The Challenge
Our clients were looking to sell their London pied-a-terre which they were no longer using due to relocation. The property was a newly refurbished two bedroom apartment, measuring 828 square feet on the third floor with a lift located on a highly desirable street, just off high Street Kensington. There is a shortage of motivated, credible buyers in the current market, so negotiating a high sales price can be extremely difficult, and our clients, understandably wanted to achieve the highest sales price possible.
The Perfect Conclusion
Through our network of introducers we were able to find a buyer who already lived in the area and wanted to buy an apartment for their mother. We successfully agreed the sale at £1,760,000, which is premium rate for the building, equating to £2,125 per square foot. As our clients were overseas, managing the deal process on the ground was crucial. We liaised regularly with solicitors, surveyors and valuers on both sides to ensure a smooth and successful sale.
The Unfair Advantage
We know how to hunt out the best buyers. Even in a challenging sales market, quality properties still sell well.
The Challenge
Our client had recently relocated from Hong Kong to take up a new senior management position in the UK. The brief was to find a modern two bedroom rental apartment in good condition, located in a portered building in central London with good views. The property was also to provide easy access to Euston station for his daily commute.
The Perfect Conclusion
We identified a brand new two bedroom apartment on the 4th floor, measuring over 1,000 square foot, located in one of the best new developments in Fitzrovia. The development boats some of the most impressive private resident facilities in central London – including 24 hour concierge, swimming pool, gym and cinema room. Having only recently completed, the apartment has never been lived in before, benefitting from air-cooling, underfloor heating and an attractive balcony overlooking the central courtyard garden. We managed to secure the apartment at very short notice – when a previous tenancy agreement had fallen through, and managed to negotiate additional furniture items our client wanted prior to moving in. We also managed to save our client money – they originally had given us a budget of up to £9000 per month to work with, but we managed to secure this apartment for £6500 per month.
The Unfair Advantage
We work fast – we secured the apartment at short notice when a previous tenancy agreement had fallen through. We also negotiated additional furniture items.
Our Client
An English family looking to move from an apartment to a family house.
The Challenge
Our clients had lived in the Little Venice/Maida Vale area for many years. The combination of lower house prices combined with cheap lending gave them the motivation to upgrade to a larger family house, St Johns Wood being an area they had always dreamed of living in. With two older children living and working in London, the house needed to have the right balance of good bedroom and living space in order to give adults and older children the space to live under the same roof. The house needed to have at least 4 bedrooms, and be walking distance from the tube. Whilst initial research threw up around 30 potential houses, in reality, decent houses that were sensibly priced were far and few between.
The Perfect Conclusion
After an abortive transaction on a Grade II listed house where we discovered that the owners had failed to obtain the necessary planning consents, we finally managed to identify a much better alternative house within 3 months of being retained. We were the very first people in through the door to view a special house located on Blenheim Road. The house had been meticulously refurbished by the current owners who were relocating abroad and therefore extremely motivated to sell. With 4 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, ample entertaining and reception space, outside space and off street parking, the house met with every single one of our clients requirements. Our early viewing resulted in a week of negotiations and a price being agreed at well below the planned asking price of £4.75 million. We saved our client £350,000 or 7.3% from the asking price, equating to a very competitive £1600 per sq. foot. Recent house sales in the area have been achieving as much as £1865 per sq. foot. We also managed to get the seller to agree not to bring the property onto the open market, allowing our client the necessary time needed to exchange contracts without the pressure of another potential buyer coming along.
Our Client
A family from the Middle East, looking for a second home in London.
The Challenge
Our clients were looking for a second home in London, as they spend considerable time in the city during school holidays. With 5 children, we were tasked to find a large 4 bedroom apartment in a secure modern or brand new build development. Proximity to the west end for shopping was also very important. The budget for the purchase was between £3 million to £3.5 million. Due to planning laws and the price of high quality new build in Prime Central London, 4 bedroom apartments are extremely hard to find at this price point.
The Perfect Conclusion
We identified an opportunity to join two apartments on the same floor in a brand new development, Castle Lane. Nestled in the historic Birdcage Walk Conservation Area of Westminster, Castle Lane is a rare, new boutique development of 28 meticulously crafted apartments and 3 townhouses. By joining two apartments together, we were able to create a lateral 4 bedroom 4 bathroom apartment measuring almost 2000 sq. feet. As well as negotiating for the developer to carry out the work to join the apartments together, we also managed to save our client £250,000 from the asking price, equating to a purchase price of £1,962 per sq. foot. New builds regularly achieve in excess of £2000 per sq. foot in this location.
