Creating opportunities
The challenge:
After selling a £750,000 flat in Fitzrovia, W1 to an owner-occupier, the buyer returned to our door asking us to find a larger property in the same building. The snag? No such property was available.
Our solution:
We worked with the client to identify the perfect property within the building. Then we approached the property’s owner to persuade them to sell and negotiate an off-market deal. Meanwhile, we agreed the sale of our client’s existing flat to a buy-to-let investor, achieving simultaneous exchange and completion on both transactions.
A local edge for an overseas buyer
The challenge:
We were approached by an overseas investor looking to purchase a home in central London, but who had no prior knowledge of the London property market.
Our solution:
After a consultation, we identified ideal locations in W1, WC2 and NW8 and agreed a clear search criteria. Based on specific requirements, we advised on budgets and approached both owners and agents. We arranged and joined viewings before securing the right property in Soho at the right price.
Making it happen quickly
The challenge:
Our client wanted to sell their Soho property – but they wanted to do this as fast as possible while also finding a new home to upsize into.
Our solution:
Turning to our ‘black book’, we quickly found a buy-to-let investor willing to pay in cash. This allowed us to fast-track the transaction to completion in six weeks. At the same time, we led the search for a new property. After reviewing our client’s target returns, we changed the initial requirement for a two-bed Fitzrovia apartment to a higher yielding one-bedroom property on a lower budget.
Vision to match people with properties
The challenge:
After two years of searching without success for a Mayfair home to downsize into, a local buyer viewed our client’s property - but struggled to see how it could suit her needs.
Our solution:
We helped her look beyond first impressions to shape a vision for how the property could be transformed to suit her needs. After guiding her through different ideas and options, we helped her find the right architects, builders and lawyers to make her dream home a reality. We secured a cash purchase within three weeks and nine years later, the buyer is still living happily at the property.
Value through certainty
The challenge:
A developer client was refurbishing an existing building in Fitzrovia, W1 to build new apartments. They needed to de-risk the residential scheme, which was worth in excess of £27.5m
Our solution:
We worked closely to create an effective marketing strategy and then used our extensive network of contacts to source buyers who were keen to move quickly to secure apartments. We sold seven off-plan before the scheme reached completion.
a london base for Kuwait investors
The challenge:
A family from Kuwait wanted to buy a London holiday home – but had no knowledge of the central London market and needed to arrange local finance.
Our solution:
We produced a detailed report with area-based recommendations and undertook an intensive one week education on the central London market. After helping the family identify a three-bed property in St John’s Wood, we put them in touch with London-based Middle-Eastern lenders, acted on their behalf to instruct surveyors and solicitors, and guided the process through from exchange through to completion.