Behind the Scenes: Poppy Henderson
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Whereabouts do you live now?
I am 23 years old and mainly grew up in North Dorset but spent the first five years of my life in Hong Kong. I am now living in Fulham and have lived in London for three years.
How long have you been an estate agent for?
I have been a negotiator for about a year now.
How long have you worked for D&G? What’s the greatest thing about working for them?
I have now been at D&G for over two years. I started out as a team assistant in Battersea Park. D&G is a great company to work for – I like all the people, we get looked after and if you work hard there is plenty of scope for new opportunities and promotion.
What’s the funniest story you have from your time at Douglas & Gordon?
I think my most recent encounter was locking myself out of a house and elegantly having to climb over a neighbour’s wall in heels and a dress. We all got the worst giggles, which made it much more difficult and embarrassing.
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?
When I am in London I enjoy going out with my friends and I am a real foodie. I love eating out and trying new places, as well as cooking at home. My family live on a farm in Dorset so I spend some of my weekends there. My father is a trainer and my brother a jockey, so in the season I go racing every now and then to support. I absolutely love Cornwall, and in the winter I like to fit in a week skiing.
What questions do you most commonly get asked by clients/customers?
They can vary but the most common questions are:
Customers:
- What position is the vendor in?
- What price is your client willing to accept?
- If I am a cash buyer does that give me an advantage?
Clients:
- What position is your buyer in?
- How do we get more money out of them?
What advice do you have for people looking to buy or rent in Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush?
It is essential to be very open-minded and get out and view as much as possible – there is an amazing amount of variety in the area, so you never know what gem you might find.
What do you love about Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush?
I like the diverse community – you never know what you going to get. Shepherd’s Bush has a wonderful sense of community with the market and local businesses. The area has some great schools so some parts can be quite family orientated, which is also something I enjoy. I would say the Brackenbury Deli in Brackenbury Village is a great place for food and coffee, as well the Ginger Pig butcher on Askew Road. There are also some really lovely pubs and good restaurants that are definitely worth a try.
What would you say to anyone looking to move into the area?
Obviously go for it! There are great transport links into central London, so it’s very easy to get everywhere. In Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush, you have everything at your fingertips.
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the property market, what would it be?
Get more houses on the market – there are a lot of good buyers out there, ready and waiting.
For more information on selling and buying property in Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush, you can contact Poppy on phenderson@dng.co.uk