The Buying Solution: providing the winning edge in a volatile market

The current UK property market is one marked by uncertainty. There are the political shockwaves from the upcoming election, interest rates that remain stubbornly high, and a nationwide shortage of quality homes for sale that’s only now beginning to ease. Add in sellers who are often resolute in their expectations on pricing, and, for buyers, it adds up to a perfect storm, the dilemma of when and how to act for the best.

Volatile times call for inventive solutions and that’s where The Buying Solution can help. They are a 16-strong team of trusted buying agents, each based in the area where they operate, working solely for buyers, sourcing and advising on prime property in London and the UK countryside. Between them, the team has amassed over 175 years of experience in the property market, transacting over £150 million of property in the past year alone for their clients and providing invaluable assistance at every stage of the property process, from the initial consultation through to negotiations, transactions and completion.

“A key role we play is ensuring our clients pay the right price for any property,” Will Watson, Head of The Buying Solution, outlines. “Market uncertainty means there’s often a gulf between seller’s expectations and the true value of a property. We carefully track market data to reveal a true and accurate guide, giving our clients the confidence of a full 360 view based on our market intelligence. Our advice is to focus on the property’s value rather than the asking price.”

To demonstrate this, Will highlights six properties he and his team have purchased for clients in the past 12 to 18 months where the purchase price was lower than the sellers themselves had paid 10 or more years ago. Will also dispels many property pricing myths, among them the widely held belief that London homes typically double in value every ten years. “They have done in certain parts of prime central London in recent years, Notting Hill for example, but not universally across the capital,” he says.

Further value comes with The Buying Solution’s black book of contacts, gathered over decades in the business and arguably the most extensive in the industry.

“For our buyers, we open the door to more properties, with over 90% of first viewings and 60% of our acquisitions off-market,” says Will. “Off-market is a widely over-used term in our industry, applied to homes that are not visible on the internet but still easily found through agents. For us, off-market homes mean those that no-one knows are for sale. We help clients be the first to view, and then ensure they are not followed by a stream of other potential buyers.”

The Buying Solution has a special focus on sourcing properties over £2,000,000 in central, north and southwest London and in the countryside, typically within a two to three hour radius of London from Kent to Buckinghamshire, a market heavily influenced by finding the best schooling. The team also source farms and estates from Cornwall to Yorkshire and are deeply entrenched in the Cotswolds where the high demand since Covid shows little sign of abating.

“Our property searches in the Cotswolds are heavily driven by Londoners who all want a slice of English countryside,” says Will. “With the arrival of smart members clubs – Estelle Manor, The Bamford Club and Soho Farmhouse for example – there’s a genuine sophistication within this market. You no longer feel cut off in the Cotswolds.”

So how does the process with The Buying Solution work? After an initial detailed consultation to provide a clear outline of each client’s needs and goals, a carefully tailored shortlist of properties to view is compiled. The Buying Solution’s impartial advice covers pricing, location and all due diligence: planning history, proximity to schools, renovation potential and running costs are all part of their remit. They look after negotiations on price, agreeing the purchase, transacting the sale process by working with clients’ solicitors and surveyors and ensuring a smooth exchange and completion.

“We are there from start to finish, a complete service that can even include introducing local staff and security agencies, supplying approved local contractors and recommending where to eat in a new area,” says Will. “We’re not a volume business, we’re a people business, there to educate, advise and assist, someone totally on the buyer’s side. Why should you use The Buying Solution? I would ask how can you afford not to.”

Visit The Buying Solution to find out more, or contact Will Watson directly.