James Watts MRICS/MNAEA
Managing Director (Sales/New Homes/Surveys)
Cleckheaton
About us
We’re a highly experienced family estate agency who have been operating in Bradford, Kirklees & Calderdale areas for 45 years. Covering both property sales and lettings across five branches, we’ve helped thousands of sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants during that time. We’re proud to be one of the area’s leading independent estate agents and the fact that our loyal customers keep coming back to us is testament to this.
Our key values reflect who we are and influence everything we do going forward;
DOWN TO EARTH, we’re approachable and we don’t take ourselves too seriously but we do take our customers sale and let very seriously
INNOVATION, we embrace new technology and ideas
PRIDE, of who we are and what we do
SUBSTANCE, with 45 years experience and the quality of our team
Robert Watts, Getting West Yorkshire Moving
How it started
After operating a successful estate agent partnership throughout the 1970’s, Bob Watts decided to launch his own business and so Robert Watts Estate Agents was born in 1979.
Bradford’s Eccleshill was the location of the first branch and after fast-becoming one of the area’s most highly respected agents, an expansion drive led to the opening of offices in Cleckheaton, Birkenshaw, Five Lane Ends and Wibsey, all of which we still operate today.
After years of admirable service, Bob retired in 2007 and passed the business on to his three children. James, John and Kate all all based in-house and take up different roles within the company, joined by our experienced team of valued staff, some of which have been with us since the very early days.
Giving back to the local community
We’ve always valued the importance of giving back to our local communities. We’re strong advocates of grassroot sports and sponsor a number of local and junior sporting teams, including Gomersal Cricket Club, Thackley Typhoons Under 18’s all girl football team and Spenborough & District Athletic Club Athletic, whilst we’re also involved in a number of community initiatives including Eliza’s Picnic, an annual charity event in Cleckheaton for juvenile arthritis.
Meet your local team
James Watts MRICS/MNAEA
Managing Director (Sales/New Homes/Surveys)
Cleckheaton
Graduated university in 1994 and established Robert Watts Lettings before leaving the firm to become qualified as a chartered surveyor. Worked 5 years in Leeds as a commercial surveyor before returning to the business in 2002 to establish the surveying arm and expand the sales division. Proud to be a former President of the Bradford Society of Architects & Surveyors as well as the Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents Association. Happily married with 2 children. Average golfer, very average snowboarder.
John Watts MNAEA
Managing Director (Sales)
Birkenshaw
John Watts MNAEA
Managing Director (Sales)
Birkenshaw
Joined the family business in 1994 as a trainee estate agent/negotiator before becoming a branch manager/valuer in 1997. Has worked in several of our offices before returning to our head office at Birkenshaw office in 2009. Still heavily involved in all aspects of estate agency, containing to carry out market appraisals. Youngest ever President of Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents in 2005 and was asked to be President again in 2014. Always learning and striving to be a good leader, part of Property Academy since 2016. John has 3 children, happily married with a dog named Ronnie. Passionate about everything about Bradford City.
Kate Watts MARLA
Managing Director (Lettings)
Lettings & Property Management
Kate Watts MARLA
Managing Director (Lettings)
Lettings & Property Management
Joined the family business in 1995 and worked on the estate agency side until 1998 when she took over the Letting and Management Department. Since then the division has gone from strength to strength and with my excellent team alongside we currently let over 850 properties. Passed the NFOPP Level 3 Award in Residential Letting and Property Management and is a member of ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents). Was only the second woman President of the Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents Association. Happily married to Paul & proud mum of Nathan.
James Hart MNAEA
Director
Five Lane Ends
James Hart MNAEA
Director
Five Lane Ends
As sad as it may be, I joined the Estate Agency industry straight from leaving school in 1989. Twenty some years later I am still here! As a professionally qualified member of the National Association of Estate Agents I have a deep routed passion for the industry and I love my job – every day is different and never boring!
Lucy Golton MNAEA
Office Manager, Senior Valuation Manager
Wibsey
Lucy Golton MNAEA
Office Manager, Senior Valuation Manager
Wibsey
Started Estate Agency in 2003 in the corporate sector in Bradford City Center. Joined Robert Watts in 2006 as a sales negotiator & progressed to become senior valuer at the Wibsey Branch & recently senior valuation manager. Known to be the noisy one in the firm I’m from a semi rural village and my passion is the outdoors. I have several allotments, a menagerie of animals, spend much of my free time working within the communities as their local Parish Councillor and devoting my time to many committees including the Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents Association. Mother on one and auntie of two and friends of many, who enjoy my sommelier skills!
Tabby Hickling
Senior Sales Manager
Birkenshaw
Tabby Hickling
Senior Sales Manager
Birkenshaw
Started in Estate Agency in 1989 working for Halifax Estate Agents as a sales negotiator then promoted to managing partner, left Halifax in 2002 to start at Robert Watts as senior sales negotiator then promoted to office manager. Happily married with 2 grown up daughters and 2 grandchildren, who I love spending time with.
