In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Matt Morgan and Deb Lee are joined once again by returning guest Andrew Downing-Booth - local estate agent, self-confessed non-wine-drinker and provider of this episode's mystery bottle.
Recorded live at Chung Ying in Birmingham with dinner waiting downstairs, episode 31 covers the unexpected hazards of the estate agency trade, the etiquette of double-barrelled surnames and a mystery bottle that turned out to be considerably better than anyone expected. Andrew also brings a story about a loft, some unexplained items and an uncle who may or may not have some explaining to do.
Key Takeaways
Estate agency is a job built on highs, lows and managing expectations.
Overvaluing a property to win the listing is one of the industry's worst habits - sellers get locked in, prices drop and nobody wins. Andrew's approach is no tie-in contracts and honest valuations from the start.
Fall-throughs are the worst part of the job - for everyone involved.
When a sale collapses, it hurts the agent just as much as the client. The phone call to deliver that news is genuinely one of the hardest things about the role.
There are sex toys in a loft in Lichfield and nobody is claiming them.
Current tenants found them during a contractor visit, confirmed they are not theirs, and want it on record. Andrew has volunteered to retrieve them before the property goes back to market. His uncle may be getting an interesting call.
Double-barrelled names come with built-in assumptions.
Andrew's name comes from his grandmother's farming family keeping the Downing name alive through marriage. He acknowledges prejudice exists. Jacob Rees-Mogg was used as the prime example of why.
Key Moments
\"They're not ours. Just for the record. When we move out, they are not ours.\"
\"You can tell people whatever they want to hear for 36 weeks and then just keep dropping the price.\"
\"You make an assumption from the name, then how he speaks, and you just think - prick.\"
About Cabernet Queens
Cabernet Queens is the podcast where great wine meets even better stories. Each episode, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee uncork a mystery bottle, share travel tales and take listeners along for the ride.
Part wine show, part travel podcast, part catch-up between two brilliant friends - grab a glass and drink along.
How to Get in Touch
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Instagram: @cabernetqueens
Guest this episode: Andrew Downing-Booth - Estate Agent, Lichfield
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