Diary of an estate agent: Chelsea
Monday
Red socks day
As always, we receive lots of sales and lettings enquiries at the weekend so the first task on Mondays is to respond to those that came through overnight.
This is followed by an informal team briefing before we all go off to get a property ready for a new tenancy: cleaning, inventory, keys, contract, emptying the property of items the new tenant doesn’t want, bringing everything back in the office and dispatching items back to the landlord — in Ireland, in my case today.
At lunchtime, a couple of young reality TV models stroll into the office looking for a new place to rent. One of our negotiators takes them out to view and in the process, gets snapped by tabloid photographers with the two young models.
It’s all over the papers the next day — being in the heart of Chelsea, this goes with the territory.
Tuesday
Blue socks day
With two of our team members I attend a lunchtime anti-money laundering masterclass run by NAEA Propertymark, formerly the National Association of Estate Agents.
It’s an area that requires such diligence and the various complexities of the law relevant to estate agencies certainly get our attention.
We’re definitely a dog-friendly office — we have our own famous resident, Jess, a Staffie — and we are constantly asked if landlords will take dogs.
We have five such enquiries today. So we have now included a “pet clause” in our contracts and property specs. We have also had more unusual requests from applicants asking if the landlord will accept a ferret, a chameleon and, last week, a rabbit.
Wednesday
Lime green socks day
I show a beautiful three-bedroom flat in an exclusive and highly sought-after gated development off King’s Road to an applicant and their friend: low-key, dark glasses but her larger-than-life voice gives her away. Of course my lips are sealed.
When I get back to the office, Raymond, our local dog walker to the stars, is there collecting our Jess the Staffie for her regular outing.
Jess features on all our promotional material and often gets recognised in the street. She is quite a local celebrity and is always being asked for her picture.
Thursday
Pink socks day
In the celebrity world, privacy is gold dust and we do get requests for properties with private access — either via a secured underground car park or a lift access directly into a flat.
Today we get an enquiry from a reality TV personality currently living in Los Angeles and back in London with her dog for a three-month let while filming a series that’s soon to be aired in the UK.
I spend the day looking for a luxury short let for her in the Chelsea and Belgravia areas. Several are shortlisted and back to back viewings take place later in the afternoon, before this famous lady sets about her evening red carpet appearances.
She finally plumps for a flat in Belgravia that has direct lift access.
Friday
Yellow socks day
We are appointed to sell a fabulous five-bedroom house in Redcliffe Road, just off Fulham Road. The asking price is in excess of £5 million. We immediately arrange viewings with a few of our top high-net worth clients.
Early afternoon, we all attend a briefing meeting with our in-house PR and marketing team in preparation for a special carol concert at St Mary The Boltons church in West Brompton on December 7, to support the Royal Trinity Hospice.
Susan Metcalfe Residential is proud to be sponsoring the event for the fourth year running.
Friday means fizz. The week has gone well and lots of deals have been sealed, so it’s a champagne day. When the market is slow, it’s warm beer all round…