A successful office design and commercial interiors expert has launched a new venture where she has swapped the workplace for the home.
Hazel Curtis is now using her years of expertise and experience – and a keen eye to detail – to offer advice to home owners looking to make their properties more sellable.
She has also spent a year learning to hone her skills from TV House Doctor, Ann Maurice, and has become one of her network of qualified advisors.
Since setting up the Property Potential Company, Hazel, from Harrogate, has already worked with more than a dozen sellers in the Yorkshire region to give a fresh and direct view of the property on the market.
And, of the house and flat sales she has been actively involved with, all have found a buyer.
The 41-year-old said:
My litmus test is if your house is not ready to view within one hour of the phone call from the agent you still have work to do.
It’s hard to be objective about your home in terms of what should stay and go because of all the other things affecting its look, such as full-time jobs and children. The biggest sticking point is when a vendor just runs out of steam with their existing home and lacks enthusiasm for getting it looking its best.
My role in the sales process is to give honest and impartial advice. On occasions this can be slightly unpalatable for the home owner to hear, but they want to sell their property at the asking price or as close to it as possible.
For the past year I have worked with Ann Maurice, the original House Doctor, who is incredibly knowledgeable. I have learned a great deal from her which is serving me well to give properties visual impact.
Hazel said her job was similar to that of TV property guru Phil Spencer, whose new series “Secret Agent” has seen him working with property owners all over the UK as well as in Leeds, Harrogate and York.
What both Phil and I do is offer unemotional and unbiased advice. I also manage ‘makeovers’ and work with trades people if they are needed to rectify any big issues. There are two ultimate goals we aim to achieve – giving the property that show home look and getting it sold quickly.
