Two of a Kind - Knight Frank

PROPERTY
Two of a Kind
Hannah Lemon meets the formidable sales duo, Arthur Lintell and
Emily Ramsay, from the Knight Frank office on Westbourne Grove
Rare rays of English summer sun are shining down on Portobello Road
as I join Arthur Lintell, Associate, and Emily Ramsay, Negotiator, outside a
quaint coffee shop. The dynamic duo, both of whom work at the Knight Frank
Notting Hill office, have been friends since joining the firm.
Arthur grew up in the area as a young child and, despite his parents
moving to the West Country, is now a Notting Hill resident himself. After
leaving the University of Reading, he got a job as a graduate for Knight
Frank and had the good fortune to work in Shanghai, the South of France
and Switzerland. His final stop on the globe was lettings in the Notting Hill
office whilst training to become a surveyor. This vast array of experience has
enabled him to effortlessly advise and refer both British and international
clients. His success did not go unnoticed by the sales team, who plucked
him from lettings where he has worked for the last three years.
The other part of the sales double act is Emily. She too worked in
lettings for about a year and a half and then transferred across. Her passion
for property started at university where she worked two days a week in the
Oxford office and, if that wasn’t enough, during the summer holidays worked
for the Baker Street office in the international department.
This formidable combination of knowledge and experience ensures
that clients receive a wealth of expert advice but also the professional and
fun attitude of two people who seriously enjoy their job and working together.
“I think it comes across to our clients,” says Arthur. “We offer a bit more of
a personal, human approach instead of the stereotype of two sales guys in
suits.” This matches the Notting Hill property climate perfectly where a large
portion of sales go to young British clients. “The perception of Notting Hill
property is that it’s only the super prime,” says Emily. “But we are really trying
to drive our end of the market, which is young, fun and lively.”
This is an ideal niche for them but they work hard and invest time
to ensure clients are happy and feel understood. They even handwrote a
Christmas card to every client that they had worked with last year – not
because they had to but because they wanted to. “We get on with a lot of
our client base,” says Arthur. “In fact some of them are friends, or even
become friends. It definitely helps living here.”
Community feel is the driving force behind the sales in Notting Hill.
People who grew up on the communal gardens or in and around the local
area may have left to go to university, follow a dream job in the city, law or
media, but they all want to return to be a part of it when they can afford to.
“You can’t help but fall in love with the area,” says Emily. “That village feel
156
is so rare now in London. Buyers are attracted to the bohemian vibe and
charm that Notting Hill has to offer and they see property here as a safe
haven for their money.”
Emily and Arthur are very much part of this community. They walk
or cycle to every viewing and pass clients and friends on their rounds.
“Business is all about building relationships,” says Arthur. “It’s a people
industry. Everyone needs an advisor. You have your wealth manager, your
stockbroker, and now with property being considered a major asset class,
you have your trusted property advisor. We’re not just an estate agent any
more. We’ve injected a bit of character, colour and personality into the role.”
Ultimately, this positive attitude helps clients achieve the best prices
for their product in an area of London that is constantly in demand. “There is
a shortage of good stock in the £1 million to £2 million bracket,” says Emily.
“With a huge number of people looking to buy at the moment, first-class
property is selling very quickly and usually going to best and final bids – some
unbelievable prices are being achieved well in excess of the guide.”
Knight Frank Notting Hill, 294 Westbourne Grove, W11 2PS
020 7229 0229
Best of British
Over the last 12 months, 70% of the buyers Knight Frank Notting Hill
have sold to have been British and 30% international.
A recent sale of an attractive two bedroom white stucco Victorian building
located on Leinster Square had:
• 44 viewings in three weeks
• 12 bids
• Best and final offers with three bidders and achieved £75,008
over the guide price (£1,846 per square foot)
• Sold to a local British buyer