Our Client
A British buyer.
The Challenge
Our British client was looking for a two bedroom pied a terre in St James’s. The challenge with any search in this area is the lack of available residential stock and the ongoing demand from buyers looking to live in this historic London neighbourhood.
The Perfect Conclusion
We were able to identify an off market property as a result of writing to specific owners of apartments which we knew would be perfect for our client. We completed the purchase within four weeks of our offer being accepted and without the property ever coming onto the open market.
Our Client
An African Investor.
The Challenge
Our repeat client was looking to acquire his second investment property with us. Being based abroad, he was keen to find a property that required very little work and one that could be rented out straight away. Important factors were for the flat to achieve a good rental yield, be easy to rent out and be well located for longer term capital growth.
The Perfect Conclusion
We sourced an attractive 891 square foot two bedroom two bathroom flat on the third floor, benefiting from lots of natural light and views over communal gardens. The building has a lift, which is rare on the square. The property should rent for approximately £875 per week, giving our client a gross yield of 3.3%, which is above average for the area. We also saved our client £15,000 from the asking price and we will be managing the property through our Property Management Service. Earls Court is currently undergoing an £8 billion regeneration programme and we believe long term capital growth prospects are strong the for the area.
Our Client
A Middle Eastern Buyer.
The Challenge
A repeat client of ours was looking for a secure long term property investment in Central London.
The Perfect Conclusion
We identified a distressed sale in Phase 1 of the new Battersea Power Station Development. We managed to negotiate and secure a 14th floor river facing 2 bedroom unit at approximately £1,500 per square foot. Other similar units have exchanged for £1,800 per square foot plus. We were able to negotiate a substantially reduced price as the vendor was keen to sell having suffered from a severe currency depreciation in their home country. The unit is in one of the best positions in the scheme and includes a 200 square foot winter garden. In addition we have provided a complete solution for our client through our Property Management Service, and successfully identified a suitable tenant paying £725 per week.
Our Client
A Dutch buyer.
The Challenge
Our client was relocating from Hong Kong to take up a new position as CEO of a multi-national company. He had very little time to research the market and view property, and virtually no knowledge of the local market having never lived in London before. We were able to conduct viewing tours after working hours on Friday’s and at weekends, with only the very best properties cherry picked for our client to see.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully agreed the purchase of this stunning 2 bedroom first floor apartment on one of the best streets in South Kensington at £545,000 below the asking price, which equated to £2249 per sq. foot. The vendor accepted a below-asking price offer because our client was organised and able to exchange contracts quickly – and one that, at £2,249 per square foot, was also substantially below the £3,085-3,480 per sq. foot at which the last three first floor flats on the street sold. We managed the legal process, surveys and mortgage to ensure the deal exchanged contracts within the required timeframe.
Our Client
We have closed not one but six transactions for various UK investment clients in this off-plan development during 2015.
The Challenge
Many of our clients are attracted to buying off plan. The advantages of staged payments and possibility to sell the contract on before completion being some of the key advantages. However, the off-plan/new build market is a minefield for most buyers and investors. Most off plan developments in London will not make good investments. There is a vast range of options across London, and the need for in-depth market knowledge about how they are likely to perform when completed is vital.
The Perfect Conclusion
We highlighted the Television Centre to several of our clients for various reasons – its transport links, proximity to the Westfield shopping centre, investment going in from Imperial College, opening of a new Soho house hotel and private members club and the fact the BBC will continue to be on site, all make it compelling. It is also relatively low density. Furthermore, we achieved an attractive rate, at circa £1,000 per square foot, which we feel is good value for a development of this quality and in this location. We also leveraged our contacts to get our clients in early, securing the best units before the development’s UK launch.
The Client
A Canadian client
The Challenge
Our client had his property rented out and managed through us, but decided he wanted to sell the property and release some equity in order to buy a larger home outside of London. The flat having been rented out for several years was looking quite tired and so we advised our client to spend some money on the flat in order to achieve a better sales price.
The Perfect Conclusion
Our client was delighted when the property achieved £75,000 above the guide price of £2 million given by the selling agents who appraised it prior to sale.
The sale shows the difference we were able to make with our understanding of the market, our knowledge of which estate agents to work with, and the correct attention to properly “dressing” a property.
The Challenge
Our client was high profile, working in the entertainment industry and looking for specialist advice and confidentiality. Privacy and security were important requirements. They also wanted a flat with open-plan spaces and that all important ‘wow’ factor.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully sourced this impressive and funky 1500 square foot warehouse conversion apartment in Shoreditch, and negotiated an impressive £200,000 reduction from the original asking price. We also managed to get a car parking space included as part of our negotiations.
