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The Coronavirus Situation: Following Government Advice & Allowing Property Viewings to take place again

Delighted might be too flippant a word to use today, at a time when there is still much justified anxiety around the coronavirus situation, but as an estate agent we are definitely relieved that viewings on properties can take place once again, now with social distancing in place.

As a rather unique, online agent, our day-to-day working at Bromley Property Company hasn’t changed since lockdown began: we don’t have an office premises to shut, or staff to unfortunately furlough like many high street agencies have had to. We have been able to carry on with processing house moves our end, as well as conducting online valuations, marketing of properties and our popular ‘vendor video tours’.

We’ve still had a large number of enquiries, both for people keen on properties that we’ve currently got on the market, and also for others who are chomping at the bit to get their place ‘for sale’ and to get moving. We are reassured by this, and it shows that overall the property market should recover relatively quickly over the coming year.

Judging by the number of enquiries we’ve had during lockdown, we suspect that all this extra time at home has made many people reevaluate what they want from a property, and encourage people to move.

Nothing like staring at the same 4 walls for 8 weeks to get you ‘window shopping’ for that dream home!

What has been tricky for us has been the fact that not all surveyors have been operating, meaning a slow down in the process for some chains, plus being unable to conduct viewings in person has obviously been a huge factor in people making offers on properties. We have had huge levels of interest in our vendor video tours, as well as people asking for online tours of certain properties not already featured (which has been great news!), but nothing beats seeing a property ‘in the flesh’.

So how are we going to ensure viewings are safe?

Obviously we need to ensure that social distancing is upheld within any property, and are looking to adhere to the following government advice that has been published within the past 24 hours:

  • We will be asking whether any party is showing symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate before going ahead with any viewing.
  • We will be operating using an appointment system for conducting viewings.
  • We will not be carrying out any open house viewings.
  • We will strongly encourage our clients to view properties virtually in the first instance via our vendor video tours if possible, and then only physically inspect properties which they have a strong interest in.
  • We will accompany physical viewings if requested and seek to maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from others wherever possible. Where social distancing is not possible and the visit is within an enclosed space, we will wear face coverings in line with government guidance.
  • When and if we do not accompany a visit, we will make sure that both buyers and sellers clearly understand how the viewing should be conducted safely.
  • All parties viewing a property should wash their hands with soap and water (or hand sanitiser if not available) immediately after entering the properties, with internal doors opened and surfaces having been wiped down before they enter. Separate towels or paper towels should be used if possible and washed or disposed of safely after use.
  • We will do what we can to promote flexibility when arranging move dates, for example advising our clients to ensure contracts have explicit terms to manage the timing risks presented by coronavirus.
  • We will work with our clients and other agents to broker a new date to move where sales are due to complete and one of the parties falls ill with coronavirus or has to self-isolate.
  • We will ensure that any keys are appropriately cleaned before handover.

As well as the above we would also be happy for vendors to stay outside their property whilst a viewing is conducted (eg in the garden) if they would feel more comfortable doing so. Our official, professional photographer will also be adhering to the above.

Whilst we want to get things moving again, we want everyone to be safe and happy, and hopefully with the above in place we can achieve this.

If you have any questions about a viewing on one of our current properties, or you’d like a valuation on your current one, then please do give us a call and we can help.

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Lewis McKale

Director, Residential Sales, Lettings & New Homes

lewis@propertycompanygroup.com

lewis@bromleypropertycompany.com

07507 656 668

020 8462 7155

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Lewis has over 20 years experience in the property industry. As a young negotiator he worked for large South East London Estate Agency and he also worked his way up to Associate Director at a City based Estate Agency by the time he was 25.

He jointly owned and sold a successful business in the East End of London before deciding to come back to his roots and set up Bromley Property Company in late 2016.

Lewis is a life long Bromley Borough resident and hails from West Wickham where he attended Wickham Common Primary School and then Hayes Secondary School.

He's married with three children, all of whom attend local schools. Both himself and his wife are very active with local autistic charities helping with various events.

Football plays a big part in his life, playing for Charlton Athletic youth team in his early days and he is an avid supporter of Bromley FC.

The competitive drive that pushes him on is what helps fuel his passion for the business. This and his in-depth knowledge of the borough is a great combination which helps deliver the results his clients have come to expect.

