Bermuda's biggest real estate company has just moved into newly refurbished offices on Par-la-Ville Road in Hamilton.

The mega realtor was formed in October last year when two of Bermuda's top property agents joined forces to create the largest single company on the Island.

Jones Waddington Ltd and Bermuda Realty merged to form Coldwell Banker JW Bermuda Realty.

The huge staff of 53 moved lock stock and barrel from their offices in Meridian House on Brunswick Street and Gutteridge Building in Bermudiana Road on Monday and are still unpacking.

Atlantic House has 5,000 square feet and has been completely refurbished.

"We are delighted with the move,'' said Ian Waddington, owner and manager who has 20 years of experience with real estate on the Island.

"We are still busy unpacking boxes and there are a few things still to be finished by the contractors.'' The merged company has three partners, Mr.

Waddington, Arthur Jones and Brian Madeiros.

The merger will provide a full range of services from land survey and valuation to the sale, rental and management of both commercial and residential property.

Mr. Jones, who first established Gauntlett and Jones in Bermuda in 1977, will be responsible for the real estate division and is company president.

Mr. Madeiros, who was last year awarded the Bermuda Gold Award for real estate service, will head the professional services division within the combined entity.

Jones Waddington Ltd has been established on the Island for 22 years.

It became aligned with the huge US Coldwell Banker real estate empire in 1988 and changed its trading name to Coldwell Banker JW Bermuda Island Affiliate.

Real estate company on the move Bermuda Realty Company Ltd was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Bermuda Home, which was acquired by Bank of Bermuda in May 1999.

The new merged company is the real estate division of the parent company Jones Waddington Ltd.

The new accommodation in Atlantic House spans most of the ground floor and has a new entrance to the street.

The office is fully refurbished in a modern open-plan style and equipped with new computers and has a flexible-walled conference space which can change from one to three rooms.

"It has been a lot of work, but it is worth it,'' said Mr. Waddington, who is still not unpacked.

"There are boxes everywhere, and it will take a few more weeks until everything is organised. But it will improve our efficiency as a team and give our clients better value because of the joint expertise we can offer. We should be able to put some hefty minds together.

"Communication will also be so much easier with the open plan. In Meridian House, it was a house and we had to go from room to room to communicate. It was a lovely old house, but we had to move to accommodate everyone in a modern environment.'' In the new offices Mr. Waddington hopes to use all the newest technology, including digital cameras, new systems and palm pilots to improve efficiency and allow business deals to take place all over the world.

"The company has so much support and we hope to be able to corner a lot of the market.'' A MOVING EXPERIENCE