IN THEIR
OWN WORDS
SALLY HARRIS, SALES AND LETTINGS DIRECTOR OF ISLINGTON PROPERTIES
love people and am naturally sociable, so it was no surprise when I was drawn towards estate agency. I love my working environment and feel so lucky to be based in Islington. Over the years I have enjoyed seeing the stylish new architecture of many of the new build projects, and have always loved the beautiful properties on offer here. I have a passion for period property and their original features. The coal scrapers outside the front doors of many Georgian and Victorian properties still delight me after all these years! I never tire of working on vibrant Upper Street, which regularly has a new shop or restaurant springing up. When I’m not being an estate agent I love eating out and Upper Street offers so many yummy options so you are never short of choice. My new favourite is La Farola Café Bistro on the corner of Theberton Street and Upper Street. They do a delicious selection of tapas with a contemporary twist and it’s a great spot to people watch. I will always adore Fredericks and also Mem and Laz, both very different, yet are staples of the area that have survived the test of time. I also enjoy walking and Islington had an abundance of lovely garden squares. The gorgeous Highbury Fields and the secret Barnsbury woods also hold hours of fun for me. I have been closely associated with Islington for most of my life. My mother was a teacher & head teacher in Islington for over 30 years and I attended Canonbury Primary School as a child. I started work as an estate agent in Muswell Hill and was later promoted
to Branch Manager in the Upper Street office. I found myself in Islington Properties after a client of mine, with a background in finance, felt there was a niche in the market for a high quality letting and managing agent. The block management side of the business grew very quickly, and as a result, he soon asked me to join him to develop the estate agency part of the business. We had worked together for many years while I was at other corporate agencies and he knew I had extensive knowledge of the local area and market. Together we wanted to create an agency that provided high levels of customer service combined with a transparency and integrity that we felt was missing in many agents. We provide a corporate standard of service with the flexibility and personal touch that only an independent agent can offer. Islington has been firmly established as a great property investment for many years but during the last five years in particular there have been huge developments in the East side. This has filtered through into the City and around the Wenlock Basin and the regeneration of N7 is beginning to really push prices up in that part of Islington too. Roads around Angel, Barnsbury, Canonbury and Highbury continue to hold their appeal and have also grown steadily in terms of price. All in all, I know there’s nowhere else I would rather be. I love the diversity of the demographic living here, the style of properties, the wonderful local amenities and all the beauty of the area.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: REBECCA NOONAN
020 7812 0480; islingtonproperties.com
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