Behind the Scenes: Sophie Carter

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Whereabouts do you live now?

I grew up in Gloucestershire and now live in Oxford.

How long have you been an estate agent for?

I’ve been an agent for 8 years now.

How long have you worked for D&G? What’s the greatest thing about working for them?

I’ve worked for D&G for 8 years! The greatest thing? It has to be the people. Management care and they encourage you. There’s a sense of team spirit within every office. It promotes job satisfaction and loyalty to the company.

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

Does it count if it’s from an office night out?

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?

A bit of cooking, a spot of yoga and jumping about to live music!

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

I draw up the paperwork for new tenancies, so it would usually be a question about a lease.

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

Don’t rule out seeing a property because it doesn’t have the exact criteria you’re after. Compromising on one aspect may mean you end up benefitting from something else entirely. Listen to the negotiators; they don’t want to waste your time or their own. They want to help you find a property you love.

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

Honestly, I don’t know where to begin! Chelsea offers its residents a bit of everything. All the best shops on their door step, fantastic restaurants, great transport links, good schools, the Saatchi gallery… the list is endless. My favourite place is Chelsea Green – if you’ve seen it, you’ll know why. There are local green grocers, boutique shops and ‘Pie Man’ (you haven’t lived until you’ve tried their sausages).

What would you say to anyone looking to move into the area?

Don’t just stick to the King’s Road. Chelsea has so much more to offer. Now we’re approaching summer, why not visit St Luke’s Gardens or the Chelsea Physic Garden? If you need to entertain small people, the ‘Kids Zone’ at the National Army Museum is a firm favourite.

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

Agents who are instructed because they give the highest valuation. Landlords are often blinded with an unrealistic figure. This can waste valuable marketing time and result in an empty property or loss of rent.