Keep up to date with the latest Andrew Granger & Co news
Wed 6 September 2023
In our latest ‘a day in the life of’ we hear from Simon Johnson, senior valuer at the Andrew Granger & Co Loughborough office and what keeps him motivated after 36 years and counting in the property industry.
What made you chose this industry and area of work?
Having moved several times with my parents, I got used to visiting agents and viewing many properties and knew the process of buying and selling from an early age. After leaving college I got my first break in the industry in the city centre of Leicester and have never looked back. I have worked in the city, Market Harborough, Oadby and Syston, before settling down with a rural practice in my hometown of Melton Mowbray for 23 years as Residential Partner. My career in estate agency started back in 1987, before the days of us using laptops and mobile phones and we used to stick photographs onto photocopied property details! Throughout all those years I have gained knowledge in selling all types of property and land by private treaty, tender and auction and have sold everything from a studio flat to multimillion-pound mansions and farms. After taking a career break (mature gap year!) in 2022 and missing the buzz of selling property, which is embedded in my DNA, I returned to the industry in March 2023 to join Andrew Granger and Co. in Loughborough, a firm that I have known from its start in 1989.
How does your working day start?
My working day always starts with a strong black coffee, before diving into email enquiries which have come in overnight. I then check the diary and prepare for the days appointments which involves the necessary research for every valuation I conduct.
What can a typical day involve for you?
The one thing we can say about our industry is that there is not a typical day, as you never know what enquiry might come next - be it an unusual valuation to be caried out or a prospective purchaser with obscure requirements.
What do you like most about your job?
The best thing about my job is when you set out to achieve a new instruction or sale and it all comes together. The most satisfying jobs are those which you create, putting a property onto the market and being able to match an applicant and get a sale tied up to the satisfaction of the vendor and purchaser, this is where good agents shine.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
The most challenging part of our job is keeping all parties happy and on track to get the sale through. People can become very emotional during the process of selling/buying and this is sometimes aimed in our direction. We must rise above and keep all parties happy and concentrate on getting them all to a happy conclusion.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
Outside of work I enjoy walking with my wife and our two Border Terriers, going away with our caravan all over the country seeking out local pubs and beers. I am also a petrol head and love tinkering with and driving my Lotus sports car and going to various motorsports events. I appreciate all types of music and love going to gigs and concerts, no matter how big or small. I also enjoy renovating properties, if and when, time and funds allow.
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I must admit to not being an early morning person, however, I have been known to stop up late watching a good film.
Simon works as part of a very experienced sales team at Andrew Granger & Co’s Loughborough office. If you’re considering selling or buying in Loughborough or the surrounding villages and would like some help or a free property market appraisal, please get in touch at https://www.andrewgranger.co.uk/branches/loughborough.
