Coming from America
The tech and bio communities in Cambridge are well-established and the links to Cambridge University bring world-class innovators and entrepreneurs into the region. We can assist oversees clients find the most suitable properties, even when it is not possible for them to physically view prospective purchases because of time and travel constraints.
The Brief
Our US-based client was recommended to us by one of the many agents we collaborate with because they recognised his need for a focused approach to solving his buying requirements from oversees. Dr MP had a very specific property brief and knew which locations in the city he wanted our search to cover. Tired of long stays in hotels when working in Cambridge, he sought a property of modest size but in a prime situation. We were guided by a budget of around £1m. Dr MP was aware that the type of property he desired would be in high demand. Having made several viewings to properties prior to working with us, our client had been broadly disappointed with the small size of the rooms that many of Cambridge’s listed town houses offered, preferring an airy and open-plan arrangement or the scope to create it. Although Dr MP was in no hurry to buy and was prepared to wait for the right property, with this type of house rarely coming up, we had to be very proactive and ensure all our contacts were well briefed and that we were in constant liaison with them.
The Search
We had our first briefing meeting with Dr MP in London in early November. Heading towards the Christmas period and still in the midst of the Brexit storm, property owners were not generally in the mood to market prime property – mindful of not achieving the best price in the unpredictable marketplace.
However, very soon after our first meeting with Dr MP, through our network we sourced two off-market opportunities within the exact search location. Both properties were Grade II listed and were within striking distance of each other. One property stood out as meeting the client’s brief with very little compromise. The vendor had already done some refurbishments and had created an extension to the property, which gave the open-plan and spacious feel that our client sought. Also, with the benefit of garage and parking, we knew that this property would be highly sought-after.
We realised the necessity for swift and efficient feed-back to Dr MP with good photographs, descriptions, some history on the property and its potential for him. Although our client did not anticipate us finding the right house for him so soon, Dr MP did not hesitate to commit to it. With the vendor being oversees and the property likely to be very popular, our aim was to ensure the property remained off the market. We moved quickly to expedite the negotiation process so that any competition was avoided. A sale was agreed within 3 days of introducing the house to our client.
The Value
As a represented buyer, Dr MP was able to purchase his Cambridge home unseen from the US. Although he had a fair understanding of the city’s geography and where he was likely to find the most suitable houses, he had not discovered this property’s particular location before. With our strong local connections, we arranged the necessary surveys and guided the legal communications that facilitated our client a speedy and seamless purchase transaction. He was able to buy with confidence, in the knowledge that our expertise and experience would guide him to the right property and he could trust that he had bought at the right price-point, comfortably within his budget.