The secret world of off market listings

It might surprise you to know that in the prime property market in West Sussex and many other parts of the country, at least half of the properties for sale never appear anywhere online. Of the homes we acquire for our clients, between 80 – 90% are “off market”, meaning they are sold completely privately, behind closed doors.

Sellers are becoming increasingly reluctant to advertise publicly with an estate agent and on the major property portals. Once a property appears online, its entire marketing history becomes visible for everyone to see. Price reductions, time on the market and repeated relistings can all influence a buyer’s perceptions before they even visit the property.

This is particularly the case for desirable, unique or high value homes, where the seller may not want large footfall through the front door and would instead prefer a quieter route relying on personal recommendations, local connections, word of mouth, and access to estate agent’s VIP list of top quality, vetted buyers.

They may also not be fully committed to selling and will only do so if they can achieve the price they want. They would therefore rather test the waters quietly and withdraw their property if needed, rather than broadcast it across the internet from the get-go.

Of course, there is a privacy element too – particularly if the seller is high profile, they’re going through a divorce, or if they have valuable belongings such as jewellery, antiques and artwork which they would prefer to keep private.

This means some of the best and most interesting homes are never seen by buyers scrolling through the property portals. Online is a brilliant way to start your search and get a sense of the market, but be aware that you could be missing out on the best properties if you rely on technology alone. Alongside that, it’s essential to speak to agents directly and ensure you’re top of their list for off market opportunities. That means being fully vetted, proceedable and 100% committed.

Using a buying agent will also open doors to off market listings, as they are usually the first to hear about properties that are being sold quietly – often before they are even available to view. We also have a little black book of contacts built up over many decades who contact us directly when they hear of upcoming buying opportunities, or to ask if we have any buyers who might be interested in a particular home.

The best properties are out there, waiting to be discovered, but they might be a little harder to find than you thin