Diary of an estate agent: Bloomsbury

A home with it's own vintage French wine cellar in central London makes for an interesting valuation...
21 September 2016

Monday
I’m in the office for our morning briefing. I conducted a viewing yesterday at a penthouse in Goodge Street close to Tottenham Court Road and as it was Sunday, I was ably assisted by my eight-year-old son.

It’s a very cool bachelor pad and the potential buyer was a broker from the City. He loved the open-plan kitchen/dining area with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors on to the private terrace. He calls me early today to make an offer, which makes for an encouraging start to the week.

Tuesday
First job today is a valuation, and I’m on my way to a freehold house just off Cavendish Square in the medical district of Marylebone.

This beautiful house has some fine original features including an impressive wood-panelled drawing room, a roof garden with great views, and in the basement, a wonderful wine cellar filled with some of France’s best vintages. I head back to the office and bump into a regular buyer of mine — she and her husband have bought three places through us and they are on the hunt again. I take some notes and head back with another requirement to fulfil.

From the activity we are experiencing there is no doubt that any Brexit fear is subsiding. People who have a motive to buy or sell are just getting on with it. My broker’s offer is rejected on the penthouse but I have asked him to sleep on a higher offer to get it agreed and off the market.

Wednesday
We are running an “open house” at a flat in Bloomsbury today, and it’s a top-floor ex-local authority property with a lift. The living room is painted in bright yellow, the bedroom bright orange and the kitchen is bright blue.I am looking after this on behalf of the executors of the estate.

We have several interested parties but they are all asking about the cost of a lease extension, as it only has 61 years left to run.

Meanwhile, I receive a new bid on the bachelor pad. I’m hopeful it will be accepted, and I advise the owners.

Thursday
A client from India is looking for a nice three-bedroom apartment with parking and a terrace, with a healthy budget of between £4 million and £5 million, and we have two to see today. The first is a duplex with an amazing corner living space that has dual-aspect floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies and a retractable roof.

It’s a warm day in the city so we decide to black cab it to Mayfair for our next viewing. This property is also very nice — the attention to detail is amazing and it’s furnished so well that you just want to grab a book and sit on the terrace sipping a G&T.

Both flats are liked but neither hit the spot on size, so we discuss moving up on budget, as I know of a place that might just work. We head back over to Fitzrovia to see a flat at £6.5 million and my client’s face lights up as she enters the impressive foyer with concierge.

Back at the office later, there is a message that we have a deal agreed on the penthouse in Goodge Street. I must go home and tell my son he played his part last Sunday — just as long as he doesn’t expect any commission.

Friday
On behalf of the local church, I am showing an office space today in a building it owns next door. It was previously occupied by a well-known fashionable sunglasses designer who recently relocated out of London.

It’s being viewed by a firm of architects and I’m hopeful of an offer this afternoon. The great thing about renting to architects is the added value they will create by making what is already a great space much better, as they aim to wow their clients.

Feedback is good from my Indian client. Her husband is keen to look at the last penthouse. That’s something to look forward to next week.

Jonathan Hudson is director of Hudsons, 24 Charlotte Street, W1 (020 7323 2277).