✨ Welcome to our series, Property4Media's Property Writer of the Week! ✨
Each week, we'll be shining a spotlight on one of the incredibly talented, passionate, and inspiring Journalists or Editors from our amazing community.
This week, we'd like to shine the spotlight on Charlotte Duck.
We hope you enjoy - happy reading !!
Where are you based?
At home, which is in a village near Sevenoaks in Kent.
What outlets do you write for? Who is your audience? What are your property specialties?
The main publications I write for are The Telegraph, The iPaper, Yahoo Finance, The London Standard (Previously the Evening Standard), The London Magazine and The NRLA's Property Magazine.
I write about a mix of property topics, including trend-based features which look at what's changing in the property market, often based on new data or research; case-study-led pieces, focusing on people with interesting property experiences; news stories on upcoming or innovative property policies or products; and mortgage news.
My audience ranges from luxury London buyers and property investors through to residential landlords and first-time buyers. Basically, anyone who is interested in property!
Are you in-house or freelance (or both)?
Freelance but I regularly write for certain titles.
What are your professional pet peeves?
The usual! PRs who chase me, asking if I've read an email after just a few days. My workload is very unpredictable so, if I'm busy, I file away interesting press releases for when I'm quieter. I always go back and look at them but often, if I'm interested, you might not hear from me for a few weeks – or sometimes months. It's not just how busy I am either; sometimes a story that didn't work previously becomes very relevant because of an event or emerging trend. Just because you've not heard from me doesn't mean you won't ever.
In your past professional life you were…
A celebrity magazine journalist who interviewed Kate Winslet, Ewan McGregor and wrote a story about David Beckham's underpants. It was great training for what I do now, as nothing really phases me anymore.
What's on your bucket list?
To start my own property podcast – I just need to find some time from somewhere.
What do you see as the up-and-coming property hotspot (can be UK or overseas)?
With mortgage rates the way they are, I'd say the areas that are the most affordable for first time buyers - the North East and North West. In London, I feel like Prime Central Areas might pick up soon as prices have dipped so much since their peak and more people are moving back into town again. In general, I also think flats are really undervalued in London as they haven't risen much in the last 10 years and you can get a lot more for your money, in terms of square footage, than you can with a house.
Your most harrowing story is …
A lady who'd had such trouble trying to sell her shared ownership property that it had seriously affected her mental health. Her home had been turned into a drugs den by rogue tenants, and she'd had virtually no support or compassion from the housing association that she'd originally bought it from. It's a reminder that homes can bring you great joy, but they can also be hugely stressful.
What advice would you give your younger professional self?
Don't be afraid to go out on your own as a freelancer. Also just because you can name all the Kardashians doesn't mean you can't write serious articles for national newspapers.
What nugget would you like to add that we haven't touched on?
Property sits in the 'Money' section of most of the newspapers and websites I write for, but a house is also a home as well as an investment, and this is why I find property such an interesting subject. Most of the features I write involve a case study to add a human angle. If you have a case study (or the prospect of one) when you're pitching stats, a trend or new property hotspot to me, it makes a huge difference.
How best should people contact you?
Email at charlotteduck81@gmail.com
