My experiences working with a major pub chain in London have been fun and wide ranging.  This awkward window in a Surrey village pub had to be durable, fireproof, pretty  and co-ordinate with the other windows in the huge room.  This was a typical brief for supplying curtains for a pub or a function room, and I have done many of these.  I have also reupholstered and supplied banquette seating, sometimes refurbished on-site.

I have also designed a ‘theatre bar’ in Richmond and been involved with choices for a major refurbishment  in Putney. 

 In addition, I have worked with architects to choose colours,  curtains and furniture for private members’ clubs and a restaurant conversion from a premises that was formerly bank.

In a highly competitive market, the job of the estate agent is made more difficult when a property does not compare favourably with other better presented ones of similar price. It can be difficult for owners to accept that a style or condition quite acceptable to them can dissuade potential purchasers. With a little help and with minimal investment, tidying up or dressing a property can help sell the property or potentially gain a better return. This helps the vendor and reflects well on the agent concerned.

I inspire confidence in clients.  They usually don’t know where to start, and an independent advisor, their very own home therapist, can rectify a situation with minimal fuss.  I also can say things that agents would like to say, but can’t. 

I can provide vendors with a checklist that either they, or myself, can implement - in which case I can sort matters out rapidly depending upon the scale of the work the client is willing to do. I can provide agents with details of my services and how  to present these to new vendors or new owners, whether this is for individual situations or as part of a longer-term relationship. Please contact me for further information.
 

Many landlords now manage their own properties, and provided a property is well maintained, and has good tenants,  problems are rare.  However landlords still have responsibilities, problems to resolve and may therefore find my services helpful as to the best or most cost-effective course of action.

it is always good to have a second opinion or quote; to ensure that favoured suppliers maintain quality and price, and that only necessary works are proposed.

Well-maintained properties are charged at the same rate as those that are a nightmare for tenant and landlord alike.  I offer a new service aimed at promoting the cash-flow from long-term tenancies for landlords interested in maximising their investment.   Problems are often only identified when tenants report faults after the damage is already done. This requires aa contractor to diagnose the fault and make the repair.  This is expensive, given minimum call out charges, and the repair work is rarely inspected so the cycle repeats itself, costing the landlord much more in the longer term.

For a reasonable quarterly fee, based on the size and condition of the property,  I will carry out one inspection per quarter. Follow-up will include a schedule of required remedial works, plus routine annual maintenance - prevention is better than cure.  Others do not offer such a service and moreover, their inspection personnel are not specialists and typically do not have my practical expertise.  My service carries less overhead and offers landlords an informed choice as to what work is urgent and how it is best done cost-effectively. When tenants realise that a landlord recognises their emotional investment in a property, they are more likely to recognise a landlord’s financial one, thus moving further into a virtuous cycle as well as saving money in the short-term.