>Case Studies

We have no stereotypical client or search brief. Each client has different requirements, time scales and budget. We pride ourselves on being able to embrace every situation and request we are presented with.

Below are some examples of searches we have carried out:

Case study: Single female first time buyer

Location: Clapham (SW11, SW4)
Budget: £300,000
Criteria: To find a one bedroom flat in good condition which feels safe and has outside space

Our client had spent four months endlessly searching for a property in a number of different London locations. Sourcing Property helped her to narrow down her search area and criteria by discussing what she wanted from the property and advising her on different realistic options within her budget.

Over a period of four weeks, the market was thoroughly searched and three shortlisted properties were shown to our client. The third property was exactly right and we managed to agree the purchase and have the property taken off the market immediately, despite there being another equal offer, as we convinced the agent that our client was a better quality buyer. We also stepped in and insisted that a new solicitor was assigned when our client’s original solicitor was working too slowly, working with the estate agent to persuade the vendor not to put the flat back on the market before we exchanged.

Case study: Foreign buyer coming to London for two days to buy a property for his daughter

Location: South Kensington (SW7), Knightsbridge (SW1) or Chelsea (SW3)
Budget: Up to £4m
Criteria: A two/three bedroom apartment with outside space and no higher than the first floor unless there is a lift

The client was in London for only two days and didn’t know the areas or current prices very well. We showed him and his daughter various properties within a range of budgets which educated our client about the types of properties and space he could get within each price range. His daughter did not feel comfortable in the larger traditional properties and we found her a more contemporary flat which was more her style and also nearly £2m under their budget.

There was another bidder who offered £50,000 more than our buyer. However, we managed to agree with the vendor that, providing our client exchanged within 10 days, he would accept our lower offer. By handling the conveyancing process and regularly liaising with our client’s solicitor and the estate agent, we ensured that exchange occurred within 10 days as agreed.

Case study: Client who had already had a disastrous experience with a previous property finder

Location: Pimlico, (SW1)
Budget: £800,000
Criteria: Two bedroom period flat in good condition with outside space

The client had been using another property finder who had shortlisted a property without highlighting that it was tube affected, and consequently the client had nearly put down a non-refundable deposit on it.

After our initial meeting with the client, we searched the market but nothing was suitable. However, one of the local estate agents had sold a maisonette to a couple several years ago which would fit our client’s criteria, and we asked if he would contact the couple and enquire about their position. They were in fact considering selling and we managed to arrange a one-off viewing.  Our client loved the flat and we agreed the price the next day without the property ever coming on to the market. Other similar properties which had come onto the open market had sold for a higher price p/sq ft as there were multiple offers. However, by ensuring that our client was seen as a good quality, accommodating buyer, the vendors agreed to sell off market and our client paid less for the property as there were no rival offers to compete with.

Case study: Client looking to upsize

Location: Chiswick (W6)
Budget: £750,000
Criteria: A larger house in the same immediate area in which he was already living

Our client had lived in the same road for years but had outgrown his house and wanted more space. He wanted to stay in the same immediate area as it was quiet, but he was aware that there was quite a large price jump for houses which were the next size up and he wanted to know what his options were.

Sourcing Property searched the market in the immediate area and also in some of the surrounding areas which we had discussed with our client. Larger houses in the immediate area were out of his price range. Those which were slightly further away offered him the space he was looking for, but he wasn’t as keen on the areas as they suffered from road noise. Having shown him the various available options, as an alternative option to buying a new home, we pointed out that nearly all the houses on his current road had extended into the roof and carried out a side return.

We recommended that he simply extend his current home, and having been shown everything else on the market, our client gained the confidence that extending his home was the best option.

Case study: Client looking for vast space with a limited budget

Location: London Bridge (SE1)
Budget: £450,000
Criteria: A live/work property offering as much space as possible, ideally all on one floor

Our client had done some research into the market and live/work properties. Although he knew what he was looking for, he worked very long hours and didn’t have time to search properly on his own. Sourcing Property searched the market and, after three weeks of searching and monitoring new properties, we found him a property in Kennington which ticked all of the boxes and was even larger than he was hoping for.

Our client had never considered Kennington before as he wasn’t familiar with the area but he loved the flat and after being shown around the area, he decided to go ahead with it. Although it was £45,000 above his ideal budget, Sourcing Property managed to negotiate £35,000 off which, given the extra space it offered, our client was very happy with.

Case study: Rental client needing to move quickly due to having noise problems with her current neighbours

Location: Notting Hill (W11) or Maida Vale (W9)
Budget: £400 p/w
Criteria: A quiet, open plan, one-bedroom flat in good condition above the ground floor

Our female client was living alone and was very conscious about noise and safety. Ideally, she wanted a portered building with an open plan kitchen as she liked to entertain. We advised her that portered blocks traditionally have separate kitchen and reception rooms and that the rent was likely to be slightly higher compared to other types of properties, because portered buildings normally have a higher service charge.

We searched the market and showed our client all available one-bedroom flats in portered buildings within her price range. As per our advice, none of them were both modern and open plan, and therefore none were suitable. However, having seen the options herself, this gave our client the reassurance that in fact a period building was more suitable. Sourcing Property found a flat which was on the top floor of a very secure period building in a cul-de-sac. The quiet position meant there would be no noise from neighbours above or from drive through traffic. The flat was slightly above her budget but it ticked all of the boxes and was open plan and modern.

We agreed the price and negotiated the tenancy terms, ensuring that our client’s various requests relating to work to be done to the property and notice period were accurately reflected in the tenancy agreement.