I’ve been in property for almost longer than I can remember. In those early days you could buy a 2-bedroom flat in one of Highgate’s premiere roads for around £30,000 and a detached house in one of the best roads for around £150,000. Those were the pre decimal days when there were 240d (pennies) to the pound and we’d collect our sixpences (2½pence in today’s money) in a wired dimpled whisky bottle!
It was only when I left school that I developed a hunger for learning. That hunger has remained with me throughout my life and that, together with all the incredible experiences I have had throughout, I am happy to talk easily and confidently about many topics. The university of life has been kind to me. Although I started my career learning about residential property, circumstances allowed me to develop an interest in commercial property, offices, industrial estates, retail and even car parks.
After a number of years learning these completely new skills, I have represented and advised both vendors and purchasers on many substantial buildings both in The City, the West End, the suburbs of London and beyond. I’m now at an age where I know just a little more than the fresh-faced boy who left school at 16 but, apart from the ever so slightly less-youthful looks, I still have all his enthusiasm.
In 1975 I started my career in estate agency, in fact, in the office in Highgate, where Day Morris practice now.
In 1979 I moved on to Druce & Co where I became a partner and worked until 1989.
In 1990 we established Day Morris in Hampstead and we opened our Highgate office in 2000 which is where I have been based ever since thereby completing the full circle.
During my fifty-one years in estate agency, I have sold flats for as little as £11,250 and the famous Witanhurst with its seven acres of land at the summit of Highgate West Hill.
At the time it was the second largest house in London after Buckingham Palace.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the industry and am grateful to have made so many great friends and client connections over my many years in the business.
Over fifty years ago I joined the old established firm of Estate Agents, Sturt & Tivendale, here in Highgate and am the most experienced Estate Agent in the area. That was back in the day when petrol cost 32p a gallon (approx. 7p per litre) and I drove a Ford Anglia. My early duties seemed to involve printing plenty of details on the old Roneo duplicator, folding them in a manual folding machine, and much sending of property particulars by post.
In 1988, the old agency joined the Black Horse group (the second firm), part of national Bank, and ten years later was purchased by Bradford & Bingley (the third firm), a Building Society. In late 2000, the office became part of Day Morris (the fourth firm), an independent company handling business in much the same way as the original company. In total, I have worked here over five decades with four firms but basically one job. Nowadays there are many more Estate Agents here, in 1969 there were just three.
Recessions may have come and gone over the years but what is certain is that property prices have increased incredibly. In the early days we had houses for sale in Sheldon Avenue and Stormont Road for £35,000 to £40,000. They would today be £7 to 8 million. Highgate has long been the place of choice for the rich and famous to live and is the location of Witanhurst, a grade II listed mansion, the second largest private residence in London after Buckingham Palace.
It has been a pleasure working here for the past fifty years, amazing where the years go, during that time I have been involved in selling thousands of homes and meeting many wonderful people.