When a client asks us for what they think is an almost impossible brief, we often surprise them!  It could be something like a single-track approach, a good pub, a church, easy access to a train station or no road noise – and the list can be longer.

The geographical position can often make a client change their wish list for the perfect house internally and externally, when the ideal location is found. These houses seem to be hiding but are purchased from time to time, mostly off market. This is the joy of using a buying agent, because we are made aware of them before the general public do, allowing our clients the opportunity to purchase these special village hidden gems.

A slower pace of life

Our lives these days are bristling with technology and everything seems to be on the fast track. From shopping online to our work life balance, a lot of us yearn for the slower pace of life. It is difficult to find the ideal place to live with a compromise between the fast and slow pace of life, but these homes exist but perhaps are hard to find on your own.

There can be fun compromises albeit small when you find these special spots. You may be asked to deliver the parish magazine or be on the flower rota or help at the village fete, a small price to pay to be reminded of our parents’ era.

Whatever age we are, we all love something old as well as something new, and you can turn back your clock in one of the special villages that surround us such as The Mardens, Eartham, Graffham, Upperton, River, Heyshott, East Dean, Charlton, Singleton and Chilgrove, The Hartings, Treyford and Redford, whilst enjoying 21st century life.

‘Bygone’ traditions still exist

A recent client recalled when we went to see their property purchased recently, the wonders of a West Sussex village. Some of their stories including the local pub providing home cooked dishes, gardening societies and book clubs. There is a great sense of community too in so many villages, helping the older generation collect important provisions or medication from towns and helping in so many ways. These ‘old school’ bygone traditions are still in existence.

Looking through ‘rose coloured spectacles’ when it comes to where we live, the ideal location often seems impossible to find. However, we as buying agents have enormous pleasure in sourcing these homes for our clients.

It is not easy and sometimes there can be a delay whilst finding them, but they do exist and are absolutely worth waiting for.

For more information about buying a home in and around Chichester, Midhurst and Petworth, contact Jennie Hancock at jh@propertyacquisitions.co.uk.

Buyers looking beyond the top postcodes are creating a ripple effect, driving demand for new locations where they can get more for their money, reports the Daily Telegraph

We were delighted to share our insights on the West Sussex location where families are securing more bang for their buck.

Townhouses within Chichester’s historic city walls are incredibly sought-after, but many families looking for more square footage, larger gardens and off-street parking are heading just a mile north to Summersdale, which has excellent facilities, bus services and easy access to the city centre on foot or bike.

Buyer can get larger homes on more spacious plots – often with a garage and parking – and if they have a dog, there are miles of open countryside on the doorstep.

You can read the full article here if you’re a subscriber.

We are delighted to have shared our thoughts with The Times ‘Bricks & Mortar’ on activity in the country homes market and the discounts being achieved.

There were a lot of overzealous sellers in the market during 2023 who have had a dose of realism as the country house market has cooled, so the price reductions we’ve seen in West Sussex in the last few months are mostly where properties were seriously overpriced to begin with. 

The main issue buyers face right now is the shortage of homes to buy. Good quality family homes with an acre of land are like gold dust and demand is outweighing supply heading into the spring. 

It’s still early in the season and we expect to see more bargain-hunting London buyers emerging in the next few weeks, but they may well find themselves frustrated by the lack of choice.

You can read the full article here if you’re a subscriber.