Nicola Astley MNAEA
Sales Manager
Five Lane Ends
Nicola Astley MNAEA
Sales Manager
Five Lane Ends
Started Estate Agency career as a sales negotiator in 2004 with a corporate agent straight after leaving school. Joined Robert Watts flagship Bolton Road Office in 2005 as a sales negotiator and has progressed to office manager of Highfield Office. Professionally qualified member of National Association of Estate Agents who enjoys shopping and Zumba in her spare time!
Stephen Schofield
Sales Manager
Cleckheaton
Stephen Schofield
Sales Manager
Cleckheaton
With over a decade of diverse experience in the property industry, I hopefully bring both expertise and a customer focused approach to this role. Having worked in various capacities, I understand the nuances of the housing market and the importance of building lasting relationships and am looking forward to using this experience working for a well regarded local family business.
James Watts MRICS/MNAEA
Managing Director (Sales/New Homes/Surveys)
Cleckheaton
Graduated university in 1994 and established Robert Watts Lettings before leaving the firm to become qualified as a chartered surveyor. Worked 5 years in Leeds as a commercial surveyor before returning to the business in 2002 to establish the surveying arm and expand the sales division. Proud to be a former President of the Bradford Society of Architects & Surveyors as well as the Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents Association. Happily married with 2 children. Average golfer, very average snowboarder.
John Watts MNAEA
Managing Director (Sales)
Birkenshaw
Joined the family business in 1994 as a trainee estate agent/negotiator before becoming a branch manager/valuer in 1997. Has worked in several of our offices before returning to our head office at Birkenshaw office in 2009. Still heavily involved in all aspects of estate agency, containing to carry out market appraisals. Youngest ever President of Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents in 2005 and was asked to be President again in 2014. Always learning and striving to be a good leader, part of Property Academy since 2016. John has 3 children, happily married with a dog named Ronnie. Passionate about everything about Bradford City.
Kate Watts MARLA
Managing Director (Lettings)
Lettings & Property Management
Joined the family business in 1995 and worked on the estate agency side until 1998 when she took over the Letting and Management Department. Since then the division has gone from strength to strength and with my excellent team alongside we currently let over 850 properties. Passed the NFOPP Level 3 Award in Residential Letting and Property Management and is a member of ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents). Was only the second woman President of the Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents Association. Happily married to Paul & proud mum of Nathan.
James Hart MNAEA
Director
Five Lane Ends
As sad as it may be, I joined the Estate Agency industry straight from leaving school in 1989. Twenty some years later I am still here! As a professionally qualified member of the National Association of Estate Agents I have a deep routed passion for the industry and I love my job – every day is different and never boring!
Lucy Golton MNAEA
Office Manager, Senior Valuation Manager
Wibsey
Started Estate Agency in 2003 in the corporate sector in Bradford City Center. Joined Robert Watts in 2006 as a sales negotiator & progressed to become senior valuer at the Wibsey Branch & recently senior valuation manager. Known to be the noisy one in the firm I’m from a semi rural village and my passion is the outdoors. I have several allotments, a menagerie of animals, spend much of my free time working within the communities as their local Parish Councillor and devoting my time to many committees including the Bradford & District Auctioneers & Estate Agents Association. Mother on one and auntie of two and friends of many, who enjoy my sommelier skills!
Tabby Hickling
Senior Sales Manager
Birkenshaw
Started in Estate Agency in 1989 working for Halifax Estate Agents as a sales negotiator then promoted to managing partner, left Halifax in 2002 to start at Robert Watts as senior sales negotiator then promoted to office manager. Happily married with 2 grown up daughters and 2 grandchildren, who I love spending time with.
Nicola Astley MNAEA
Sales Manager
Five Lane Ends
Started Estate Agency career as a sales negotiator in 2004 with a corporate agent straight after leaving school. Joined Robert Watts flagship Bolton Road Office in 2005 as a sales negotiator and has progressed to office manager of Highfield Office. Professionally qualified member of National Association of Estate Agents who enjoys shopping and Zumba in her spare time!
Stephen Schofield
Sales Manager
Cleckheaton
With over a decade of diverse experience in the property industry, I hopefully bring both expertise and a customer focused approach to this role. Having worked in various capacities, I understand the nuances of the housing market and the importance of building lasting relationships and am looking forward to using this experience working for a well regarded local family business.
Gillian Spence MARLA
Senior Letting Manager
Lettings & Property Management
Worked for Robert Watts for over 16 years, having originally worked at the Wibsey office from 2006. Transferred to Highfield Road office to be lettings manager in 2011. In 2017 was promoted to senior lettings manager when we moved all our rental properties to our rental head office in Cleckheaton. Happily married with two grown up boys and a gorgeous cocker spaniel.
