As Christmas lights sparkle across North Devon and the office supply of mince pies mysteriously shrinks by the hour, the team at Collyers has been reflecting on what we’d really love this festive season.

Of course, a new coffee machine or a few extra Quality Streets wouldn’t go amiss…
but if Santa is taking requests from letting and estate agents, we’ve got a few very specific wishes.

🎁 1. Tenants Who Actually Read the Checkout Guide

The ultimate Christmas miracle.

Imagine a world where everyone:

• defrosts their freezer properly,

• wipes down the skirting boards,

• and remembers that oven doors do open for cleaning.

We can dream, can’t we?

🏠 2. The Famous “So How Much Is My House Worth Then?” Question

Any estate or letting agent can relate to this one.

You’re at a barbecue, a children’s party, or a Christmas get-together and someone politely asks what you do.
You reply, “I’m an estate agent,” and like clockwork you get:

“Ohh, so how much is my house worth then?”

As if we’re all wandering around with an encyclopaedic knowledge of every property value in North Devon — and don’t spend hours researching comparables, analysing local trends and actually visiting homes before giving a professional valuation.

We absolutely love talking property (you don’t choose this career otherwise!), but if Santa could grant one wish, it would be a little understanding of just how much work goes into getting those valuation figures right.

🧰 3. Landlords Who Warn Us Before Doing DIY

Nothing gets our hearts racing like turning up for a routine take-on or a scheduled inventory and Schedule of Condition only to find:

• a half-installed kitchen,

• three missing cupboard doors,

• a YouTube tutorial still playing in the background,

• and the immortal phrase:
  “You can move my tools if you need to take a picture in this room.”

A little heads-up would go a long way.

🐾 4. Only the Pets That Are Actually on the Tenancy

We adore animals — but discovering an “unofficial” cat, dog, rabbit, or (in one memorable case) a parrot makes the office go very quiet.

Just a quick note on the file first, please.

🚿 5. Boilers That Don’t Break on Christmas Eve

Every. Single. Year.

10pm on the 24th.
Freezing weather.
Phone rings.

A maintenance-free Christmas would be a gift to landlords, tenants, and letting agents alike.

📞 6. Buyers Who Pick Up the Phone (Instead of Waiting for Alerts)

One thing we’ve learned this year?

Portal alerts don’t negotiate. People do.

A quick phone call can make all the difference — so if Santa could sprinkle some “answer your phone” fairy dust across North Devon, we’d love that.

📖 7. Buyers & Tenants Who Read the Description Before Calling Us

We absolutely love enquiries — genuinely — but sometimes we get the classics:

• “Does it have parking?” (Mentioned twice.)

• “Are pets allowed?” (It’s in bold.)

• “How many bedrooms again?”

• “Is it still available?” (Listed 20 minutes ago.)

Call us anytime — we love speaking to people.
But for Christmas, a little boost in “reading before ringing” would make our elves very happy.

👼 8. A Peaceful, Problem-Free Christmas for Landlords & Tenants Alike

In truth, our biggest wish is simple:
that all our landlords, tenants, buyers, sellers, contractors, and community enjoy a safe, calm, and happy festive season.

After another busy year across Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Ilfracombe and beyond, we’re incredibly grateful for your continued trust and support.

🎅 From All of Us at Collyers…

Thank you for choosing an award-winning local agent that genuinely cares.
Whether you’re letting, renting, buying, selling, or simply keeping an eye on the market, we’re here for you this Christmas and into 2026.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year!