Our Client
Our clients were an Asian/Australian family looking to purchase their first family home in central London.
The Challenge
Since moving to London from Australia three years ago they had been in rented accommodation in the Holland Park area, and with a baby on the way, had decided they wanted to put down some proper roots and buy a permanent home. The market in Holland Park and surrounding areas for sensibly priced and well located properties in the £2m to £3.5m range is severely limited. Good properties often sell before coming onto the open market and competition is rife.
The Perfect Conclusion
Due to our excellent contacts with the right local agents, we were first in the door of this beautifully presented 3 bedroom freehold house, measuring almost 1800 square feet and with the added benefit of secure off street parking and south west facing garden. Abbotsbury Road is one of the most sought after roads in W14 and is located directly opposite Holland Park, making it an ideal family location. We managed to agree the sale during the first week of marketing, and also successfully negotiated a £205,000 discount from the asking price.
Our Client
British clients wanting to give their daughters their first step on the property ladder.
The Challenge
Our client instructed us to find her daughters their first London property. They were unsure whether to buy two separate or just one property, and whether to buy modernised or unmodernised. We showed them a number of options to help educate them on the market and what would work best. It was critical that the property be on a quiet residential street whilst still being close to shops and restaurants as well as being very close to the tube. It was also crucial that the property had two roughly equal sized bedrooms. We ended up securing a 4 bedroom terraced house on a prime residential road in Balham. The property was in excellent condition and the vendors were motivated.
The Perfect Conclusion
Using our network of agents and our knowledge of the area we were able to preview a prime house before it was officially launched to the market that matched our clients criteria perfectly. This gave our client an opportunity to act quickly in a very competitive domestic market. We were able to secure the house below the asking price on the condition that no further viewings go ahead and it was removed from the market. We ended up securing the property for £724 per sq. foot whilst the going rate on this road for similar properties can be in excess of £800 per sq. foot.
Our Client
A previous Black Brick client.
The Challenge
In 2015 we sourced this stunning 2 bedroom garden apartment for £975,000 for clients of ours who had relocated to London for work. In 2017 our clients decided that they were relocating away from London and so approached us to handle the sale for them. Market conditions had changed considerably since our client acquired the property, and so careful management of the sale and working with the right agents was crucial for a successful outcome.
The Perfect Conclusion
In a very challenging sales market we agreed terms with a first time buyer for £1,071,250. The buyer was nervous about the market and the deal required a lot of patience and handholding to ensure it went through successfully. With fall through rates being high, and properties sitting on the market for up to a year or longer, we were delighted that we were able find a buyer and conclude the transaction within 7 months of being instructed.
Our Client
Our client was looking for a three bedroom property with a garden suitable for pets.
The Challenge
The property had to be within walking distance of an apartment their staff were currently renting. This meant we were searching within a very small radius. In addition, finding properties with Landlords that are happy to allow pets can be a challenge.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully agreed the rental of this attractive townhouse on Chepstow Road at £600 less than the monthly asking price, saving our clients an impressive 7% from the asking price rent. As part of our negotiations, we also managed to get the landlord to agree to carry out a light refurbishment before our clients moved in, and arranged for a garden landscaping company to work on the garden. This involved speaking to relevant contractors, arranging quotes and securing the best price, all as part of our service.
Our Client
A British client looking for a family home.
The Challenge
Our client wanted a large, detached house in South West London. Their ideal property needed to be very private, not overlooked and with a secluded garden. With three dogs, access to open spaces within walking distance from the property was also an important requirement. They had previously been under offer on another property in Wimbledon for £6.5 million, but had lost confidence in both the property and the price being paid, and so engaged us as their buying agent to provide proper guidance and advice.
The Perfect Conclusion
We spent time educating our client on various desirable areas in South West London, working out what was important to them and what wasn’t. We identified Putney as a suitable location, and one that would offer our clients better value for money than more expensive Wimbledon. Through our network of contacts we identified an off market house in Heathview Gardens. The front of the house had uninterrupted views across a cricket pitch with a stunning, private 90 foot west facing garden to the rear. Heathview Gardens is located on Putney Heath, surrounded by woodland with Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park easily accessible. Crucially we managed to save our client £300,000 or 5.1% from the asking price concluding the purchase at £5,500,000 or £935 per square foot.
