Location: London
Hamilton Park West
Welbeck Street
One Queen Anne’s Street
Off Market
Dewhurst Road
Ebury Square
The Fitzbourne, New Cavendish Street
The Challenge
We were engaged by a Canadian client who was relocating to London for work on short notice. She was looking to rent a three bedroom property within a 15 minute taxi journey of her new office in Kings Cross. It was critical that the apartment be in great condition, fully furnished, have air conditioning, a lift and have some outside space. A tough search, made no easier by the Covid-19 international travel restrictions and quarantine rules. The client would therefore have to rely heavily on our expertise and guidance to find the right option as she would be selecting the property remotely.
The Perfect Conclusion
We identified the perfect 3 bedroom apartment with a sensational roof terrace set in a boutique portered mansion block in the heart of Fitzrovia which matched all the criteria given to us. We provided a comprehensive video tour so the client could get a sense of the space and condition of the apartment which gave her the confidence to move forwards without seeing it in person. When securing the flat we were able to negotiate over a 32% discount from the asking price.
The Unfair Advantage
We were not only able to identify and secure the perfect apartment in trying circumstances but we did so at a sizeable discount.
Sloane Terrace Mansions
The Challenge
Our Swiss client was looking for a London apartment for personal use. With children at school in the UK, they wanted a family apartment to use when visiting the city. Our client was not in a rush to buy and needed advice on the market, timing their transaction, and access to the best opportunities in their favoured areas of Chelsea, Knightsbridge & Belgravia.
The Perfect Conclusion
We sourced a grand and spacious second floor lateral apartment situated in a quiet position, but only a few steps from Sloane Square. The building consists of only 12 large apartments and the flat itself comes with a share of freehold, a rarity for the area. Through our negotiation we then agreed a huge £500,000 discount from the asking price. Beyond the negotiation, we also introduced our clients to tried and tested third parties such as a specialist structural surveyor and design & build contractor.
The Unfair Advantage
We know the market intimately. The property was listed through a single-office boutique estate agent we have transacted with in the past. As a result we were the first to be made aware of it. We negotiated strongly, taking advantage of the current lack of overseas buyers in London and achieved an impressive 12% discount from the asking price for a rare asset. We made sure our client had all the necessary comparable sales data and advice, in order for them to make an informed decision prior to submitting the offer.
Ebury Street
The Challenge
Our clients were looking to sell this large lateral three bedroom apartment in Belgravia. Covid has led to a shift away from buyers wanting to buy flats towards houses in more rural areas. This combined with a current lack of international buyers makes for a tough environment to sell central London flats in. In addition to our clients flat, there were several properties in the same building that have been on the market for a substantial period of time without achieving a sale.”
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully found the perfect buyer through a buying agent from our unrivalled network of contacts and once the sale was agreed ensured an exchange of contracts within six weeks.
The Unfair Advantage
We have the experience, expertise and patience to manage sales in a difficult market. Acting for fewer sellers means we have the time and dedication to deliver a successful sale, no matter how long it takes.
York Avenue
The Challenge
Our British Clients already owned a house in London but decided that they wanted a larger property with more lateral space and to be closer to Richmond Park in order to walk their two dogs. Their budget was up to a maximum of £3,500,000. The market for large family houses in close proximity to parks has always been competitive but the Covid pandemic has only increased the demand for this type of property.
The Perfect Conclusion
The search started in February when the sales market was seeing a significant rebound as a result of the Conservative Party win in the General Election and more certainty over Brexit. We identified a number of interesting options but the lockdown in March meant that the search went on hold and resumed in September when the market was perhaps even more competitive than it had been earlier in the year. We identified a house in Sheen which had been recently refurbished and offered not only exceptional lateral space but also was located less than a 10 minute walk from a gate into Richmond Park. The house was 3700 square foot with an asking price of £3,300,000 equivalent to £891 per square foot. We were able to agree a price of £3,150,000 ( £851 per square foot) but crucially the terms of our offer specified that no further viewings were to take place and that our clients were to be given a period of exclusivity so that they could undertake their due diligence without the threat of another buyer coming forward.
