It doesn't do to get into issues of décor if you're an estate agent. It isn't for us to offer an opinion if a homeowner or landlord decides on an all-purple colour scheme or to take up a parquet floor in favour of some ugly lino.
Of course, these things can affect the saleability, or chances of letting, a property. How often do you see on TV or in print more obvious and basic tips for property owners, like ensure the property when viewed is clean and tidy? Or de-clutter. Or fix things that need to be fixed. Or get some fresh coffee on to create a nice smell (or do a bit of bread baking, which is that bit more extreme).
That said, we do have our own and private tastes, so we would, yes, it has to be admitted, probably prefer professionally to see good old bland magnolia painted on walls rather than anything more adventurous. A, dare we say it, bland, impersonal décor allows the viewer to not be challenged by another person's personal vision, and to be able to imagine minimal changes that could make the property a potential home to them.
Other kinds of stripes are important too. One very serious, and one entertaining. The entertaining one first. A few days ago one of our team saw the Irish Rock band, The Strypes, in Tunbridge Wells, a place which would doubtless say of stripe-painted houses, "it's not very Tunbridge Wells." The Strypes started as a school band when the members were eight years old and one wore a striped shirt. That generated a name and the Y went in as it was fashionable. They're a great band and though some people might think estate agents (and teachers) don't have a personal life and passion for things outside of property, we do, of course Ask Sam in our Bromley office about Milwall FC or Derrick in Tulse Hill about Arsenal FC, for instance. On reflection, perhaps it is for the best that they're in different offices.
The serious stripes are in Tulse Hill. Near our office is, for pedestrians, a dangerous road junction, a gyratory. Moves are afoot to plan out a new and better and safer layout. We hope that works, as we want the stripes on that road to be good and safe for our staff and the local public. We wish the planners the best with their work, and we look back to our earlier blog where someone danced on the stripes in the road, and no harm done. You can view it here.
It is interesting how things can be tied together from a single word. We don't use many to describe the values we work to. Passion. Professionalism. Innovation. Friendliness.
Edward Ashdale, your thoughtful estate agent.
You can view our earlier posts in our Index here.
