Stephen Close, Twyford, Berkshire, RG10 0XN

Michael Hardy has been a familiar sight on the High Street in Wokingham and Crowthorne for over 30 years. As an independent agency, we are a strong team of mature yet dynamic professionals with a forward thinking attitude. Our vast experience and knowledge of not only the property market but the local area, have helped us become the successful brand we are today. We strongly believe in treating our customers how we would like to be treated. Keeping everything in house, with Sales and Lettings under one roof, all calls answered by our sales teams and with dedicated staff to constantly update you as we reach the crucial points in the selling or letting process of your property, means our clients are reassured that we will go that extra mile to not only get them that all important acceptable offer but see the sale or let through to completion. Having prominent High Street offices allows us to give our clients the comfort of face to face help and advice during what can be a very stressful process.

So why is it that this agent can do a better job than the others? What is it that we can use to make Mr and Mrs Buyer offer on your house rather than the one down the road? What is our unique selling point? It is our experience! In fact between the principal selling staff in Wokingham and Crowthorne we have over 100 years of handling properties in the area.

Some believe that all estate agents have to do is place an advert in the paper or on the internet and then sit back and wait for the offers to flood in. If that perception were true then all the agents with good staff and high profile offices would have closed during the credit crunch. Instead, the reverse is true; those who relied on inexperienced staff and low-cost marketing techniques closed their doors first. Our biggest investment is our staff because it is those very staff that have consistently made us one of the most successful estate agents in the areas in which we operate.

Often we get calls from homeowners who will say, "I don't want to know what you do, I just want to know how cheap your fee is?" Fair enough, but ask yourself this. If the agent responds to the question by immediately dropping his fee how hard will that agent work to get you the best possible price. If he caved in on what he gets paid how much does he care about what you get?

We do everything we can to get as much money from a prospective buyer as possible. Why? Because that is what you, the homeowner, have employed us to do. If we get it right you will remember what we have done and will hopefully use us again when you make your next move. We are a small local firm and our reputation is everything to us. Between 65 and 70% of our clients are repeat business or by recommendation. Given the poor reputation of estate agents this is no mean feat!