Who represents your interests when buying a house?

It’s ironic that buyers readily incur substantial costs like stamp duty, legal fees and surveys, yet many still hesitate to invest in a buying agent to safeguard their interests during what is often their most significant financial decision.

In the UK, property transactions come with considerable expenses. Stamp duty can amount to thousands of pounds, legal fees add to the financial burden, and surveys, while essential, are an additional cost. Despite these expenses, buyers often overlook the value of hiring a buying agent who could potentially save them from overpaying or making a poor investment.

This reluctance stems from a combination of factors: lack of awareness, perceived cost, and a do-it-yourself mindset. Many buyers are also unaware of the comprehensive services that buying agents offer, including:

• Access to off-market properties

In the prime and super prime markets, only around half the properties that could be available to buyers are listed online, either via the portals or estate agency websites. The rest change hands “off market”, usually to a small and select group of buyers who are represented by professional buying agents. Via our network we hear about these buying opportunities at the earliest point and are granted access on behalf of our clients.

• Professional due diligence

Buying agents are acquiring properties and watching the market on their patch 24/7. We have a wealth of data at our fingertips, so we know exactly what a property is worth, whether it’s a good investment and what you might need to spend on any renovation work that’s needed. With years of experience at our disposal, we’re also good at identifying hidden issues that could lead to costly repairs.

• An expert negotiator in your corner

Negotiating a property purchase, which is probably one of the most significant financial transactions of your life, can be nerve-racking. You might be unsure what to offer, how low or high to go, or you might be competing against multiple buyers via sealed ‘best and final’ bids. Buying agents aren’t just skilled negotiators, they are also cool-headed advisors who won’t allow emotion to cloud decision-making.

• Saving time and hassle

Spending evenings and weekends trailing round properties, often with the kids in tow, is time-consuming and stressful. A buying agent will view a longlist of properties on your behalf, presenting to you only the best. They will also liaise with agents, lawyers and surveyors, oversee paperwork and even organise removals, ensuring you have a seamless and stress-free purchase.

Having a professional buying agent on your side to safeguard your interests during such an important transaction is a strategic decision, leading to significant cost savings and a more informed, less stressful property purchase.

We were delighted to assist the Daily Mail with their round up of Britain’s most beautiful villages, recommending the Mardens in West Sussex.

Huddled around a Bronze Age long barrow in the glorious South Downs National Park just north of Chichester, are The Mardens – there’s an East, West and North. These sleepy villages haven’t changed in 50 years, besides a couple of extra cars here and there!

There’s a stunning 12^th century church surrounded by farms and flint cottages and a tranquil landscape of ancient fields and wooded hills. It’s like stepping back in time to a bygone age, and not many people even know they’re there – a real hidden gem.

The best properties in these locations are rarely listed on the open market, so if you’re planning a move to the South Downs National Park this spring or summer, please get in touch with Jennie Hancock on 07776 452 128 /  jh@propertyacquisitions.co.uk.

We are seeing plenty of new stock emerging, much of it off market, and that’s being driven in part by second home owners selling up. Buyers, however, remain very price sensitive and most are focused on acquiring low-maintenance, refurbished properties over large country homes which need updating and are costly to run and maintain.

Below, Property Acquisitions founder and director Jennie Hancock shares her thoughts on three key trends in the property market this spring.

Downsizers replacing second home buyers

As tax changes force more second homes onto the market, these are being snapped up by downsizers who finally have a decent amount of stock to choose from around the £1 – 2 million mark. The lack of suitable properties to move to has been a major deterrent for downsizers in recent years, but as second home owners sell up, downsizers are finally seeing the opportunity to make their move.

There’s also a sense that they have run out of excuses after a decade of putting their lives on hold during Brexit, Covid, the cost of living crisis, then the General Election and the Budget, and now they’re running out of time. They’ve been in their homes for 30 or 40 years and they’re thinking if we don’t do it now, we never will.

60% of the clients we’re working with at the moment are downsizers selling substantial country homes and looking for a more energy efficient and low maintenance property in a village location. Downsizers are usually very keen to play an active part in their local community, so as they move in and holiday home owners move out, they’re breathing new life into South Downs villages that used to be much quieter during the week.

Younger generations reluctant to inherit family holiday homes

The long tradition of families passing holiday homes down to the next generation is coming to an end. Not only are there significant capital gains and inheritance tax considerations, but upkeep costs are so much greater than they used to be, as well as higher council tax for second homes.

