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BUYING AGENTS
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Discover Property is a forward thinking company specialising in property acquisition. Our extensive network of industry contacts enable us to source the best properties at the best price for our clients. Our experienced team have been involved in over 200 property purchases, amounting to over ÂŁ100m worth of transactions.
INDEX Why use Discover Property
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Details of how our buying agency can help secure the right property for you.
The process - page 6 How we work.
Buy to live - page 8 The home you’ve been looking for.
Buy to let - page 10 Income generation, capital appreciation and wealth preservation.
Buy to develop - page 12 Maximising returns.
Property management - page 14 Professionally managed properties attract better quality tenants.
Managed sale - page 16 We don’t sell property, but we can offer expert, impartial advice during your sale.
Tailored packages - page 18 We are property consultants, not just search agents. Our services can be tailored to meet your requirements.
Overseas buyers - page 20 Expand your horizons.
Virtual reality viewings - page 22 Announcing the launch of the UK’s first virtual reality property viewings.
Discover Property guides - page 24 FAQs - page 26 Answers to common questions.
-INDEX
Feature guide: Moving home checklist.
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A hands-off and hassle-free process Finding a property can be a full time job! You have to get ahead of the competition, try and view properties as soon as they come onto the market, stay aware of price changes as they happen, and be prepared to move quickly. Trying to fit all this in with work and family life is tough! We employ professionals to help us with many aspects of our lives, yet one of the most important financial commitments we ever make - purchasing a property - seems to get overlooked. It is important to remember that estate agents are paid by the person selling the property, so their aim is to get their client a buyer at the highest price possible. In the prime Central London property market approximately 60% of purchasers hire a property finding agent to work in their best interests. Discover Property provide a professional service that ensures that the rest of the market have an expert supporting their best interests. Our services are available to anyone with any budget. We will provide you with the full picture; all the positives, all the negatives, and anything else you need to know about the property in order to make an informed purchase. Discover Property have access to the whole market; including estate agent’s property lists, developer’s portfolios and auction listings, as well as many properties that never go on the open market through our vast network of private contacts. Our experienced team have negotiated hundreds of property purchases, which enables us to know exactly what to do in order to secure a property at the best price and on the best terms for you, the buyer.
-WHY USE US
Buyers usually view between 20-50 properties before they find one that meets their requirements and which they manage to secure with a successful offer. This is in addition to the time spent trawling websites and visiting estate agents, selecting the properties to view. Our service is designed so that we do all the leg work whilst you take a hands-off approach and simply inspect the shortlist of the very best properties that have been carefully reviewed and selected to match your criteria. Our aim is to save you time, effort, and where possible money.
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-THE PROCESS
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Your personal shopper Finding a home is an extremely emotional and often stressful experience. With our help it doesn’t have to be. Using Discover Property means you have an expert on your side. We are here to guide you through every step so that nothing takes you by surprise during the process.
-BUY TO LIVE
The property market, especially in London, is extremely competitive. The fast-paced nature of the industry means that properties are often gone before you get the chance to even view. Using our close links with agents and network of private vendors we often secure properties for our clients before they reach the open market. Our search service is designed to help our clients find the best properties and secure them on the best terms.
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Income generation, capital appreciation and wealth preservation London is one of the most desirable places in the world to buy a property. The capital city is not only a fantastic place to live, but also a fantastic place to invest. Property investment has outperformed all other UK asset classes for decades with the average capital value doubling every 7 to 10 years. We offer a professional service to the property investor who is looking to exploit the fantastic opportunities the market has to offer and is looking for assistance with what can be a time intensive, complex and somewhat daunting prospect. Our service is becoming a necessity in the UK as buyers turn to our professional advice and local expert knowledge in order to make sure they are making the right decision with their purchase. Our market knowledge enables our investors to achieve rental yields and capital growth that are usually significantly higher than the market average. We know exactly what tenants want and what they will pay for specific properties in a particular area. We do not solely recommend prime central London as the best place to invest as we recognise that it is often the neighbouring locations that represent a more affordable purchase and therefore produce higher yields with more scope for capital growth. We can tell you what areas are experiencing regeneration often before it becomes general knowledge. This means you can benefit from the lower value properties before other investors start buying in the area and prices start to rise.
- BUY TO LET
You may be looking to buy one property or build a large portfolio, either way our service can be of great value to you. It is often said that you make money when you buy a property, not when you sell.
