Cubitt & West Choose Sign 2000
Cubitt and West is the largest independent estate agent in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, with 40 branches across the three counties. Cubitt and West has been highly successful in the property market for many years, and, following a brief period of corporate ownership in the late 1980's, they have been totally independent since 1991, when much of their current branch network was acquired from the Prudential Insurance 
Cubitt and West is privately owned, being part of the Arun Estates Group, with an overall network of some 125 offices across the South East of England. This network gives them unrivalled coverage and wide access to both property for sale, and home buyers, in nearly every price range. Their aim is to be the leading estate agent in every town and village in which they trade.
While retaining the values and service levels of a traditional estate agency Cubitt and West are committed to taking full advantage of 21st century technology including a 24 hours a day internet transaction progress tracker.
Similarly, their mortgage broking service has instant access to just about every mortgage lender in the marketplace providing daily updates giving customers all the information they need when they need it.
Bearing in mind this is an outgoing, modern and vibrant estate agent operation, Cubitt and West decided that their corporate image should be updated in order to better reflect the style of operation the firm embodies.
Accordingly, an architectural sign manufacturer, Sign 2000 of Paddock Wood in Kent, was appointed to update and refresh the company identity.
A total of some 40 sites throughout Sussex and Hampshire were targeted for the upgrade with the bulk of the work taking place in December 2006.
Where previously the company’s built identity had been gold ‘Cubitt & West’ flowing lettering on a deep green background, the new modern image utilised block type text with all lower case lettering flush mounted on a stove painted white aluminium backdrop with a pink edge on the right hand side (200-400mm depending on the length of the fascia). These are trough-lit running the full length of the fascia.
The lettering is made of acrylic and painted light green, light grey and dark grey (‘Cubitt’, ‘&’ and ‘West’ respectively). Some sites required an internally illuminated projection sign – these were green panels stencil cut backed up by opal acrylic. The text ‘Cubitt & West’ would illuminate white. The end returns on the projection signs were painted pink. All mastered over an internal steel frame to mount to the wall. 
Where traditional hanging signs were in place the style was a green panel with white text and grey bracket with grey troughs. In cases where the sites were in conservation areas Sign 2000 liaised with local planning authorities to ensure all parties were satisfied that regulations were being met.
All sites were initially surveyed by Sign 2000 who then produced a number of visuals for Cubitt & West’s approval prior to producing a prototype.
In one case, at Dorking, Sign 2000 had to make an entirely new fascia, installing a timber base to ensure a totally flat surface. They then made careful measurements and manufactured the sign back at the factory before installing it and painting the timber base.
David Lench, of Arun Estates Group commented, “Overall I am pleased with Sign 2000 and would consider them for future rebrands.”
