However, in the current economic climate, what is it really like working in the housing market?

Alyson Lowe opened Alexander Taylor Estate Agents in Bonnybridge last September, when properties were flying off the shelves.

Now, a year on, the media is full of stories about the credit crunch and falling property prices.

Alexander Taylor is a family business, with managing director Alyson working alongside her daughter Claire, who is office manager.

As well as the mother-daughter connection, the business name has a family tie – Alexander is Claire's son while Taylor is Alyson's six-year-old.

After selling new-build properties for 16 years, Alyson decided she wanted to move in a new direction.
She said: "I had always wanted to have my own business, so I decided to make the jump.

"I felt that there was a need for an estate agent in Bonnybridge and, with the new hospital opening in Larbert, I believed there would be a demand in this area.

"It wasn't too scary – I always believed that it was going to work.

"Even the gloomy predictions at the moment don't phase me.

"When we first opened, we were run off our feet, but, historically, that's a busy time of year anyway.

"Things started to slow in April and May, but it's often quieter then."
When looking for a new house, people tend to take into account three things – the location, the price and the presentation.
Alyson said: "If the presentation of a house isn't right, it just won't budge.''

TV programmes like 'House Doctor' are famous for their brutality in telling people what's wrong with their homes and Alyson admitted: "Sometimes we have to tell people what they will have to do to make their house more appealing to buyers.

"But they appreciate the honesty and the help – they want their house to sell."

As the phone rings in the sleek office in Bonnybridge Main Street and
Alyson secures another property for the books, the buzz of getting a new customer is evident.

She said: "I really love it and I enjoy working with Claire too.

"Because she's family, there's a definite trust factor there.
"I love looking round people's houses too."

The company has branched out into rental properties to cope with the demand locally.

As well as valuing, measuring and marketing the properties, Alyson and Claire also carry out all the viewings.

She said: "We really focus on the service we offer our customers.

"People are much more honest with us than they are with the owners of the house.

"They're also more relaxed and tend to spend longer in the house.

"Also, people tend to grow into their own home, and are used to all the features, whereas we are able to point them out to a buyer."

Even though sales have slowed in the last few months, Alyson believes that everything will work out in the long run.

She added: "People might not get that extra £15,000 for their property, but, equally, they won't have to pay the extra £15,000 for their new house, so it balances out.

"The media has definitely talked everyone into there being problems. The market in Scotland is different to down south and always has been.

"At the moment, the most soul-destroying thing is when a client's house hasn't sold for a while.

"These people become like your friends, because you're speaking to them every day, so it's hard.

"However, I have great faith that everything is going to be fine.

"There has even been a difference in the business in the last two weeks, things are definitely getting busier again."