Sophie Bridges is a Negotiator at the Propertymark Protected agency, CGT Lettings. Part of Sophie’s job is showing people new properties, answering their questions, and helping them find and move into their dream home. But this process can be more challenging for certain home-hunters.
Recently, a lady got in touch with Sophie on behalf of two gentlemen in their late twenties who were looking for a property with two double bedrooms and two bathrooms. Sophie took the men’s details from the lady and registered them for a viewing of a two-bedroom apartment. The property had a master bedroom with an en suite, as well as a separate bathroom, which Sophie felt suited their requirements perfectly.
When meeting at the property, the lady introduced herself to Sophie as being an ‘enabler’ for the two gentlemen. She worked for the council and was there to help them with the house hunting process. Sophie says: “The lady explained to me how she was essentially the men’s first point of contact. She was getting in touch on their behalf, as this was something that the men felt they struggled with.
“When at the viewing, the men were extremely shy and reserved, so I did my best to make them feel as comfortable as possible. It seemed that their concerns stemmed more from the unknown. They didn’t understand the property market or how to go about renting a property. Having an enabler with them helped them to get the process started and understand more about how the process worked.”
The gentlemen really liked the property Sophie had shown them, so – with the help of their enabler – they submitted an application. Sophie explains: “After receiving the application for the property, the enabler said that all further contact was then to be with the tenants themselves.
“It’s a great feeling to be able to help people live more independently”
“I could sense the two tenants were still a bit nervous, so I talked them through the process from start to finish so that they knew what to expect. I explained to them how to do things like signing their contract on DocuSign, and spent a lot of time going through it with them to ensure they understood everything fully.
“Every time a new document was uploaded, or if something was needed from them, I would call to make them aware of what was happening and how to deal with it. Since the start of the process, I had provided them with my mobile number and told them if they had any questions or weren’t sure about anything that they could call me and I would help them through it.”
Thanks to Sophie’s help, the two men are now settled in their new home. “It was really great to see how happy they were to move into their new home,” Sophie explains. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of finding the right home for tenants, especially because demand is extremely high at the moment and a lot of people have viewed and been turned down for multiple properties already. It’s really rewarding to help those with additional requirements live independently in their ideal home.”
CGT Lettings is an agency that’s happy to help. Sophie talks about how their agents will always try to go the extra mile: “We provide all potential tenants with as much information about the property as possible. If they have any specific needs or extra requirements, we do everything within our power to meet these.
“Even if it comes down to taking extra time at the viewing to ensure people understand the entire process and what is expected of them, we’re happy to answer any questions they have to ensure that they feel comfortable and supported.”
When asked what advice she’d give to any home-hunters with accessibility requirements or additional needs, Sophie says: “Speak with the agent renting out the property to see if your requirements are something that can be met. It helps to be upfront and honest about any additional needs you may have so the agent can assist you properly. All reputable agents have a good relationship with the landlords of the properties, so they’ll be able to tell you if it’s possible to meet your requirements.”
Sophie also adds how important it is to make sure that you’re using a legitimate agent: “I’d recommend finding a Propertymark Protected agent. This ensures that your agent is dedicated to promoting the highest industry standards and will be giving you up-to-date advice and guidance.”
The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service, designed to support those who need a little extra help in the event of interruptions to their gas, water or electricity supply.
If you or someone you know has extra communication, access or safety needs, signing up to the PSR will help you to access the best possible service at all times and to feel safe and independent at home.