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Maximising your proďŹ t Property development is an extremely competitive industry with many people seeking out properties with the potential to add value. With the countless number of property related television shows, press articles and ‘How to’ books available today, it seems that everyone aspires to becoming a property developer. However taking on property development can be extremely risky without the correct expertise and market knowledge. Discover Property specialise in sourcing both residential and commercial properties as well as land. We offer a service that enables you to invest in property development and see the returns, without having to take the risk of going it alone. Many purchases are agreed off-market and often below market value (BMV). Our focus is on maximising the value of every development opportunity for our clients. Buying property to improve and sell on can be a good method of building capital in a short space of time. Discover property are experts at thinking outside the box and spotting potential that many others miss. We source the best deals, carryout extensive due-diligence and can even project manage the construction/renovation process if necessary. Each project is individually tailored to the client, so we can have as much or as little involvement as required.
-BUY TO DEVELOP
Our developments are sourced with specific focus on the target end-user. Each project is designed sympathetically and relevant to the style of the property whilst incorporating unique selling points to give it an edge over other properties on the market when it comes to re-sale or renting.
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Professionally managed properties attract better tenants Being a landlord is not easy and can often become a full-time job in itself. Our aim is to provide a service that is professional, efficient, and of good value whilst giving you peace of mind. We are always working to make sure you receive the best return from your investment and do everything we can to keep your maintenance and repair costs as low as possible. We don’t just act as an intermediary that takes a call from your tenant and then calls in a third party contractor to deal with it; we assess the problem ourselves to find the most cost-efficient solution to the problem. We can make sure your property is well presented, professionally marketed, has minimal void periods and is well maintained. On top of this we can provide you with a comprehensive and secure tenancy agreement (AST), condition and inventory reports, regular inspections, financial management and regular updates on how your investment is performing. We will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving you confidence that your tenants are being looked after. It is common knowledge that quality tenants look specifically for properties that are professionally managed for their own peace of mind. We are members of the Property Redress Scheme (PRS) which means you have the security of knowing our service complies with industry standards.
-PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
If you would like us to find you a great investment property and effectively manage it for you, or alternatively if you already have an investment property and are looking for a managing agent, then we will be happy to help.
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Expert, impartial advice We do not sell properties, however as we work with buyers day in, day out, we couldn’t be better placed to advise you on exactly what buyers look for in a property. This is invaluable if you are looking to sell.
-MANAGED SALE
We will provide advice on the best time to sell, how to present your property and what work it is worth doing before you sell. We will provide you with our opinion of your property's value by analysing comparable sales in the area. We will offer impartial advice and help you select the most suitable estate agent to market your property as well as discuss the feasibility of using an online agent. We will negotiate with the estate agent on your behalf in order to agree the best fee and terms for you. We can then facilitate viewings, negotiate offers and vet potential buyers for you. We can also recommend solicitors to undertake the conveyancing process and run the sale for you right up until the point of completion. Finally we can help arrange removals and assist you with settling into your new home.
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We are property consultants, not just search agents Our services can be tailored to individual requirements and can still be of use if you have already found a property. NEGOTIATION Designed for clients who have found the property they wish to purchase, but want assistance with securing it at the best price and on the best terms. Our tough negotiations often result in us securing properties for less than what our clients would pay. Represented by Discover Property our clients are often recognised as serious buyers and therefore treated as preferred bidders in a competitive situation. DUE-DILIGENCE If you have found a property but want a second opinion to make sure you are making the right decision then we can assess the property for you and offer impartial advice on price as well as any other issues that could affect you in the future. We will report to you on factors such as planning and environmental issues, location, layout, renovation costs, running costs, privacy, local neighbourhood and crime information, transport links, schooling and local amenities. We will also provide you with a detailed comparable report of recent sales, properties that are under offer and properties that are currently on the market, as well as rental values (where required) using databases that are not available to the general public, in order to advise you of the right price for the property.
- TAILORED PACKAGES
ASSET MANAGEMENT Discover Property can provide you with a regular monitoring service of your property portfolio. This includes six monthly sales and rental valuations. We will analyse any non-performing investments and work out a turnaround plan or disposal strategy. We will offer you ongoing advice on refinancing in order to benefit from gearing and assess methods of adding value to your property.
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Expand your horizons Buying a property in the UK has always been highly popular with investors from around the world. As with all investments, you need to make sure you are making the right decision. Irrespective of whether you are familiar or not with the British market and associated legal and mortgage processes, buying a property in the UK from overseas can be extremely challenging. Discover Property can help you overcome the difficultly with dealing across time zones, with language barriers and solve your unavailability to view property when necessary. We have the technology in place to offer virtual tours of the property or if you do choose to come and view the properties in person then we will happily help facilitate your visit. We offer expert advice that will guide you through any pitfalls and resolve any common misconceptions. A common example of one of these misconceptions is buying in new developments. Developers often target overseas investors as they know their properties represent reasonable investments compared to what might be available in their own country. Modern developments however are often very small, have high service charges and always demand a premium where the property is brand new. The initial premium you pay means that your investment starts off in negative equity and high service charges mean you will struggle to get a positive cash flow. Problems can also occur when you come to rent out or sell your property in a large development because there can be identical properties already on the market that dictate prices. The UK has an outstanding selection of unique properties which often makes them more attractive to tenants and buyers when you decide to sell.