The younger generation just don’t want the hassle or the expense, and they’re also reluctant to spend their precious holidays painting windows and dealing with a mouse infestation when the annual cost of owning and maintaining a UK holiday home today will easily pay for a nice fortnight in Majorca or the Seychelles.

That means we’re seeing some quite special properties in fabulous village and coastal locations such as the Witterings coming onto the market, which haven’t changed hands in fifty or sixty years.

Country piles used to be like gold dust – but not any more

Twenty years ago, substantial country homes with 6 or 7 bedrooms, a couple of outbuildings and several acres of land were like gold dust, but in today’s market these are the properties that are sticking.

I viewed a beautiful period country house in a lovely village north of Chichester asking between £4 – £5 million, which had a bathroom from the 1960s and a kitchen I immediately recognised because I had the same one installed in my own house 25 years ago. It needs extensive renovation which altogether could see the cost rise a further million pounds.

These unique houses are incredible but finding a buyer for one-offs like this is very difficult because they will consider the overall cost to bring it up to scratch and to run and maintain it going forward. The country homes market has changed completely and people today want to move in and unpack rather than tackle an extensive back to brick renovation on a large footprint.

If you’re thinking about your next home move, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jennie for an informal chat on 07776 452 128 or email jh@propertyacquisitions.co.uk

We were delighted to lead the country homes market piece in last weekend’s Sunday Times, discussing buying opportunities in the country homes market.

Property Acquisitions founder and director Jennie Hancock explains how downsizers are snapping up many of the ex-holiday homes now coming onto the market as a result of tax increases.

These include some fabulous properties which haven’t changed hands in 50 or 60 years, as we’re noticing younger generations who inherit family holiday homes are less willing to keep them and take on the significant responsibility and cost.

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

When looking at the portals and estate agency websites, you might wonder: where are all the good-quality country houses for sale across the country? The answer is, a large proportion are purchased off-market.

The older generation typically live in the best houses, having owned them for approximately 20-30 years. However, sellers also need to find another house to buy (the big conundrum) – which most of the time is stressful and hugely disruptive. As such, sellers often become hesitant and don’t do it – which creates a bottleneck in the market.

I believe if all those who were thinking about selling contacted a buying agent as well as an estate agent, this could help release an enormous amount of housing stock. The majority of homeowners do not realise the benefits of speaking with a local buying agent, but there are many … Good buying agents not only have a black book of potential buyers looking for country houses, but these purchasers are also cash-ready and flexible.

Many of our buyers are now agreeing to a delayed completion to give sellers time to find something else. Several years ago, this was the standard 28 days, but now a date can be arranged for as long as a few years away. We also bring serious buyers to the table, and quickly. These clients are heavily vetted to ensure they are proceedable, reducing the risk of them pulling out of the deal.

Having the time to find something else, combined with the assurance that their home has already sold, puts a seller in a good position to make a stress-free onward purchase.

Additionally, if a seller wants to move locally, then a buying agent can also find them another great house far more quickly than if they were to rely only on what’s for sale on the open market. Most of the best homes are being sold off-market, which means it’s our clients who get a heads up on them first.

Of course, should a homeowner decide to contact me, I will always recommend getting the house valued via an estate agent, as we represent the buyer and not a seller. Also, an estate agent would help them negotiate the sale and oversee it through to exchange and completion.

Property Acquisitions have secured many purchases arising from local homeowners asking if we have a buyer for them. For more information about how we can help find you a buyer as well as another house, contact Jennie Hancock at jh@propertyacquisitions.co.uk .

For centuries, land and homeownership have been at the heart of English society, shaping wealth, stability, and status. From rolling countryside estates to the charming townhouses of London, property has always been considered the greatest asset one can own.

As Mark Twain famously put it, “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” In a country like the UK, where land is both finite and highly sought after, this statement rings especially true.

Historically, owning property in England was the privilege of the aristocracy, but over time, it became a goal for the middle class as well. Today, despite the challenges of much higher house prices compared to incomes, the aspiration to own a home is as strong as ever. And in a world of economic uncertainty, bricks and mortar remains one of the safest and most tangible investments.

But homeownership is about much more than financial gain; it is about creating a personal sanctuary. A house filled with books, for instance, is a home that enriches the mind. One quote that particularly resonates with me was shared by a client last year. The American educational reformer and abolitionist Horace Mann, said, “A house without books is like a room without windows”.

