Diary of an estate agent: a brilliant week in a cut-throat property market

Monday

I wake up with a spring in my step, knowing that today is the first day that we start showing two fabulous houses — one in Kensington and the other in Holland Park. We are expecting a fantastic reaction as both properties are very attractive. I arrive at the office in time for our 8am meeting.

The atmosphere in the office is always good but it is electric on the days when we launch a new property. We spend the day running around showing buyers round the new houses and the reaction has been very good.

I end up leaving the office just after 7pm and singing I’ve Got A Feeling on the moped home.

Tuesday

Not a great start to the day, as I cut my neck while shaving. I find a plaster and place it horizontally across my throat, making me look like the local vicar. However, back to business. Bidding has started on an unmodernised house that we have just south of Kensington High Street and the clients seem very happy with the progress so far. Fingers crossed we will be able to agree a sale during the course of the week.

We are inundated with viewings for our new houses and expect offers by the end of the week. I give an appreciative nod to my Cub Scout days — I’m armed with a full tank of fuel in the scooter and rain gear and dash from property to property, meeting and greeting prospective purchasers.

Wednesday

We are due to exchange on a house today. I email the solicitors to check that they have signed contracts and the deposit money has arrived.

Both solicitors reply “yes” to contracts being signed and I get a positive response to the arrival of the deposit monies. I have lunch with two solicitors at their offices in Mayfair, and arrive back to hear that we have exchanged on the house.

What a joy. I had promised my wife and two boys that I would take them all out for dinner tonight if we had exchanged. The kids are very excited!

Thursday

I have an early morning private wealth management meeting at Hill Street head office. So, wearing my best suit and tie and polished shoes, I attend to hear the latest news on the continuing demand from high-net worth individuals, both British and internationally based, for prime central London property.

On my return to the office, the phones are all going crazy and we receive a number of offers on the two new houses we launched on Monday.

Friday

We agree terms on the unmodernised house, and both the vendor and buyer are delighted. I spend the rest of the afternoon doing a report on a very large family house and I have already started praying that we get it.

We have an end-of-week meeting at 6pm to go through all our properties and, having called every one of our clients, I leave the office for the annual fathers and sons football match, feeling rather nervous.

But... what a great week!

* Tom Wilton works in the sales department of Strutt & Parker’s Kensington office (020 7938 3666)