Choosing between buying agents for the Westcountry requires particular attention to geographical reach. Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall are not one homogeneous market, and an adviser needs enough breadth to compare regions while retaining the local knowledge to assess individual opportunities.
Defining the geography before the property
A good buying agent should establish how often the client needs London, whether the house will be permanent or occasional, the importance of schools, coast, acreage and sporting interests, and how much remoteness is genuinely desirable.
Those answers may eliminate entire areas — or reveal alternatives the buyer had not initially considered.
A coordinated search
The agent should monitor relevant markets across county boundaries, maintain relationships with local selling agents, investigate discreet opportunities and filter properties before asking the client to travel significant distances to view.
For clients based in London or overseas, that pre-assessment can save considerable time.
Independent appraisal
The adviser should examine access, setting, exposure, neighbouring uses, land, local amenities and year-round practicality as well as the house itself.
They should also be willing to distinguish between a property that is wonderful for a holiday and one that will work as a permanent home. The two are not always the same.
What to look for in representation
Off-market access is useful but should not be the sole criterion. A buyer also needs sound judgement, discretion, negotiation and an ability to coordinate specialists across a wide geographical area.
When comparing Westcountry buying agents, the strongest adviser should help answer two questions with equal confidence: ‘Where should we buy?’ and, once the house appears, ‘Should we buy this?’