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Kyle Peters

Director, Land & Commercial

kyle@propertycompanygroup.com

020 8462 7155

07801 577 782

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In a career spanning more than 20 years Kyle has bought, sold and let Real Estate of all types and sizes in every sector of property industry. Throughout this time he was a long serving founder member of one of the South East’s most successful Commercial & Development property agencies. In addition to a successful agency career he has held senior client-side positions in asset & property management and investment and development acquisitions affording Kyle a holistic viewpoint and greater understanding of the entire process than some agents.

Technically knowledgeable and with a keen eye for detail he has a deep understanding of how to effectively market a property and revels in getting amongst the strategy of a transaction to ensure his clients expectations are regularly exceeded.

With a natural flair for identifying development opportunities and adding value Kyle works regularly with a number of clients on acquisitions and development & planning consultancy and has specialisms in the retirement, care and affordable housing sectors.

Born and raised in the Bromley area, outside of work Kyle enjoys spending as much time as possible with his young family, travelling and all things car related.

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Stuart Jackson

Sales & Lettings

stuart@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Stuart has worked in the property industry for 10 years now.

Previously working in the East End of London specialising in Shoreditch and The City but deciding to come back to his roots and work in Bromley, Stuart brings his enthusiasm, knowledge and hard work to the company and local Bromley residents will all benefit from this.

Stuart is also a local lad that grew up in Keston, attending Keston Primary School and Hayes Secondary School so his local knowledge is second to none. Currently living in Shortlands Stuart prides himself on his excellent customer service levels and is always available to talk about property and will accommodate viewings whenever he can 7 days a week.

Stuart works very close with Lewis in ensuring that Bromley Property Company offer a customer service unlike any other local estate agent making sure all of our clients be it Vendors, Landlords, Buyers or Tenants are all looked after and dealt with in the best way possible.

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Angela McKale

Admin & Marketing
 

angela@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Angela has worked supporting Lewis and his team for the last 5 years now and has taken the admin side of the business over and helps to ensure that our clients are given a service that is as efficient as possible.

She is responsible for that majority of the companies marketing and she also looks after the properties on our website as well as ensuring our clients are written to promptly.

Helping to run diaries for the team and ensuring everyone is kept on their toes is a real help and she helps keep things organised and ensures the business runs as efficiently as possible.

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Trevor Doran

Head of Property Management

management@bromleypropertycompany.com

07740 055 025

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Trevor has over 30 years’ experience in maintaining and managing properties.
20 years in the home improvement industry rising to director level served him well as a landlord and since 2009 owning and running his own business specialising purely in property letting and management.
A lifelong Bromley borough resident Trevor runs Bromley Property Company’s letting and management department and continues to operate at the highest possible levels of professionalism and service as the portfolio grows.
Sport and fitness play a big part in Trevor’s life as he tries to keep up with two athletic children currently in sixth form and university. He also follows the fortunes of the ever-improving Bromley FC.

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Amy has worked in Lettings and property management for 10 years starting as a Lettings Negotiator for a corporate Estate Agents in Dartford.

She then worked for an independent Estate Agent in Bexley as a Property Manager and then as Branch Manager for 3 years.

She took some time out when she had her daughter and started working again in Property Management 3 years ago.

Amy has a BA (Hons) Degree in Fashion and enjoys making clothes and she is also classically trained to Grade 6 in Piano.

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Becky Freeman

Digital Marketing & Social Media

becky@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Becky brings with her nearly a decade of digital marketing and multi-award nominated lifestyle blogging experience, and has worked with both household names and smaller companies to create content and enhance their social and online presence. She has appeared in various Interiors & lifestyle magazines, written for publications including The Guardian, and appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas’ winning her category of Christmas table styling!

After a disappointing experience trying to sell her house with a local high street agent, West Wickham-based Becky had heard great things about Bromley Property Company, swapped to us and quickly sold, and says she couldn't rate Lewis and his team's knowledge of the area and honest valuation highly enough.

As a bit of a property geek with a background in both business and lifestyle marketing, Becky is now on board to oversee all things digital for us through her agency Becky Freeman Digital.

Living and raising 3 children in the local area, Becky loves Bromley and all it has to offer a young family.

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Mary Radovanovich

MAAT, MICB PM.Dip., Accounts
 

mary@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Mary has been in the accounting industry for over 23 years and has a license with the AAT and ICB. Mary prides herself on excellent customer service and strongly believes in building a close working relationship with her clients.

Mary deals with the invoice payments and tax for the group as well as assisting with all aspects of accounting.