around reports with improved efficiency”.

“With easy access to both the A9 and A96, the new office is more accessible to all members of staff, but particularly those who do not stay in Inverness and travel in each day to the city to work.

“It hasn’t taken the team long to adjust to the open plan design and way of working and I can only see it as being a good move for our business in future. We have room to expand the team and I am keen to develop our capabilities to service the property market throughout the Highlands, Islands and Argyle.”

Mr Forbes acknowledged the assistance of colleagues from DM Hall’s Elgin office and that of fellow DM Hall partner, Jonathan McManus, who oversaw the technicalities of managing the new lease and dealing with the agents for both the new and old offices.

In addition, he thanked Katrina Ashbolt and her team at Inverness-based solicitors Macleod and MacCallum for assisting with all legal work for the office move.