YOU'VE seen it on TV but one Swindon couple are doing it for real. Young mum Sarah Fallon and husband Matt, who live at Priory Vale, are the town's answer to the Channel 4 hit, Location, Location, Location.
In fact, the company was commissioned to do some of the legwork for the new series, which started recently.
Together they run the Swindon franchise for Medics on the Move, which helps people track down the home of their dreams, and also provides a lettings management service.
The firm started off helping key health service personnel find suitable accommodation hence the name but has become so successful that it now works with a range of other professionals.
Most clients are looking to rent either during temporary work contracts or while they get to know the area before buying a permanent home. Either way, business in Swindon is booming, with people flocking here from all over the world.
"These days people are relocating to Swindon from just about everywhere," explained Sarah.
"We deal with lots of international clients, such as the one we have just taken on from Sydney, who is over here on a two-year contract.
"We've also recently had clients from South Africa and Canada, as well as other far-flung countries."
In these situations, local knowledge can be priceless and smaller concerns like Medics on the Move have a distinct advantage over bigger, national relocation companies who might know the patch only superficially.
"I've lived in this part of the world all my life, so I know Swindon very well," said Sarah, "and it all comes in useful especially when dealing with people who may not have even visited the town before.
"Sometimes people start off with a bad impression of what the town is like, but I'm good at selling Swindon.
"It may not be pretty, but it's got a lot going for it, and for young people, especially, there's more on offer than there is at places such as Bath.
"We help people get the best out of the situation, and we always save them a lot of time.
"We advise them on the most popular areas, the best schools, and anything else that's important to them.
"One client, for instance, a lady from Guernsey, was keen to find somewhere with a church nearby as she likes to sing in church choirs, but she also wanted a good local pub because she's a very sociable person and enjoys pub quizzes.
"I eventually found her the ideal place in Purton."
Some clients end up trusting Sarah's judgment so much that they leave the choice of accommodation solely to her, and she usually views up to 30 potential properties in her search for the right place.
From these visits, she reports back on up to 15 of the more promising ones, going into lots of detail down to the colour and pattern of the carpets in each property, and assessments of local schools.
This is only the start of the process and Sarah can often still be involved after the client has moved in their new home.
One was due to start her new job the day after moving, but phoned Sarah the evening before, having realised she didn't know the bus routes to her new place of work.
"The solution was to go around, pick her up and take her on a little tour of the local bus stops!" laughs Sarah.
"Another client we dealt with was keen on martial arts and it was very important to them that they found a property where they could store and display their collection of seven-foot-long swords.
"You never know what people are going to need, but whatever it is, we're here to help."
- To find out more, phone Medics on the Move on 01793 726140 or see www.medicsonthemove.co.uk
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