Diary of an estate agent: Chelsea

Monday

Having helped out at a Pimm’s-fuelled Bolton Gardens fête on Saturday, it seems Monday is here all too quickly. In typical British fashion, my reaction to the latest heatwave is to spend all day complaining how unbearable it is.

A memo reminding us that we must keep our ties on increases my temperature.

I have two pending sales in Fernshaw Road and Harcourt Terrace, both of which need to exchange contracts this week.

This is make or break and may prove to be the difference between two weeks in Menorca or a long weekend on a pebbly English beach for my summer holiday.

Tuesday

In the current market, I’m working hard to maintain deal momentum and speed up exchanges for my clients — and nothing focuses the mind like a potential holiday. All solicitors are on speed dial and getting bored with my incessant calls.

This afternoon I check that funds are in place and both deals ready to exchange. With luck they’ll get across the line tomorrow, easing my stress levels in the process.

A “company bonding exercise” this evening consists of a Thames boat cruise and a cocktail masterclass — hard work on a moving vessel but we make a decent fist of it.

Wednesday

Double disaster strikes. An 11th-hour issue with planning permission on Fernshaw Road rears its ugly head. This is followed by a call from the Harcourt Terrace solicitor telling me the mortgage offer is not yet in place.

What a difference a day makes… this looks to have scuppered the exchange on both deals this week and leaves me seeking divine intervention.

A barrage of calls to the bank appears to chivvy them along and it seems a mortgage offer will be in place by Friday morning. Not a lot of wiggle room there.

However, the indemnity insurance is denied by a high street insurer for the other property, so I put in a call to our specialist brokers RK Harrison who think they might be able to help. This is the last chance saloon.

I have been given a couple of tickets to an Ed Sheeran concert tomorrow night but haven’t got a date. Luckily I’m off to our London residential team party this evening in Belgrave Square so will try my luck there.

Thursday

Despite a slightly sore head, the sunshine makes for a great start to the day. This is further improved by an insurance offer sourced from RK Harrison. Rabbit out of a hat.

I immediately send this over to the buyers and they want to read through it overnight. Everything is now on the line for Friday — the miracle could still happen. With a new acquaintance in tow, I catch the Thames Clipper up to the O2. What an evening.

Friday

Ed Sheeran seems like a distant memory and I feel sick to my stomach. My Fernshaw Road client has a rental offer on the property and will go with it if we do not get it exchanged today. I have eight hours to make this work.

Solicitors seem to be playing telephone tag with each other all day. Final points are amended as the hours tick by. How is it 5pm, and why hasn’t it happened?

I successfully plead with one solicitor to stay an extra half hour before heading off for their well-earned weekend. Finally at 5.45, within five minutes of each other, I get confirmation that both sales have exchanged.

Happy clients and huge relief. I get a wave of job satisfaction and a self-indulgent moment wondering how anyone sells a property without an estate agent.

With a grin on my face, my thoughts turn to having a flutter at the races tomorrow…