Behind the Scenes: Henny Irwin

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in London but moved to Hampshire when I was young and grew up there in a village called Highclere. My sister and I worked every summer in the castle there which is best known for Downton Abbey and the wedding of Jordan and Peter Andre.

How long have you been an estate agent for?

Just over three years. I started my career in Investor Relations and never ever thought I’d become an estate agent, but luckily I have no regrets so far!

How long have you worked for D&G?

I have been at D&G for two years; it is very refreshing to be in a company that really values its staff. The best things by far are the people and the parties!

What’s the funniest story you have from your time at Douglas & Gordon?

I once walked into a flat to find the landlord standing facing me with nothing but a T shirt on - I don’t know who went redder, me or him!

When you’re not in the office or showing people around, what do you do in your spare time? Any interesting hobbies we should know about?

I spend most of my spare time with my friends (and family if they’re lucky). I hate the gym so try to play tennis instead. I love going to new places in London – I try to force myself out of the Fulham bubble as much as I can.

What questions do you most commonly get asked by clients/customers?

What is the market like at the moment? What is the best you can do on fees?

What advice do you have for people looking to buy or rent in Notting Hill?

Make sure you visit the area during the week and at the weekend as the two are very different. When you find something you like, go for it – don’t wait for something better to come along.

What do you love about Notting Hill? What are your favourite hangouts? Where do you grab your coffee in the morning, or take a business lunch?

Portobello Road market is amazing. It has a great atmosphere on a Friday or Saturday but is even better earlier in the week when there aren’t so many tourists. Mr Christian’s on Elgin Crescent is my all-time favourite for a quick lunch and Le Petit Café on the corner of Kensington Church Street and Peel Street sorts me out on a Friday morning with a bacon butty and a huge fresh fruit smoothie

If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the property market, what would it be?

It would be great if applicants would treat viewings the same way they would any other meeting. It is improving I think, but there are still applicants out there who don’t feel it is necessary to cancel an appointment with us if they can no longer make it, or to let us know if they are running late – especially on a Saturday!