The Unfair Advantage
We know how to secure a deal. Our years of experience means that even in competitive markets we are able to ensure that when the right property is found, our clients have the time to transact without the pressure of having other buyers compete with them.
Downs Park Road
The Challenge
Our young UK based client was a first time buyer and was looking to find a two bedroom apartment with outside space close to the city where he works.
The Perfect Conclusion
We identified a stunning two bedroom, maisonette apartment with a south facing terrace on a popular road in Dalston which met his requirements perfectly. The current stamp duty holiday is having the unfortunate consequence of creating competition, particularly for properties below £1 million. There were three asking price offers on the flat after only 4 days of viewings. In these situations buyers often worry about over-paying, however our careful analysis of the market gave our client the confidence to bid and we successfully managed to secure the property and navigate the tricky “best bid” process.
The Unfair Advantage
We know the market. A great working relationship with the local agent set us apart from the competition.
Ambrose House
The Challenge
The client was looking to sell their investment flat which was originally purchased off plan to release money for alternative investments.
The Perfect Conclusion
Black Brick successfully sourced a buyer within only two weeks of the property being made available for sale, with the final purchase price being agreed at only 6.6% off the asking.”
The Unfair Advantage
We have the contacts to find buyers in the most difficult of markets and negotiate excellent prices for our clients. In this instance we were dealing with the backdrop of the global Covid pandemic and in an area where supply of new build apartments is plentiful allowing buyers the luxury of choice.
Goldhurst Terrace Sale
The Challenge
We were appointed by a Trust Company to manage and oversee the sale of a lovely, semi-detached house in South Hampstead. Unfortunately the house had not been lived in for almost a year and had fallen into disrepair. In addition there was no budget to enable the house to have a light refurbishment prior to marketing.
The Perfect Conclusion
We were appointed just as lockdown was lifted. The house, whilst needing work, was the perfect example of what buyers are looking for in a post Covid world. Plenty of space, secure and set back behind gates with off street parking for several cars and the benefit of a large south facing garden. We knew that the house would appeal to family buyers and could sell quickly given the price point. We decided to keep the house off market, and send it out to our network which includes other buying agents. We were inundated with viewings and received several offers within just a few weeks, finally selling to the client of another buying agent for £3,100,000, close to our guide price of £3,250,000.
The Unfair Advantage
We get results, fast. Our client needed to sell, and we delivered. Within just a few weeks of being appointed we successfully identified a buyer for close to the asking price.
Eyre Court
The Challenge
Our British clients were downsizing from a large house in Acton to a smaller, more centrally located apartment. They were interested in exploring Maida Vale, St John’s Wood, Hyde Park and Marylebone as potential areas. They had strict criteria and needed at least 1500 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and to be within a short walk of a tube station. Their target budget was £2 million or less. The supply of good quality apartments in North West London for below £2m is limited, and finding vendors that are suitably motivated to sell is also challenging in these locations.
The Perfect Conclusion
Our search started just before lockdown and the onslaught of Covid-19. However, with our clients house under offer and proceeding, it was essential that we kept the search going. We kept in close contact with the market, so that the minute lockdown was over we were able to quickly resume our search. Within just a few weeks we identified a magnificent 1635 sq. ft., 3 bedroom apartment in one of St John’s Wood most prestigious portered developments, Eyre Court. The building is exceptionally well run and is less than a 5 minute walk from St John’s Wood tube station, making it the perfect choice for our clients. The vendor had been under offer at close to the asking price just before the pandemic, but the offer had fallen through. We seized the opportunity to negotiate and managed to save our clients £180,000 from the asking price.
The Unfair Advantage
Our commitment to our clients is unrivalled. Despite lockdown, we kept our finger on the pulse of the market, ensuring the minute the market re-opened we were ready.