It is striking to see so few books in homes today, compared to the personal libraries that were once a staple of English houses. In the 1990s, I would frequently visit homes with a library, and many rooms featured bookshelves displaying an impressive collection of both old and new books, but as the years have progressed, people seem to read less and book collections have fallen out of fashion.

Here is a selection of interesting quotes which might give you some food for thought about our relationship with our homes, and how they impact our lives. Some wise – and some simply amusing!

• Real estate cannot be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt 

• The best time to buy a house is always five years ago” – Ray Brown

• I would give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground.” -Shakespeare

• Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” – Mark Twain

• The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate.” -Andrew Carnegie

• Landlords grow rich in their sleep without working…” -John Stuart Mill 

• Buying real estate is not only the best way, the quickest way, the safest way, but the only way to become wealthy.” – Marshall Field

• Land monopoly is not only monopoly, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies; it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other forms of monopoly.” –Winston Churchill
• Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.” – Theodore Roosevelt 

Jennie Hancock is quoted in this Daily Telegraph article exploring how the pandemic distorted the property market, encouraging buyers to compete in the ‘race for space’.

We are now seeing new opportunities for buyers in today’s market to secure a country home for a reasonable price, but it is more important than ever to work with a buying agent to help you understand what properties are really worth – and to help you negotiate effectively.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jennie for advice about purchasing a home in West Sussex, Hampshire and the Surrey borders: call +44 (0)7776 452 128 or email jh@propertyacquisitions.co.uk

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to present the annual Spring Statement on 26^th March, which could contain tax changes and policy shifts relevant to the property market.

Property Acquisitions founder and director Jennie Hancock was delighted to take part in this panel of opinions from leaders across the prime property sector, compiled by luxury property journal PrimeResi. She urges the Chancellor to be bold in tackling stamp duty, to free up the housing market and reap the multiple economic benefits that would bring.

“It might seem like a distant memory, but many of us in the property industry can remember the halcyon days of a single 1% rate of stamp duty, until it started creeping steadily upwards after 1997.

“People moved house every 3 or 4 years, when their circumstances changed such as a new job, a new baby, or when their children had left home and they wanted to downsize. And every time they did so, solicitors, estate agents, surveyors, removals firms, builders, architects and so on, all got paid – and so did the government via their taxes.

“Today, stamp duty has distorted and constrained the market so heavily, that we have older homeowners rattling around in large family homes which they no longer need or want, because they can’t face handing £150,000 to the tax man. They would rather stay put and hire a gardener or a housekeeper with that money.

“Meanwhile families are crammed into smaller properties, unable to afford to upsize because there aren’t enough large family homes to choose from. Plus, the stagnated market means they probably haven’t made much on their current home – so the enormous stamp duty bill they would face to upsize has to come out of their existing equity.

“When people don’t move home, the economy suffers, which is why stamp duty is such a pointless and prohibitive tax. As well as all the service providers and suppliers in the property ecosystem who lose out, it’s harder for companies to recruit, workers are forced to commute further to work and you end up with a far less mobile and less productive population.

“This is unlikely to be a tax cutting budget, but I wish the government could see just how much of an economic own goal stamp duty is.”

Quality over quantity: Smaller country homes are growing in popularity

Smaller country homes are in high demand from buyers in 2025. Whether you are upsizing, downsizing or buying as a family, there is a demand for quality rather than quantity for buyers of all ages. Avoiding homes that come with endless expense is now a number one priority at every level and at every stage of life.

As people are starting to feel more confident about the market, we are receiving more enquiries from buyers searching for smaller country houses in prime locations. There are many benefits in doing so…. for example less maintenance, releasing equity to provide additional funds for education with the added VAT on school fees, and lower energy bills to name a few.

With that in mind, our Director, Jennie Hancock, shares some of her top tips for finding the perfect compact country home …

Start your search early

When you decide to sell, start considering your property search at the same time. It’s a buyer’s market, but in the most desirable villages there are still far more buyers than good quality homes for sale.  The best country houses are often sold off-market, so speak with local estate agents about what is coming up, or use a buying agent as they tend to have access to them before the general public does. Plus, there will probably be less buyer competition.

Downsize your belongings

Downsizing and organising belongings is always a good move, whether you are moving to a smaller or larger home. In order to avoid taking unwanted items to your next house, you will probably have to sell, donate or throw away quite a few things. Have a good look at the floor plan of your new property. Will it fit your belongings without feeling too cluttered, or will you need to reduce them?

