Get ahead of the competition with a Property Finder

The property market is more competitive than ever, especially in the prime locations that we cover. Give yourself a distinct advantage by working with a local professional Property Finder/Buying Agent and greatly increase your chance of finding your perfect home at the best price.

What does a Property Finder do?

A Property Finder will typically carry out the following duties:

1. Introductory call: They will arrange a no obligation call with you to understand your search, including locations of interest, budget, property needs, commuting requirements and schooling needs. You can also find out about their specific terms and fees and ask any questions you have about their services. This exploratory call is free of charge.


2. Property Search: Once an agreement is in place between you and a Property Finder, they will begin their search for your dream property. They will use their expert local knowledge and contacts, from private owners to developers and estate agents, to find potential properties. Given their network, properties they find are often off-market.


3. Property Review: Part of their service is to carry out an in-person review of a property themselves, to check it aligns to your brief and they will only recommend you to view a property when they're sure it is a strong match. They will typically accompany you to all viewings. Given their property expertise, they will also aim to highlight any issues that you should be aware of about the property or the local area to avoid you making a costly mistake.


4. Negotiate & Secure: After finding a property that is right for you, a Property Finder will typically lead on negotiations. They will use their knowledge of the market to advise on a property's value and the best offer to make and they can taking a lot of the burden and stress out of the process. After contracts are exchanged, a Property Finder will often offer help in liasing with local tradesmen and services to ensure you have a smooth move to the new property.

Why do people pay for a Property Finder?

Here are five key reasons why people use Property Finders:

• Expert information on local areas: Property Finders focus on specific areas of the country, typically either a county or sometimes specific areas within a county. This means that they have specialist knowledge of the area and established relationships with local estate agents and property owners who often inform them of properties before they hit the market.
  
  The local knowledge of a Property Finder enables them to advise you on potential positive and negative factors of properties, for example, how busy is the road behind a property or what time do you need to catch a train in order to secure a seat. If you are seeking to invest in a buy-to-let property, Property Finders can provide invaluable advice on where to invest and what returns you may expect to receive. They will also endeavour to uncover any issues with a property that you should be aware of, allowing you to be in a strong position when it comes to sales negotiations or avoid you offering on a property that may not be suitable.
  
  
• Access to off-market properties and beating the competition: Property Finders often talk about having a 'little black book' and it's true - they bring extremely valuable connections in the local area, from estate agents who will give them early sighting of properties before they are listed, to local property owners who could be convinced to sell even if this wasn't on their plan. The competition is fierce and a Property Finder will give you the edge.


• Price negotiations and saving you money: Finding a potential property to bid on is only the first part of the value a Property Finder brings. They use their knowledge of the local property market to recommend where to start your bidding from and act as a critical friend during what is often a highly pressured point in the buying process. They can negotiate on your behalf and will strive to secure the best price for you, potentially saving you money even after the price of the service.


• Saving time and hassle: Ultimately a Property Finder will save you time. They do the leg work on the search, discounting properties that may look great on paper but don't hit the mark when viewed in person. This ensures you are only spending time viewing properties that truly hit your criteria.


• They work for you, not the seller: As opposed to estate agents who typically act for the seller, a Property Finder works for you and therefore has your best interests at heart. They will give you honest assessments of properties and areas, and you are much more likely to come out with your dream home at the right price.

Who do they help?

Property Finders can help anyone who is looking for a new property, whether that be their next home or second home, to people moving to the UK from abroad or property investors seeking advice on the best buy-to-let opportunities. They typically work with buyers and often renters. However they are of most value to clients who are looking for a dream home with very specific requirements and in an area they aren't familiar with, or an area with a highly competitive property market where finding off-market properties is key.

How much does a Property Finder cost?

Property Finders offer a highly bespoke and valuable service. While the service may appear costly on paper, their local knowledge and experience in negotiating can often save you money, nevermind the fact that a significant proportion of properties they find for clients never appear on the open market - hugely valuable in an ever competitive housing market.

Fees will differ per Property Finder, but typically they will charge a £1,000 - £3,000 (+ VAT) retainer to start their search, which will cover a 6 - 12 month search period. If you are buying and the Property Finder finds the home that you ultimately end up purchasing, they will typically charge a small percentage (1-2%) of the end sales price. If you are renting, the finder fee will typically be one months rent, or a percentage of the annual rental price.