Harvey Homes talks with ... Tim Irlam

Harvey Homes is lucky enough to work with a valuable network of people who each bring something unique and valuable to our offering.  The collaborative way we work allows us to reach new heights of excellence and ensures that the homes we create are of the highest quality possible.

One of our partners is Knutsford-headquartered Irlams Estate Agents who we started working with earlier this year. Irlams is an independent estate agent specialising in Sales and Letting, headed up by Director and Founder Tim Irlam. He has a wealth of knowledge of the local area and many years’ experience dealing within its prosperous property market. Irlams itself has a reputation for excellent customer service. 

We recently caught up with Tim to find out more about the agency and what keeps him motivated…

Can you give us a brief overview of Irlams?

We are an independent family-run business that was formed by myself and my wife in 2013. Since then, we have enjoyed fantastic organic growth which has mainly been thanks to our reputation in the local area and lots of loyal clients. Unparalleled customer service really is at the heart of everything we do, and we also have a young and energetic team who want to be successful and they understand that hard work is the key to this.

What has your career been like?

I suppose my career started the day after my 13th birthday! This is the day I started helping in my family’s haulage business. While most of my friends were going to parties at the weekends, I was loading wagons and learning about the value of a strong work ethic. My family have owned a variety of businesses in Cheshire, so this entrepreneurial streak was instilled into me from a young age.

When I was younger, I was really interested in property and architecture – building things with Lego was my favourite thing to do as a child. Having worked within the family business until I was 21, I decided to get involved within the property industry at a nation-wide estate agent where I gained valuable experience.

After a few years, I decided it was time to branch out on my own as I had good links within the community and enough knowledge to be successful. I was watching property prices rise and knew that there would never be a better time.

Eight years later I am so glad that I took the plunge! I’m only 34 at the moment so I still think of myself as being at the start of my career and it’ll certainly be interesting to see what the future holds!

What does a usual day consist of for you?

Every day is different – that’s part of the fun!

 I usually get to the office for around 7am and check my emails, catch up on finances and get myself up to speed with any new sales or lettings opportunities that have come our way.

After a brief team meeting, I’m mostly out on the road whether that is undertaking valuations, viewings or developing relationships with our clients. During office time I am dealing with the day-to-day running of the estate agency. There’s certainly no time to be bored!

What keeps you motivated at work each day?

I think probably, the variety of what each day entails is what keeps me motivated!

Fundamentally of course, it also comes down to family and wanting to provide for them and for Irlams reputation to be the best it can be. Receiving positive feedback is great and it’s always a lovely feeling seeing the smiles on the faces of our clients and watching my business grow and develop. My end goal is to be known as the best estate agents in Cheshire.

How would you characterise the property market in Knutsford?

There is a real eclectic mix of houses, buyers and vendors in Knutsford that I think adds a lot to its overall character. One day you can be helping to showcase a £2M house and then next minute you could be doing a viewing at a £200,000 apartment round the corner.

It is a very cosmopolitan town in Knutsford which creates its own unique atmosphere and charm, rather than it being just another suburb of Manchester. The vibrant mix of people, independent shops and characterful houses also makes it much more friendly than some of the surrounding areas and I think that is reflected in the property market.

How do you think coronavirus has impacted the local property market?

Initially it did create uncertainty and in April/May people were expecting to get massive deals on properties that just didn’t materialise. However, I think that COVID has actually ended up creating a big demand. After everyone having experienced lockdown at home means that the desire to find a new or better home has been heightened and this is certainly true in Knutsford and the surrounding areas. The Stamp Duty reprise also gave a massive boost and our sales teams really have been so busy!

We have ended up having record sales months this year which I think show just how resilient the market is in this region. Knutsford is a place that will always be in demand and things like Brexit and COVID certainly don’t get in the way of this.

What is your company’s focus at the moment?

Of course, our number one priority at the moment is creating a safe environment for clients and staff while continuing to provide an excellent service. Everything we are doing has been streamlined so we’re more efficient than ever before.

What do you think of Harvey Homes’ properties?

Swan Green is a very unique development because you don’t often get that type of quality new build in the Knutsford area. The design of the homes is great, and they are set within a stunning location. The homes themselves feel really superior and the design, fit-out and finish really accentuates this.

Aside from the properties themselves, the location of Lower Peover couldn’t be better (not that I’m biased by living there myself!) and it has buckets of community spirit and character. There are some amazing pubs, a fantastic primary school and nursery and some very interested local legends as well – it is thought that the idea of the D-Day Landing was conceived in the Bells of Peover Pub during the time that Field Marshall Patten was stationed at Peover Hall!

I personally love living in Lower Peover and couldn’t think of anywhere better for a family to settle.

What has it been like working with the Harvey Homes team?

Working with the Harvey Homes team is a breath of fresh air compared to some developers. They are happy to work with us collaboratively rather than just instructing us what to do. They are very good at making the most of our local knowledge and it’s great to work with a young and dynamic team which shares the same values and ethics as us. 

What do you think the stand-out feature of a Harvey Homes property is?

I would say the on-point design for a modern family, both internally and externally. The bathrooms, open plan and separate living areas would give any family the space they need and to top it off, the kerb appeal is amazing as well!