Consider long-term flexibility

There may come a time where it would be very convenient to have flexible accommodation, for example a master bedroom downstairs so you have easy access to the kitchen, living room and garden if you are downsizing. An annexe outside is another option to consider, which can be helpful for families with teenage children, a nanny, or just for accommodating family friends to stay or a carer later in life.

Find a manageable garden for your time of life 

If you have a growing family then time may be tight, so make sure you don’t buy more land than you need. Smaller plots mean less upkeep. If you plan on hiring a gardener then size matters less, but if you are going to be responsible for looking after outside space then opt for something that is low maintenance.

Local communities are key

One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “does this area have a good local community?’. Community is the beating heart of many locations in West Sussex, and pitching in is a great way to integrate and get to know the locals. Some villages even have croquet lawns or tennis clubs. Close knit communities also come together to provide huge support for both young and old.

Don’t be too remote

Although it can be a luxury not to have a neighbour directly next door, you don’t want them so far away that there isn’t anybody around to help you. Think about the benefits of sharing lifts for children or having support from neighbours if you’re elderly.  Access to public transport will be very useful. In towns and cities there’s usually quite a good set up, but if you’re seeking a rural or village location be sure to check how far it is to the local shops, pub or café.

Do you want a ‘lock up and leave’?

Many of our clients want to travel more, so choose a home that allows you the freedom to do just that. Whether a weekend break or a global adventure, smaller houses mean you don’t need to worry about what might happen to the property or garden whilst you’re away. You want to literally be able to pack your luggage, close the front door and relax.

How many bedrooms do you really need?

While it can be tempting to have lots of space to accommodate visiting children and grandchildren, or big family Christmases, think about how much space you really need in your day-to-day life. Visits may be infrequent, so often having just one or possibly two spare rooms for visitors is plenty and will help keep running costs low.

For more information about the benefits of purchasing a smaller country house in West Sussex, contact Jennie Hancock on +44 (0)7776452128.

We were delighted to share our thoughts on the trends we’re seeing at the start of 2025 with the leading luxury property journal, PrimeResi.

In a ‘Letter from the Country’ Jennie Hancock describes how most properties that have been on the market in West Sussex for some time are still overpriced, but there’s a new pipeline of early spring stock emerging, on and off market, which is much more attractive to buyers.

Three quarters of existing stock is still overpriced

High quality, well-priced homes are still hard to come by in the South Downs, especially the ever-popular golden triangle between Chichester, Midhurst and Petworth. Around three quarters of the houses currently available are ‘old chestnuts’ which have been on the market for some time yet remain stubbornly overpriced.

Sellers are holding out in the hope that more buyers will emerge in the spring who may be willing to pay what they’re asking, but it’s a buyer’s market and they are only committing when they see genuine value.

Buyer competition will increase over the next 3 – 4 months, but sellers of properties which have been on the market for some time should still expect a hard negotiation to get a sale over the line.

Strong pipeline of new spring stock emerging

The January blues are subsiding and I’ve noticed new sellers coming to market now, or preparing to in the next few weeks, are being far more realistic about the current market level and listening to the advice of their agents.

Buyers want new stock, and encouragingly, we’re now beginning to see some good quality houses coming through which are being quietly shown off market prior to going on market when the weather improves. Just this morning I’ve been given the nudge on two fantastic houses which absolutely nail the brief for one of my clients looking in the South Downs National Park – and they’re properly priced. I’m confident we’re going to start to see more deals being done.

More big country houses could be divided up

The properties that are really sticking at the moment are the big country houses, because they’re often a bottomless pit of money and today’s buyers are nervous about taking on the high ownership costs. Maintaining, heating and running a country pile today is for the super-rich, and even they often prefer a newer property which is energy-efficient and easy to maintain.

I expect we’ll see more planning applications being made to divide big country houses up and sell them as smaller homes. Buyers want the heritage, period features and wonderful gardens – and the cache of owning a slice of history – but on a more manageable scale.

Grade 2 listed Lock House in West Sussex is one example of a large 10-bedroom country home which has failed to sell as a single residence and an application has now been made to convert it into three separate houses and a cottage. If the planning application is approved, providing the conversion is done sympathetically, those smaller homes will be much more saleable in today’s market.