The client:
Emigrating couple
The background:
When Chloe Buckle, a pilot for a major global airline, fell pregnant with her second child, she had the opportunity to continue her employment with the business via a ground role.
Though, without a large family network around her to support Chloe’s growing family, she was unsure about the viability of managing a job and two children. However, things were different for her Spanish partner, Raul, who had a large network of family in and around Alicante, all of whom were more than willing to help out.
Towards the end of 2024, after the airline had offered Chloe a ground role in Alicante, Chloe and Raul decided to trial living in Spain. But first, they would have to rent out their two-bedroom cottage in Blackheath that they had purchased in 2019.
The challenge:
Firstly, given how the move to Spain would be made on a trial basis, Chloe and Raul wanted to leave the house with all of its contents in it – even the cutlery. Consequently, the property would need to be let on a fully furnished basis.
Secondly, as the trial would only be for six months, they both wanted the option of returning to their home if they decided that relocating overseas wasn’t right for them. As a result, the rental window was short.
Finally, Chloe and Raul would be leaving in January 2025, which meant that the prospective tenant would need to be searching during the Christmas period, which is historically a time where people choose not to move.
Chloe had carried out a considerable amount of research into the best estate agent to use in the area, even creating a spreadsheet detailing the pros and cons of each, and had shortlisted six estate agencies to choose from when she found Warren Powell-Richards online.
After reading Google Reviews for Simon Greenwood, Senior Lettings Manager at the Godalming officer, which she found meaningful and personal, she arranged to meet with him. Following the meeting, during which they both got on well, she immediately chose to go with Simon and the Warren Powell-Richards team.
“Chloe had carried out extensive research into several estate agents operating in the area, many of which were the larger national brands, so I was delighted when she ultimately chose Warren Powell-Richards. Given the fully furnished nature of the property, the short letting window and the fact that we were heading towards the festive season, it wasn’t an easy brief. However, I’m glad to say that we hit it and allowed Chloe and Raul to embark on their new adventure.”
Simon Greenwood, Senior Lettings Manager at Warren Powell-Richards in Godalming
The result:
The unique qualities of the brief meant that the pool of prospective tenants was much smaller than it would have been if the property was unfurnished and had an open-ended tenancy window. The festive period also made it particularly challenging.
At one point, Chloe took a call from a competing agent – who was unaware of her agreement with Warren Powell-Richards – with an offer from someone moving to the area from America, but she turned it down as she wanted to remain loyal to Simon and his team.
Shortly after, Simon began speaking with a homeowner who lived only 10 minutes away from Chloe and Raul’s property, whose property had succumbed to flooding, and who had to vacate it for six months whilst it was being repaired. Not only that, but the let would be required in January – the exact point at which Chloe and Raul were booked to fly to Spain.
After agreeing the let, Chloe, Raul and their two children left for Spain knowing that their property was secure and that it was generating an income whilst they were away.
As Chloe says:
“I went with Warren Powell-Richards as a result of the relationship I had with Simon, and I’m so glad that I did. Even when the competing agent made an offer, Simon remained supportive, saying that he wanted the best for me and my family and great tenants were only one call away, which they were.
On a shared parental leave scheme, Raul and I are now able to stay and work in Spain for much longer than six months, so it looks like the move is going to be more long-term. Naturally, we’ll be using Simon and his team to continue managing our property.”
Chloe Buckle
Thinking of letting a property in Godalming or the surrounding areas? Why not get in touch with our Godalming office on 01483 478200 or email [email protected] to arrange a valuation. Alternatively, locate your nearest Warren Powell-Richards office here.
