I’ve been an estate agent for over twenty five years and would love to say I’ve seen it all, but I’m constantly surprised at the different array of houses I’m asked out to see. I’ve sold houses north of the million-pound mark and I’ve also sold garages under £10k. I don’t see this as a job, it’s an honour that someone entrusts you with the biggest investment of their lives, the keys to their home, and I try to do everything I can to provide the best possible service. People think they know what they would like and need, but then they end up buying something completely different.

I remember a buyer that was convinced he wanted a period town house and would not consider anything else. I found him the house, he offered but the survey came back with a long list of issues as older houses often do which lead to him pulling out. We found another, the same thing happened again. I persuaded him to view a new build (it took quite some convincing). The buyer viewed it, offered, had a clean survey back and moved in a few weeks later. Estate agency isn’t unlike a game of snap, it’s all about matching the right house with the right buyer. It’s remembering that lady that popped in a few weeks ago and thinking ‘Mrs Smith would love this cottage.’

Finding the right house for buyers, from a phone call leading to a viewing-leading to handing them the keys a few weeks down the line, is one of my favourite things.

Chain reaction; Most people fear the thought of being in a long chain but if it’s managed properly it’s really nothing to worry about. It’s true that the longer the chain the more problems that arise but this is where my expertise comes into play. Selling your house is the easy bit. At Stacey Mann Estates we fully qualify all buyers and ALL other parties involved in the chain however long that may be. By making sure everybody is proceedable, this dramatically reduces the number of fall throughs in this area. I love sales progression, too many other agents get the sale and then put their feet up. But it’s after the offer is accepted that the hard work starts, phoning all solicitors daily if required – keeping you fully informed along the way. Communication is key in all aspects of buying and selling... that and time. Time is very much of the essence.