‘It’s the realists that will be selling this year,’ says Bailey, on the back of a ‘brilliant’ 2015 for his team (the highlight being a £34 million Belgravia abode).

‘Buyers are very savvy at the moment — we understand what’s going on in China and on the stock market, with oil — things are still delicate throughout the world. Because of that, people won’t be prepared to pay premiums, and they can afford to shop around now.’

A West London specialist with 30 years’ experience, Bailey began at Dunphys in Twickenham before joining Maskells in Chelsea. He was headhunted for a job in California, selling a ranch for $6 million in his first few weeks, and moved to Singapore in 1994 to pitch prime London developments for Cluttons. Fourteen years at Douglas & Gordon followed, and then he joined Henry & James in 2009.

Clients are keen on the engaging and good-humoured chief executive and his modern outfit, with one describing them all as ‘very friendly and extremely professional with a great personal touch, excellent communication through the whole process — highly recommended’.