Elizabeth Davenport, Coventry office is run by George Hartshorn, a member of the National Association of Estate Agents. George set up the office in 2009 with his Dad, Chris Hartshorn. Chris is a Chartered Surveyor and first worked in Estate Agency in the Coventry area in the early 1960s. He valued his first house in 1961 at £700.
Times have changed a little since 1961 but as George says, "Having Dad there to call upon half a century of experience really makes a difference. His wealth of knowledge is invaluable to the business and to our customers."
"No Targets" is the simple answer from George. "Our goal from each job is a satisfied customer, one that is likely to go off and recommend us to their friends and family. Sales Targets are not healthy for our customers and so we don't have them. So for instance if we think that its not in the interest of a potential client to put their property on the market then we advise them that this is the case. We don't put their house on sale at the wrong price just to achieve a monthly target. That's the difference between us and some other Estate Agents."
Call the office at Elizabeth Davenport and you will always get through to either George, Chris or Charlotte. As George says, "I always give my mobile number to clients so they can call me directly at any time to check on progress. We've found that customers feel more comfortable and informed if they can always get through to the same person; they don't have to keep repeating themselves. I go out to the initial valuation to meet the client, I then go back and take the photos and I then deal with viewings and offers and keep the client informed right up until completion. Many of our clients have never called the office number, they just call me on my mobile!"
Elizabeth is George's older sister: "Liz is normally based at her West End office in London so isn't involved in the Coventry set-up. However, we've benefitted greatly from the name and are proud of it. Potential buyers are more trusting of a female name and sometimes this can clinch the deal for us. It's been a revelation as all the other Estate Agents in the Coventry or Warwickshire area generally have masculine names. It gives us an edge."