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ORIGINAL COTTAGES KENT & SUSSEX : An interview with property recruiter , Wendy Pullen
PROUD TO BE FAMILY-OWNED AND LOCAL , ORIGINAL COTTAGES WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT AND STAY . IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES , THE COMPANY STRIVES TO BE FRIENDLY TO THEIR HOLIDAYMAKERS AND HOMEOWNERS , RELIABLE IN ALL OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS , CUSTOMER- FOCUSED , HONEST , INNOVATIVE IN THEIR APPROACH , FLEXIBLE IN THEIR ATTITUDE AND PROGRESSIVE AS EMPLOYERS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS .
Wendy , tell us a bit about yourself and your links to the county ?
I ’ ve lived in Kent for many years having been born and brought up in Scotland . I now love Kent as much as I loved Scotland as it provides a diverse and beautiful countryside full of woodland walks , rivers and wildlife , and also fresh produce and local vineyards . The Kent coast is also a lovely option for walking or cycling and has great beaches with both sand and shingle . I love walking and have recently taken up sea kayaking so living in this area allows me to pursue both activities .
What do you think makes Kent the perfect place to holiday ?
Kent is known as The Garden of England for good reason and has much to offer to many different holidaymakers for many different reasons . It is readily accessible from London by road and rail , making it an easy holiday destination even if it is only for a short break . Kent combines its coast and countryside seamlessly with a variety of locations and sandy beaches for family holidays and surf enthusiasts such as Broadstairs and Ramsgate . It has many pretty towns and is known for its foodie pubs and gastro restaurants . It has an historic cathedral in Canterbury , many famous castles and gardens to explore and not forgetting our award-winning vineyards for the wine connoisseur . Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty for all types of outdoor pursuits including walking , cycling and golf are never far away .
What do you enjoy most about working for the company ?
The sense of family and working together are strong features of the company . It is a family run business and employs local people for local jobs . I have worked for OC for nearly 13 years ! I started as a part-time reservations assistant and have progressed to a fulltime property recruiter covering all of Kent . Being part of the Original Cottages family , both staff and clients receive first-class marketing training alongside outstanding , rounded support from the wider national experts and specialists .
How does it work if someone wants to rent out their property as a holiday let ?
Our first port of call would be to get in touch with the prospective owner and discuss their property and holiday letting needs . We speak to owners at all different stages of the process , from those just considering properties or looking for advice on the area , to owners who are ready to go . From this point , we would love to visit their home and discuss how we can help them specifically . From that visit , we ’ d draft a full proposal for their home and once all this has been agreed we can look to get the wheels in motion towards marketing it .
Are there any parts of the county you ’ re looking to add new properties from ?
Yes ! We are constantly on the lookout for new properties to join the Original Cottages Kent and Sussex family . Our portfolio covers coastal and countryside holiday hotspots in Kent such as Whitstable , Deal , Kingsdown , Canterbury and Cranbrook .
We can offer a fully managed service in the popular coastal towns and we also offer PMS cover for some of the rural Kent areas . For owners who live nearby or want to be more hands-on , we also offer a marketing and booking service .
Which property from the portfolio would you most like to stay at ?
My choice would be Cloth Workers Barn in the chocolate box village of Smarden . The property sleeps 6 and is a beautiful barn conversion perfect for a family get-together . It is spacious and very well furnished with three en-suites and a freestanding bath in the master bedroom . It ’ s located in the grounds of the owner ’ s hall house in a lovely garden setting with use of their beautiful pool . There are pubs within walking distance and it is easy to explore the castles and gardens close by or play a round of golf or go on a vineyard tour , I ’ d probably need a week as there are so many things to do and see !
What ’ s next for Original Cottages Kent and Sussex ?
Our main aim is to continue to grow the brand by welcoming new properties to the family . We will also continue to provide an honest and reliable service for both holidaymakers and homeowners .
www . originalcottages . co . uk
T : 07769886826 E : w . pullen @ originalcottages . co . uk
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