About Us
There are plenty of estate agents on the Isle of Wight – so why are more and more people choosing to sell, buy, auction or let their property through Laurie Calloway?
Well, Laurie is an Islander born and bred. Both his family and that of his wife, Heather, go back many generations on the Island. The phrase ‘local knowledge’ could have been coined with them in mind.
This counts for a lot in a community where people soon learn to trust their own when it comes to business.
But there is much more to the service Laurie offers than a deep knowledge of the Island and its residents, and who better to ask than the man himself?
How long have you been involved in estate agency on the Isle of Wight?
For well over 15 years. I began by working for one of the Island’s bigger agencies, but eventually decided that I had plenty to offer in my own right. Heather and I decided to launch our own business and I’m delighted to say that it worked right from the start.
Why do you think that is?
There are a number of reasons. Firstly, we have many extended family members, friends and contacts on the Island. This meant that we had a head start when friends of friends decided to sell their house. Many of them thought of us first when it came to putting their property on the market, and things began to build from there. Customers I had dealt with in previous transactions also returned and recommended us to others. Word-of-mouth is very important in a community like the Isle of Wight, but that makes it even more important to offer people an exceptional personal service. If you don’t offer people value for money, word can spread very quickly as well!
You are based in a fully-equipped office at your home in Arreton. Why didn’t you opt for an office presence in somewhere like Newport, where most of the Island’s estate agents are based?
In my view, estate agency is not a business based on passing trade. I knew from personal experience that the number of people who pass an estate agents and decide on the spur of the moment to buy or sell their property is extremely low. Deliberations tend to take place over a relatively long period of time, and once the decision has been made people tend to seek out an agent via personal recommendation, the local press or the internet. The fact is our business has not been affected in the slightest by our not having an office presence in an Island town. After all, Arreton is virtually in the centre of the Island – and that makes it accessible to the maximum number of people!
What can your business offer that others can’t?
People tend to think that one estate agency is much like another, but I don’t think that’s true. Clients like to be able to maintain a chain of contact once they embark upon one of the most important decisions of their lives. When they contact us there’s a fair chance I’ll be the one who picks up the phone. This is especially important, because people realise right from the start that the head of the company is taking a direct interest in the business they wish to conduct with us. If I’m not available, we have a small, close-knit team and we keep each other informed at all times. This means that whenever clients contact us they can be sure that we are all aware of their details and requirements. As far as we’re concerned, personal service means exactly what it says.
Can clients contact you at any time?
We are here to do our best for people. If they need to speak to us after normal office hours or throughout the weekend they are welcome to do so.
Don’t you deal specifically in rural properties?
Not at all! We are happy to market any type of property, big or small, rural or suburban. We have a large cross-section of property on our books at any given time, as well as several new developments.
To what extent do you embrace new technology?
The internet is becoming hugely important, and with this in mind we have just redesigned our website to make it more accessible. It is continually updated as properties come on to our books and the number of visits being made to the site is growing all the time. It is our window on the business world.
Does your business also have a lettings department?
We are happy to help our clients in this respect and lettings are handled in association with another Island agency which has a dedicated lettings department.
Do you offer any other service?
Yes. We are happy to help clients in their attempts to acquire planning permission for their garden or some other plot of land. I will personally discuss their hopes and aspirations and contact the planning department on their behalf. If it is possible to take a project forward I will also help them with their planning application, choice of architect or any other issues that may arise. We also offer formal valuation services connected with inheritance tax, matrimonial matters etc, as well as auction services on a wide variety of properties.