Vivienne Harris reflects on three and a half decades at the helm of Heathgate – the independent Hampstead agency built on local knowledge, loyal clients and a refreshingly human approach
This coming September, Heathgate will proudly celebrate 35 years in the business – a milestone that reflects our long-standing dedication to Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb, and the wider north west London property market. Over the decades, we’ve built a reputation for selling, letting, and managing homes for clients not only around the corner from our office, but for those based in far-reaching corners of the world. What’s the secret to our longevity? Quite simply, it’s about delivering professional, efficient service with empathy, insight and integrity.
At Heathgate, we firmly believe that good things often come in small packages
Vivienne HarrisIn an age where agencies can feel impersonal and overly target-driven, we’ve carved a different path. While others focus on KPIs and data dashboards, we focus on people. Every sale, letting, renovation or management project is approached with care and creativity – not a one-size-fits-all checklist. We take the time to craft individual marketing strategies that reflect both the property and the person behind it, with a clear goal: achieving the right result for each client.
At Heathgate, we firmly believe that good things often come in small packages. Bigger doesn’t always mean better. That’s why we’ve chosen to remain intentionally compact, with specialised teams dedicated to sales, lettings, and property and block management. This structure keeps us agile and ensures our clients receive an attentive, tailored service – with clear communication at every step. We embrace innovation and make the most of modern technology to promote our properties, from high-quality listings to social media campaigns.
But we’ve also said no to the faceless systems that have become all too common in the industry. There are no automated menus or chatbots here – every call and email is answered by a human being, 24 hours a day. Real communication is what sets us apart.
We’re also proud to support local businesses where we can, fostering meaningful relationships within the community and encouraging collaboration in everything we do. Our unified, transparent approach creates a sense of trust and reliability that our clients value, and it’s a standard we hold ourselves to every day. We all know the phrase ‘Location, Location, Location’ – and at Heathgate, we’d add one more mantra to the mix: ‘Service, Service, Service’..
