In the UK, hunters of high-end properties must hire a dedicated buying agent and pay a fee up front, or go it alone.
Carol Peett, Managing Director of West Wales Property Finders, says these contacts and local knowledge are key reasons to use a buying agent.
“More than 90% of my house sales never hit the market”, she says. “It is purely word of mouth”.
She recalls discovering a lovely Arts and Crafts manor on 15 acres of Pembrokeshire countryside. She knocked on the door to ask if it might be for sale. Its elderly owners wanted to downsize but were worried about the fate of their two donkeys that had been in their field for years.
Mrs. Peett had clients eager to buy the house so, rather than let the sale fall through, she asked around until she found a local family willing to adopt a donkey or two. Once the owners were satisfied their animals would be happy Mrs Peett was able to arrange the sale to her clients.
England’s Luxury Fixers – Wall Street Journal 12th February 2016