- OVERSEAS BUYERS
Overseas buyers often approach estate agents or developers when looking to buy a property in the UK. It is the seller that pays their fee, meaning they will be working in the interests of the seller. Discover Property only work for you, the buyer. We will provide you with the full picture; all the positives, all the negatives, and anything else you need to know in order to make an informed purchase.
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View from anywhere in the world Discover Property are proud to be the first property company in the UK to offer it’s clients 360° immersive virtual reality viewings. The technology gives the impression you are actually inside the property. It has to be seen to be believed!
-VIRTUAL REALITY VIEWINGS
360° viewings allow you to view a property from anywhere in the world on your desktop, tablet and phone, or a VR headset for a more immersive experience.
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Discover Property offer a wide range of property guides that contain tips and advice for anyone from the first time buyer to the seasoned investors. Below is a short example, but for more visit our website: www.discover-property.co.uk/guides.
Moving Checklist 6 weeks before Confirm move date Setup home insurance Book removal company (get 3 quotes)
2 weeks before Arrange for children or pets to be looked after on move day Setup mail forwarding with post office De-register with doctor and dentist Notify your bank Update driving license with DVLA Start packing non-essential items 3 days before Confirm with estate agent the time you can handover and collect the keys Confirm arrangements with removal company Arrange for locks to be changed at new property Put valuable documents separate from packed boxes Email anyone who should know about your move Only buy enough food for remaining days Day before Take down light fittings Finish packing Pack a snack box and night bag with all essentials for first night at new house Move day Check property thoroughly for any items you may have missed Make sure property is secure Record all meter readings at property you are leaving and your new home At new property check all utilities are working Check condition of property is as stated in the contract Open the champagne, you’ve just moved in!
- GUIDE : MOVING CHECKLIST
4 weeks before Notify utility suppliers Start to sort through possessions and de-clutter where possible
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Frequently asked questions Why should I not go straight to an estate agent? The traditional route is for a buyer to search for properties through an estate agent, however an estate agent is paid by the seller and is therefore always working in their best interests. They want to get their client the highest price for the property. We are here to fight the corner of the buyer and make sure you have someone to look after your best interests. In addition, estate agents can only offer you the properties they have on their books. Discover Property have access to the whole market; every estate agent’s property list, every auction, every developer’s portfolio, and often properties that never go on the market through our vast network of contacts. How long does the process take? It is impossible for us to tell exactly how long it will take, but usually it is around 6-12 weeks from the point of us being instructed to the point you receive the keys to your new property. Are Discover Property clients favoured over other buyers? Yes, estate agents and sellers recognise our clients as serious and committed buyers as well as valuing our input during the sales process because our experience increases the chance of a sale going through. This enables you to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the buyers when you find yourself in a competitive situation, which is commonplace in today’s property market. What areas should I consider for investment? Discover Property constantly monitors the market and factors that affect it. We know the areas that are seeing regeneration and are ‘up and coming’. We are in a fantastic position to assist you when selecting an investment property. Can you source off-market properties I cannot find myself? Yes, we have an extensive network of contacts; estate agents, developers, solicitors dealing with probate sales, repossession agents and private home owners who offer us properties before they go onto the open market. Can you get below market value (BMV) properties? Yes, as we are regularly offered properties off-market, they are often below market value. We are also experts at spotting properties on the market that have been priced below market value as well as excellent negotiators, allowing us to agree substantial discounts for our clients. What are the minimum and maximum budgets you work with? We do not have any limitations for the budget we can work with. Do you sell properties? No, we represent buyers, so this would create a conflict of interest. We do have a managed sale service where we offer advice with your sale, but you will still need to either handle the sale yourself or appoint an estate agent to work for you.
How can you save me money? With our skilled negotiation techniques we can save you money firstly by ensuring you do not over pay for the property. In addition, our careful management of the sale process reduces the risk of a fall-through where you would usually lose any mortgage application fees, valuation fees, survey fees and legal fees that you have already paid out. And remember our service saves you a lot of your valuable time, and as the saying goes ‘time is money’.
-FAQs
How do you get paid? You are our client, we work solely for you and in your best interests, so we are paid by you.
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WWW.DISCOVER-PROPERTY.CO.UK 020 7118 1108 ENQUIRIES@DISCOVER-PROPERTY.CO.UK 8TH FLOOR, 6 MITRE PASSAGE, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 0ER FOLLOW US: