I'll bring London flair to Edinburgh property

By Alasdair Mackenzie
Posted: 2008/02/15

ALASDAIR Mackenzie readily admits to being a property geek.

Since his childhood he has been fascinated by buildings. And so it seemed natural that he would study the history of architecture at university before embarking on a career in property marketing.

For the past 12 years he has been involved in the fiercely competitive residential market in London, working as a partner with one of the country's leading agencies, Cluttons, where he set up and ran residential offices.

But now Alasdair Mackenzie's career dream has come true. He has been appointed by agents CKD Galbraith, one of the key players in the upper and top sectors of Scotland's housing market, to head up their new Edinburgh residential department.

Originally from Nairn, he has personal as well as professional reasons to be enthusiastic about this new appointment.

He studied at Edinburgh University and, as a child, regularly visited the Scots capital because it was home to his grandparents.

Not only does he know the city well, he has always taken a keen interest in Edinburgh's beautiful homes since his student days.

That interest continued when he moved to London. "I have always been fascinated by buildings, by architecture, " he said at the new CKD Galbraith office in George Street, Edinburgh.

"At the back of my mind I always knew I wanted to do something connected with property although I did not know exactly what.

"When I was in London I always kept an eye on the market in Scotland.

"That has kept me in good stead. Taking up this appointment feels like coming home, especially as I already know Edinburgh very well."

Those years involved in the residential scene in London will also prove extremely beneficial in his new role.

And he pointed out: "The market in London is so competitive. It is very tough. People are extremely demanding and they demand an outstanding level of service.

"Employing the understanding that when people are moving home it is the most important thing in their lives, the service we gave had to be absolutely outstanding. That is going to translate very well to the Edinburgh market.

"Having fine-tuned my understanding of what clients expect, that experience is going to prove very, very useful here."

This new CKD Galbraith residential department will concentrate mainly on the middle to upper sector of the Edinburgh residential market, an area, he believes, where sellers want a more specialised service and coverage.

His experience in London coupled with his knowledge of the Scottish market, will also prove helpful to others returning to Scotland and setting off on the house-hunting trail.

Although CKD Galbraith is wellknown in the commercial sector, Alasdair will concentrate on the residential side of the business when he moves back to his old stomping ground of Edinburgh.

INFORMATION:
0131-240-6968;
www. ckdgalbraith. co. uk