Our Client
An Indian client looking for a two bedroom apartment to rent in central London.
The Challenge
Our client instructed us to find his daughter a two bedroom apartment between her University at St Martins and Marylebone. It was critical that the property be within a modern, secure development with 24 hour concierge, security and be very close to the tube.
The Perfect Conclusion
Our knowledge of the area enabled us to shortlist those developments which would provide the accommodation and services our client required. The best property we identified was located within Fitzrovia Apartments which is a small development of apartments next to Great Portland Street tube station which benefits from 24 hour security and concierge. The property was listed at £850 per week (and had been previously let for £900 per week unfurnished) but we agreed terms with the landlord at £800 per week furnished – a saving of nearly 6% for our client.
Our Client
British clients looking for a London pied-a-terre.
The Challenge
Our client was an extremely time-poor senior executive, living with his family outside London but seeking a pied-a-terre to use during the week and on children’s holidays. The flat needed to be a secure lock-up and leave, providing easy access to our clients office in the City and local transport links
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully sourced this off-plan 2 bedroom apartment measuring 907 square feet on the 2nd floor with views over an internal courtyard garden. The apartment also benefits from a balcony and is due for completion at the end of 2017. Bart’s Square is a new-build apartment block in a vibrant mixed-use development around the corner from Smithfields Market, with residents’ gardens, a bar, meeting room and cinema, and offering secure, lock-and-leave properties. Although the developer had sold the best apartments, we worked our contacts to secure one second-hand, off-market. The development is ideally located next to the new Farringdon Crossrail station.
Our Client
Northern Irish ex-pat clients looking for a London pied-a-terre.
The Challenge
As a second home, our clients wanted something in a central location, with easy access to amenities and transport. The property was also required to provide good value for money as a long term investment.
The Perfect Conclusion
Black Brick successfully sourced this spacious two bedroom apartment measuring over 1,000 sq ft with lift access and a porter. The flat is located on the best garden square address in South Kensington, and was bought for £1,600 per sq ft, with properties selling on the same square for as much as £2,800 per sq ft in the last 12 months. We have introduced the client to a trusted building contractor to assist with renovation works. The apartment had over 15 viewings within the first week of marketing and we successfully secured it against competitive bidding from another party.
Our Client
Swiss clients looking for a London pied-a-terre.
The Challenge
As their second home, our clients were looking for something with a wow factor for the family to enjoy, in a safe area that was also close to amenities and transport.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully sourced this special and rare third floor floor flat, benefiting from direct lift access and with triple aspect views directly overlooking communal gardens. The flat has a near perfect layout and is situated in one of the best run buildings in South Kensington. Importantly, we saved the clients a substantial £255,000 from the asking price, paying just £2,242 per square foot.
Our Client
A previous Black Brick client.
The Challenge
In 2009 we sourced this stunning freehold house located in a prestigious Kensington development for £5,440,775 or £1752 per square foot. In 2014 our clients bought a larger, unmodernised property in Belgravia through Black Brick which, once completed, would become their primary residence. With the new home ready for occupation we were instructed to sell the Kensington house.
The Perfect Conclusion
In a very challenging sales market we agreed terms with an Italian buyer at £6,5000,000 or £2093 per square foot which equated to a 20% increase in capital value for our client during the period of his ownership. The transaction was very complicated and eventually took over 9 months to reach a conclusion during which time the buyer sought to renegotiate the price which had been agreed. We successfully managed to avoid the price renegotiation and contracts were exchanged at the agreed level.
Our Client
A high profile member of a Middle Eastern royal family.
The Challenge
Our clients were specifically looking to acquire a significant family residence in prime Central London. Specifically, they would only consider Belgravia, freehold houses measuring over 14,000 square feet, and houses that represented good value and had not previously been done up by a developer.
The Perfect Conclusion
We thoroughly researched the market, considering both on, off and pre-market houses. Through our network we were finally able to identify an entirely off market house that met with our clients very specific criteria. The owner had decided to sell off market as they had a very expensive private art collection inside the house, and only wanted serious, vetted buyers in through the door. The house measured over 20,000 sq. feet and we were able to negotiate an impressive rate of £2700 per sq. foot. Fully modernised houses in this part of London can achieve up to £5000 per sq. foot.
