1. What geographical areas do you work in and what are your specialities? 
I cover the South Brent area, including the small villages and hamlets towards Totnes, i.e. Avonwick, Rattery, Diptford etc, as well as the wider South Hams area in relation to agricultural properties. I tend to deal with both Residential and Agricultural property.
2. When did you first think of yourself as an Estate Agent?
I’m not sure I do think of myself as an Estate Agent, in fact I’d rather refer to myself as working in Property Sales. Estate Agents have a poor reputation, and I very rarely tell people that I’m an Estate Agent.
3. What other jobs have you had and were they relevant to this career?
Having only worked in property for 7 years, and all of that time spent with Luscombe Maye, I have never had another career, Saturday jobs Yes, but full time employment, No. I joined Luscombe Maye immediately after completing my degree in Agriculture, and nothing I studied during my time was relevant to working in Property Sales. Since then I have completed various courses to improve my knowledge.
4. How do you compare yourself now, as an Estate Agent, to when you first began?
During the 7 years working for Luscombe Maye, I have progressed from Office Assistant to Branch Manger in the South Brent Property Office, and as you would expect my knowledge of the subject has grown over the years. Completing various courses through the NAEA has broadened my knowledge, especially in relation to the Legislation that governs Estate Agency.
5. How has the job itself changed over the years? Can you give a couple of specific examples?
Again, I only have a short time to compare the changes, but certainly the one I refer to the most is the use of technology, whether that is having digital cameras where we can download pictures immediately rather than developing them and then scanning the photos, or by using a laser measure rather than a tape measure. All these improvements make taking property details far quicker, and it is now only necessary for one person to take details, rather than the two that used to go.
6. What is it about the job that keeps you doing it after all this time?
I enjoy working in property sales, and in particular from the South Brent Office because day to day the work is so varied; I can be looking at a 2 bed mid terrace house in the village one day, and the next walking a small holding close to Slapton. I’m not sure I would be completely satisfied if I did the same job in a large town or city.
7. How will the cuts that we expect the Government to make in 2010 affect the housing market, in your opinion?
The budget that was due on 22nd June was not nearly as severe as we were all led to believe, and therefore a number of buyers and sellers came back to the market with increased confidence. Now however, the media are predicating a drop in prices, and traditionally July and August can be quiet months, it will be difficult to predict what September and the new budget in October will bring. At the end of the day, people still have to move, and properties will still sell. Vendors just might have to readjust their expectations regarding values, although if it is happening to their property, it should also be happening to the one they are buying.
8. Best moment? Most embarrassing moment?
I don’t have any embarrassing moments I’m afraid, I haven’t really been in the job long enough. My best moment, I suppose has to be achieving a sale on a property at the asking price within 2 days of it coming to the market with us, when another agent had failed to sell it after 10 months. We didn’t dramatically reduce the price, in fact we actually increased it. Within 3 weeks of agreeing the sale, exchange had occurred, and the clients are completely satisfied and able to move on with their lives.
9. Do Estate Agents deserve the bad reputation that they sometimes have?
I certainly think there are still agents out there who do deserve the poor reputation. I would like to think that we give clients a good professional service, but I do know there are agents out there who are known to bully their clients into submission.
10. What would you change about the housing market if you were Prime minister?
If I was PM I would certainly change the Stamp Duty thresholds. I think it’s time to up the £250,000 and the £500,000 thresholds.