″One of the more interesting elements of your service was the way you managed to make us feel so comfortable while remaining absolutely professional. That is a skill which few possess.″
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should estate agents give you details of houses before releasing them to the general market?
- How well do you negotiate?
- How can it be commercially viable to limit the number of clients for whom you work?
- Once the retainer has been paid, do you limit the time given to each search?
- Do you only search for high value properties?
- Where do your clients come from?
- When we move, our children will have to change schools. Can you help us select the right school for them?
- What happens if, after paying the retainer, I decide not to move at all?
- Do you find rental properties?
Why should estate agents give you details of houses before releasing them to the general market?
They know that we only represent serious buyers and that, if one of our clients offers to buy a house from them, the purchase is more likely to proceed smoothly.
How well do you negotiate?
It is worth stating that our primary goal is to identify the best properties before they come to market and it is rare to negotiate savings on these off-market properties. In our experience, attempts to do so are normally met with a polite, “no, we’ll take our chances with the market”. However, we have negotiated savings that have both matched and exceeded the fees charged for the service. We must also note that past performance is not a guarantor of future success.
How can it be commercially viable to limit the number of clients for whom you work?
The client selection policies we employ ensure that we can really focus on each client. This means that we miss very few of the properties that might be bought and the chances of finding the right property quickly are higher. Our clients tend to be extremely satisfied with the service we deliver and recommend our company to others.
Once the retainer has been paid, do you limit the time given to each search?
No. Once we have been instructed, we keep searching until we find the right house or until our client tells us to stop.
Do you only search for high value properties?
We normally search for properties with a value of more than £800,000. We find that properties at that level and above come with their own unique issues and the majority of our knowledge and experience is geared towards addressing questions about that type of property.
Where do your clients come from?
The majority of our clients are UK residents and many of those wish to move out of London. We also work for international clients and, in these cases, have often been asked to help resolve tax and other financial issues which we can provide with the help of an associated company (Wilsons).
When we move, our children will have to change schools. Can you help us select the right school for them?
Yes. We know many of the schools within the counties we cover and often provide help and advice to clients who face this problem.
What happens if, after paying the retainer, I decide not to move at all?
We pride ourselves on the service that we deliver and start work on your behalf as soon as the retainer is paid. For this reason the retainer is not refundable if you change your mind.
Do you find rental properties?
If our client needs to move quickly, we will find them a rental property to live in while we continue the search for a house to buy.