Mercer House

Ellington Properties is a design led Dubai developer, and unusually for this market that claim survives contact with the buildings. The interiors are specified more carefully than the segment norm, and the buildings are generally smaller and lower rise than their neighbours.

What do they build?

Boutique apartment buildings, mostly mid rise, aimed at owner occupiers as much as investors, plus a smaller number of villas. We are currently marketing 2 completed Ellington properties from AED 74,999.

Where do they build?

• Jumeirah Village Circle — 2 properties

Jumeirah Village Circle, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Hills Estate and the surrounding districts. In JVC in particular an Ellington building stands out against the stock around it, which matters at resale.

What should you check before buying?

• Whether you are paying the design premium twice. The premium over a plain building nearby is real. Establish what the comparable plain unit costs so you know what you are paying for.
• Service charges. Better common areas cost more to maintain. Confirm the figure rather than assume it is in line with the district.
• Resale comparables in the same building, since a boutique building has fewer of them than a large tower.
• Incoming supply nearby, particularly in JVC where a great deal completes in the same years.

Are they a safe developer to buy from?

They have delivered in Dubai and the finished product generally matches what was marketed, which is not universal here. The judgement is whether the design premium holds when you sell. In our experience it holds better in a district of ordinary stock than in one where everything is already well specified.