Weekly focus on who’s who in our local estate agents
Name Kelly McAllister
Age 27
Where you live? Belfast
Married? Lives with partner Michael
Where do you work? Managing director at Lough & Quay
What brought you into the business?
From a young age I realised that I could do anything I put my mind too and I’ve always had an interest in property. Therefore when the opportunity to start up Lough & Quay as a rental company came about I knew I’d found a career that suited me perfectly.
Who has inspired you in the property world?
I regularly follow the successes of a London and Surrey Estate Agency called Foxtons. Their concepts and approach to business is innovative which I find interesting.
What do you have sitting on your desk?
Nothing unusual — a computer, office phone, two mobiles, bottle of water, diary, and my daily deadline lists.
Downtime is?
I try to relax by spending time with friends and family. I love food so my boyfriend and I try different |restaurants a few times a month as well, however, I do really need to set one evening aside a week to join an exercise class, I hate the gym but I think I would like Zumba.
Do you do lunch?
Work tends to come before lunch most days.
What qualifications do you think are essential for estate agency?
For estate agency I think skills are just as important as qualifications; someone needs to have a high level of enthusiasm, team spirit and drive. It is essential to be very client/customer focused and to have excellent listening skills so that you are tuned to customer needs when helping people find a new dream home.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be either a nurse or French teacher, however, neither would suit my personality at all.
If you could give it all up tomorrow, where in the world would you move to, and what would you do?
I would travel to see different |countries but, still keep my toe in the property world.
Any unfulfilled ambitions?
No not yet and don’t plan to have any. I’ve plenty of goals and aspirations still to fulfil but I am still young.
What is the most common misconception people have about estate agents?
Probably that we only work nine-to-five — this is a myth, we work a lot harder and longer hours than that.
Your top tip for house-hunters is...
Have your finances in place, view within budget and don’t panic. The right home for you is out there and we at Lough & Quay Estate Agency can help you find it.
