Diary of a estate agent: Hampshire

A breathtaking rental needs teamwork to help get it ready for viewings... 
7 November 2018

Monday
After a weekend immersed in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, I’m on the road with my colleague Jemima to Kingsclere, to visit one of the most breathtaking rentals to launch in the county this year.

With eight bedrooms, five reception rooms, acres of garden, a swimming pool and tennis courts, Wolverton Park House is a Grade II-listed mansion and, after five years, the former tenants have departed, making way for the next custodians who are moving in.

As soon as we arrive, we are roped into helping. Jemima climbs rather a tall cabinet to hang a painting, while I attempt to find the perfect position for a marble table.

Don’t let anyone tell you that lettings isn’t hard work.

Tuesday
A two-hour phone call is first up, in which I expound the benefits of Winchester’s schools. We often find that families are drawn to the local educational opportunities, and proximity to Kings’ and Westgate at secondary level, or Peter Symonds for sixth form, are among key criteria.

Meanwhile, those with their sights on Winchester College and St Swithun’s, Farleigh and Cheam, in the private sector, often retain a house in London while renting a large property in semi-rural Hampshire for the duration of their child’s education.

Later I take a Russian family to see a house in the Cathedral Close. As the most prestigious gated community in Winchester, it offers a home from home and they are attracted to the sense of safety — whether you need it or otherwise in our rather subdued city.

Needless to say, supply is limited and demand is competitive…

Wednesday
I’m touring North Hampshire’s gorgeous towns and villages today. A do-able commute is key for our rural tenants.

Fortunately we have a selection of properties an easy journey to Basingstoke station, as well as Overton and Whitchurch. North Waltham and Chawton — the latter famous for Jane Austen’s House Museum — as well as the market towns of Alresford and Stockbridge, which are popular for their hunting, shooting and fishing, all offer a slice of quintessential country living with great pubs, walks and scenery.

Clients from London are astonished by what they can get for their money. Often you will pay the same in rent per month for a beautiful Hampshire property as you would for a week in London.

I take a very discerning couple to a five-bedroom detached house with a vast garden, guest annexe and separate laundry complete with dog bath and bed, all for £6,000 a month. I rush home at the end of the day to tell my husband we must build something similar.

Thursday
With uncertainties around Brexit, accidental landlords are making a resurgence on our patch.

In many regards this is great for the lettings market, which has experienced a slew of high-end stock coming to market, and my day is spent on viewings, with swoon-worthy interiors sealing the deal for a number of tenants.

Friday
After a career working in lettings, I have the luxury of a four-day week and a wonderful team who keep operations ticking over while I focus on the family on Fridays.

I keep an eye on emails, though, and see that there is lots of activity coming in via our corporate relocation agents, many of whom are bringing employees over from the US to work for ExxonMobil, a major employer in Hampshire.

My team have great fun matchmaking sprawling family houses to the requirements of the senior execs.

At 3.30pm I take a call from a consultant who is about to start at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Although I’m not working, I have just the bachelor pad for him — a modern two-bedroom flat at £1,275 a month.

I arrange for him to view it before the weekend, and soon hear that he loves it and has signed on the line. I email the team to thank them all before switching off the mobile and picking up a glass of rioja in front of the fire.

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