The Unfair Advantage
We battle hard on price. Tough negotiations resulted in a £200,000 saving for our client.
The Client
An American buyer.
The Challenge
Our client was looking to upgrade his home in London. As an investment banker he had very little time to search the market and source opportunities. He was looking for a penthouse apartment with private outside space and within a 10 minute commute from his office.
The Perfect Conclusion
We obtained early access to this unique lateral penthouse flat measuring over 2400 square feet. In addition we managed to negotiate £650,000 from the asking price, over a 10% discount.
The Client
A British buyer.
The Challenge
Our English client was a first time buyer in London. She wanted a property with period charm, outside space and within commutable distance to St James’.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully sourced this charming freehold cottage townhouse with a private garden in Earls Court. We beat off stiff competition from two other buyers, and successfully re-negotiated the price down by £10,000 during the conveyancing period.
The Client
A Cypriot Investor.
The Challenge
Our client was looking for an off-plan investment in a location that would give the best possible chance for capital growth over the medium to long term.
The Perfect Conclusion
We identified a three bedroom apartment located on the 28th floor with two private balconies within this impressive off plan development. City Road and the surrounding area has been labelled the “Silicon roundabout” of London having attracted a large number of tech firms. The area will also benefit from major transport infrastructure upgrades over the next 3-5 years, making this an attractive investment opportunity.
The Client
A British buyer.
The Challenge
Our British ex pat clients were moving back to London and wanted a three bedroom apartment, close to the shops, cafes and restaurants of the Kings Road in Chelsea. The property had to have lots of natural light and the building had to be dog friendly.
The Perfect Conclusion
Through our network we identified a South facing top floor flat in a quiet street walking distance from Sloane Square and The Kings Road. The building allowed dogs and so was the perfect option for our clients. We were able to secure the apartment on an exclusive basis and contracts were exchanged within 2 weeks
The Client
A Chinese buyer.
The Challenge
Our clients were looking to purchase a property in South Kensington to be used by their son who was studying at University in the area. They had already been looking on their own but were frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the fact that good options seemed to be selling before they were able to view them.
The Perfect Conclusion
Through our unrivalled network we were able to identify a fantastic two bedroom apartment located on one of the best garden squares in the area. We were able to use our reputation to secure the property before it came onto the open market and agreed a period of exclusivity allowing us to exchange contracts within 3 weeks.
The Client
A Brazilian buyer.
The Challenge
Our clients wanted to purchase an a apartment in London which would serve as both a holiday home as well as a long term investment. They wanted the property to be centrally located with easy access to the shopping, theatres and restaurants in Mayfair and the West End.
The Perfect Conclusion
Through our expertise in the new build market we identified a boutique apartment block located on the eastern side of Mayfair walking distance from Regent Street, Oxford Street and Covent Garden. The block consisted of just 5 units and demand for the two bedroom unit was very high. We were able to successfully secure the apartment for our client against fierce competition as a result of our reputation for representing the very best buyers in the market.
The Client
A Middle Eastern buyer
The Challenge
Our client was looking for a 3 bedroom family apartment to use when visiting London. The property had to be in immaculate condition and ideally located in Mayfair or Knightsbridge with views of Hyde Park. The budget for this purchase was £4 million. Properties which benefit views of Hyde Park often come with a significant price tag. .
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully sourced a 6th floor apartment in South Kensington with views of Hyde Park from the reception room and views over Princes Gardens from the bedrooms. We secured the property for less than the asking price and less than the client’s budget.
The Client
A Russian buyer.
The Challenge
Our Russian client was looking for a secure, newly refurbished flat in a prime central location close to transport links. As a young student living alone security and easy access to shops were high on the list of requirements.
The Perfect Conclusion
We sourced this newly refurbished apartment set within a development of 18 flats in a beautiful row of period buildings on Queens Gate. The renovation encompassed an upgrade of the buildings’ infrastructure, including a new lift and air-cooling in every apartment. The flats also benefit from a full-time porter service, and are ideally located on the doorstep of Kensington Gardens and the shops along High Street Kensington.
Here is what our client had to say about working with us: “It was great pleasure to work with you and your colleagues. We are impressed by the level of professionalism and will recommend Black Brick to our friends. Thank you very much for your help and attention”.
