A Formby mum has overcome personal issues to rise to the top of the region's property game, even selling houses to clients with private planes.
Stephanie Macnab grew up around Maghull and Lydiate and heads up Stephanie Macnab Estate Agents with husband Simon Wall. She started her career in 1996 before taking a break in 2011 to have her son.
In July 2019 she decided to go back to work in a move she found "overwhelming" and just a month later was struck by a family tragedy. Stephanie told the ECHO: "My parents had a really bad car accident, which was life threatening. My dad was in the hospital for six months."
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In December of that year, business picked up again, but in March 2020 the country ground to a halt due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. However, the couple were determined. Stephanie said: "We didn't stop working. We looked to adjust and adapt quickly.
"Simon is very tech orientated so we were very ahead of the curve in terms of getting good images and videos up. In May 2020 we were able to go back to work and in the last two years it's absolutely boomed."
Stephanie would describe herself as 'knowledgeable, passionate and tenacious' - and all those qualities allowed the company to really build a brand in Southport before branching into Formby in July 2021. It now covers these areas as well as Birkdale, Crosby and Maghull.
The most expensive house the firm has listed was £3.5m and is in negotiations for a £2.7m property. It has also just completed on a £2m mansion. Stephanie said: "The specification was stunning, the person who bought it said it was the best house they've ever seen."
It's not just mansions for sale. Stephanie Macnab Estate Agents have listed flats for £140,000, as well as properties with a few quirks, she said: "We sold a cottage in Formby a few years ago that dated back to the 16th century. It was originally two homes merged into one.
"It was a marmite property - you could fall down the stairs or bang your head, but their kitchen really was the heart of the home with a big rangemaster cooker. It always smelt so lovely. It took about 50 viewings to sell because it was so pretty but really wasn't practical.
"We've sold houses with what looked like a caravan in the garden, but it was really a converted sauna. They also had an outside shower and a summerhouse they used as a gym."
When it comes to clientele, Formby is known as a playground for the rich and famous. Stephanie said: "Formby is obviously known for its footballers, but we also get a lot of entrepreneurs.
"For a lot of entrepreneurs, its the accessibility. We're near the airport and some have their own private planes."
There are also a number of up and coming areas in the region, such as Birkdale, which Stephanie said is "booming". She added: "For me Crosby is so vibrant and energetic. The people are generally much younger and it's very competitive to get property. It has restaurants, bars, social life and great access to the city centre."
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