Michelle Crowhurst is a Director at Berwins and a sought-after Residential Property specialist, so what does she do to relax? Read our conversation with Michelle below to find out more about her professional and personal lives. 

What’s your biggest achievement – professional or personal?

Having joined Berwins as an Associate Director in 2016, I was thrilled to be appointed to the Board as a Director in 2018.

A lot of firms have mission statements and tag lines which marketing companies come up with and are then left gathering dust in a desk drawer. At Berwins, the firm really brings these to life and has such a fantastic culture of care for clients, staff and the wider community. To be at the forefront of that is a real honour.

Tell us a bit about your background…

I was born in Harrogate, grew up in Knaresborough and now live back in Harrogate. Didn’t go far, but why would you want to leave such a beautiful town?

I am married with a grown-up son who is studying medicine at university.

We have a rescue dog Bella who became part of our family just before lockdown. Bella is a regular Residential Property team member in the Harrogate office.

What do you like to do outside work?

Outside work I am a keen cook – cooking magazines are a bit of an obsession, and I can spend hours on Pinterest sourcing new ideas.

I learnt to knit when I was 4 years old and am a member of a local knitting group that meets in the pub.

Obviously having a dog means we love to go for walks but as Bella is suffering from arthritis, we don’t go as far as we used to. Always good to find a route with a pub as a halfway point!

What about the way you approach your work makes you unique?

I strive to provide a quality personal service to my clients and to always remember that moving home is one of life’s most stressful events.

I have now been in the conveyancing industry for over 30 years. I am fortunate to have had good relationships with my clients and have been with some of them for their first home purchase, watched them grow their families and move into larger homes and then downsize as the children leave home. I have then acted for the children as they start their own property journeys. It is so lovely to have that connection and to feel you are looking after the whole family.

Where did you study and what training and education do you have?

I joined AM Hall & Co at their Starbeck office in 1986 where I was employed as a cashier in the Halifax Building Society agency that they had. In the down time in the branch, I did some typing and found that I enjoyed the legal side of things.

I soon moved firms and was trained by an excellent property lawyer alongside part time courses at York College and distance learning.

I joined Berwins in 2016 and given that Berwins acquired AM Hall & Co in 1995, I have come full circle in my career!