_Diary of an agent: Esam Sultan

How long have you been with Knight Frank and what is your role? 

I am in my 3rd year at Knight Frank and I am Senior Sales Negotiator for the London International Project Sales team based out of MENA.

How have you found lockdown so far in Dubai? 

At first it was a challenge going from a 12 hour, to a 24 hour lockdown. Daily routines and cycles changed dramatically, but as the weeks have progressed, it has become a lot easier and we have been able to introduce a bit more freedom especially since the start of Ramadan. I am happy to say that I have built more of an effective routine now.

Where are you working from? 

I am working from my apartment in Jumeirah Village Circle. I was fortunate enough to have a desktop and monitor in storage which I have setup and connected to my work laptop. I have had to convert the dining room into my new home office, which my sisters were sceptical about at first but needs must in this current climate!

How has your relationship with clients developed during lockdown? 

It has been a learning curve. In the beginning, it was all about being there. Saying hello via e-mail, telephone and WhatsApp and making sure everyone was OK and safe. 

A week or two into lockdown it became very apparent that the appetite and need for news/information was growing and was going to be the most effective way of staying in touch with clients. Our Research Team and digital Intelligence Lab have been a superb tool to do so and I have grown more grateful for their daily and weekly updates, so thank you Knight Frank Research!

During lockdown, I am happy to say that I have agreed two new property sales in London. One in Marylebone and one in Hampstead. Both clients had been in contact with me well in advance of the lockdown measures were introduced, so to negotiate new deals for them was very uplifting and shows that appetite and opportunities do exist in this current market albeit with their natural complications. 

How will the real estate market respond when restrictions are lifted? 

I think the market will respond positively. We already know that lenders are addressing the backlog of mortgage applications for London property, which they had to push to one side at the start of lockdown. 

Addressing these applications along with the government allowing construction sites to slowly start operating with more productivity brings back the excellent momentum that had been building prior to the lockdown. There are definitely busier times ahead!

What are you most looking forward to when you come out of lockdown? 

I am looking forward to seeing my family again. My mother and father have been in London since this began and my siblings are also in different parts of Dubai and London. There’s only so much a Zoom call can compensate for!