Diary Of An Agent

Paul Cooney, Horton and Garton, Chiswick

Having worked as an agent in Chiswick for over 10 years and seen the local property market weather many storms, I can safely say that this is one of the most active markets to date. Since the property market reopened on the 13th May Horton and Garton, Chiswick have agreed 19 sales and with Chanel Rapallini joining Director Paul Cooney and his team, we look forward to many more success stories for our wonderful W4 clients.

Monday

The sun is shining and I'm starting the week off with a valuation at an impressive house on one of Chiswick's most prestigious streets.

Next, I'm with the owners of a beautiful house on Strand on the Green where, following a weekend of 12 viewings, we have 6 offers to discuss and deliberate over.

At midday, it's over to Grove Park to say farewell to a client who is completing on their house and whilst adhering to the social distancing guidelines and wearing the necessary PPE, I hand them our signature completion gift, a hamper from Bayley & Sage.

My next appointment is a valuation in central Chiswick that has a rooftop garden, a rarity in W4. I'm immediately onto another valuation of a 2 bedroom flat again in a central Chiswick location.

With busy days and bright summer evenings viewings often stretch till after 7pm and today was no exception; as I attended viewings at our new listings till 9pm.

Tuesday

Another early start with 2 viewings at our new listing in Bedford Park and then onto a valuation of an apartment that we had previously sold to the owner a few years ago but who are now relocating.

Over the next few hours I'm zipping between viewings at our listing in Gunnersbury and a second viewing at a house on the Bedford Park Borders, followed by another at the house we're marketing in central Chiswick. A valuation on a garden flat in Gunnersbury is followed by a viewing at our listing on an adjacent road. My last viewing is at 6:30pm at our Bedford Park garden flat.

Wednesday

My day starts with a 9am viewing at our listing on the River. The following appointment was an off-market viewing on a house just south of the High Road, following a valuation I knew we had the perfect buyer for the property in advance of it coming to the market.  

With back to back viewings followed by a valuation on the Glebe Estate my afternoon was jam-packed with only serious buyers viewing. Many discussions were had on offering through the day with many coming to fruition via email– excellent results for our clients.

Having met a local homeowner at the Hogarth Gym prior to lockdown I was invited to value their house near Chiswick Park. I've since sold this property off-market for the asking price following a single Sunday viewing.

Thursday

The first appointment of the day is to collect keys from a client in preparation for viewings and then I head onto a valuation at a central Chiswick home. The next appointment is a probate valuation on a river-facing apartment in Grove Park.

Over the course of Thursday afternoon between viewings, I'm on the phone or responding to emails and negotiating with buyers – thank goodness for my excellent PA back at the office Emily Messersmith.

The afternoon includes a second viewing at a property I'm particularly fond of, a period home bursting with family memories. Having been lived in by its current owner for 72 years it was a very important sale, which is one of the many reasons I love selling homes in W4. 

Friday

Friday starts with a key collection on a new listing and an immediate viewing at the property with an eager buyer which was extremely positive.

Today was a slightly slower Friday than usual as it was the virtual ESTAS, the Estate Agent of the Year Awards. We were delighted to have won the People Award and the Silver Award for West London, beaten only by the Horton and Garton team in Hammersmith who took the Gold.

Saturday

Saturday's are usually busy for viewings and today was no exception – viewings ran from 8.05 am to 6.30 pm. It was a particularly busy day at our newest listing in Strand on the Green where we had a total of 10 viewings.

Sunday

Understanding that for some sellers, especially those with families, evening appointments can be tricky, I'm always happy to conduct viewings on a Sunday. Today's second viewing on an apartment on Chiswick High Road was on a Sunday for exactly that reason.

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July 20, 2020