The Unusual Agent

We don't advertise much in the real world as you will know, because we believe that the internet is a much more powerful tool than any paper advertising and way more economical too.

We get at least 2 estate agent invitations through our door at home each month and they go straight in our recycling box. I'm sure most people throw them away and I really don't want to spend money on stuff which will end up in a bin. It's bad for my green credentials and it's bad for our tenants and landlords because we try to keep costs low so they don't have to pay huge fees.

Which reminds me of one of our paper adverts which went to print before I had added one vital line. It said Who is paying for all the fancy offices? Landlords You Are! It should have had a little line underneath 'See the difference at bdea.co.uk' Oooooops!

My so called friends in the lettings business laughed almost as much as they had when I was on the front page of the Property Weekly a few years ago and they faxed me copies of the photo with glasses drawn on me and one really awful one with the label Ming the Merciless!

Our phone rings red hot all day most days except between about 3 and 4.30 in the afternoon which is when I put the kettle on and talk to my office neighbours over a cup of tea.

One afternoon at just that cup of tea- time I had a call this week from the guys in the advertising section of the Property Weekly (try their interactive paper) and they told me that Bluedoor is the only agent who has ever advertised in the paper without a photo of a property. They thought it was unusual and had called to ask why. I have no idea other than our adverts are so cool that a picture of a house in the middle of one would look odd.

If even ad executives think we are unusual we must be on to something.

Builders, who'd 'ave 'em?

I met a landlord at a brand new property yesterday and instead of being greeted by a smiling face I found him hopping mad.

'There's a stool in the bathroom' he said.
'Oh, that's useful for a bathroom isn't it?' said I wondering what had got him so angry.
'No, a STOOL, a sh*t' he shouts and I finally got it.
'Bloody builders taking bloody liberties' he ranted.

Lost for a suitable reply I said 'The toilet works ok doesn't it? Shall I check?'

And there it was with no sign of toilet paper either. Ewwww.

In my professional capacity I have only needed to use a vendor's toilet once and I can assure you that I asked for her permission, used the outside toilet and went to great lengths to ensure that it would be as if I had never been there.

My dad was a builder and used to think nothing of peeing in a sink. What can I say?

Bluedoor Bluedoor how does your garden grow?

It grows with the help of Mr Green Fingers Richard Taylor our favourite gardener. (Don't tell my mother in law!)

He has transformed the garden of one of our newbuild properties from a muddy place to this

If your garden is looking worse for wear or you would just like to give it a new look give us a call and we'll put you in touch.

Join the Rush

Oh dear!

Landlords are in such a rush to instruct bluedoor that they will abandon their cars anywhere.

Poor parking courtesy of the car park at Waitrose Abingdon. The most expensive and mouth-wateringly tempting corner shop in the world.

No one was injured in the taking of this photo.