Local estate agents PFK are celebrating as their Carlisle office reaches an important milestone. After a successful year of trading, next week will mark the first anniversary since the opening of the office in a beautiful Grade II-listed building on Devonshire Street.

The launch of this seventh branch has put PFK firmly on the map around north, west and east Cumbria.

Paul Doyle, PFK’s Carlisle office manager, said: “The business has gone from strength to strength. We’ve had a fabulous year and we plan to continue to grow the business as fast as we have this year by building strong relationships with our customers and delivering great service.”

Hayley Kenny, valuer at the PFK Carlisle office, added: “For the first few months, because we were new, we really concentrated on establishing our presence in the city.

“Initially not everybody was aware of us, but this did not stop us achieving listings with a range of property types from mid to high-end rural properties.

“The PFK brand is well-known in other areas of Cumbria, and it hasn’t taken us long to become established in Carlisle. We want to be known for the excellent customer service that PFK provides and it’s the recommendations and word of mouth from customers who have used us that has really escalated the business and that is helping us to grow.”

Mr Doyle added: “What makes us unique is our proactive approach to staying in touch with our customers. We have great staff and we are supported by great systems and this way we can make sure that our seller is getting the best experience.

“Our customers are telling us that the main difference they encounter when dealing with PFK is our approach to customer contact – they are actually speaking to us – and they find that refreshing.”

Also based at the Carlisle office, senior sales negotiator for PFK Matthew King who brings over two decades of experience to the office.

He said: “Even though we are a new brand to Carlisle, we have a long history and heritage within the Cumbrian property market, offering an in-depth knowledge of the industry to our customers.”

The convenient location of the office, in the heart of Carlisle city centre, is easy for people to find, close to the train station and the shops.

The state-of-the-art window displays draw in viewers who have the added attraction of illuminated property displays as well as projected high-definition images that really show off the properties available with PFK.

This eye-catching window display is also lit up at night until 10.30pm, allowing PFK to promote their customers’ properties in an impactful way, even when the premises are closed.

The window displays are not the only way that PFK are using technology to deliver a unique customer experience. Increasingly popular is the use of PFK’s in-house specialist department that utilises drone equipment to produce breathtaking aerial photography and video footage.

“This is an exciting way to promote our customers’ properties and it helps bring to life the stunning surrounding areas within which their properties are situated. They’re an excellent tool to showcase a home to its full potential and have proved to be a real talking point,” Mr Doyle said.

And PFK’s commitment to quality when it comes to marketing a customer’s home doesn’t stop there. Staff throughout all seven PFK offices have taken part in a professional property photography course, to ensure that PFK produces consistently great, high-definition images of customers’ homes.

Hayley Kenny said: “One thing we are really proud of is the photography that we produce. The first glimpse of a property is the photograph and you need to get that absolutely right to grab people’s attention. You’d be surprised how many customers come through our door for the glossy brochures that we produce, after seeing the property on the internet.”

What’s on the horizon for PFK in Carlisle now that the first year is over?

“We hope to continue our successes and build upon what we have achieved – providing excellent customer service and an excellent estate agency service,” said Mr Doyle.

“We’ve seen that our clients appreciate this. We keep them informed of what’s happening at every stage of the process and are constantly in touch to reassure our customers that we are working hard on their behalf.”

PFK are a leading estate agent in the North Lakes and Eden Valley, with a heritage that stretches back to 1876 and a great knowledge of the market and local area.

The company specialises in the sale and letting of residential and commercial properties, as well as offering services in planning, surveys and valuations. PFK also have a land agency department and a saleroom which hosts two weekly auctions featuring fine art, antiques and furniture. They also operate a premium arm to their successful business, PFK Platinum.