How does a buying agent work? The Curetons process

Using a buying agent should make purchasing property simpler, not more complicated.

Curetons represents you from the beginning of your property search through to completion. We find and assess properties, organise viewings, advise on value, negotiate on your behalf and help keep the purchase moving.

Every search is different, but our full London property buying service typically works like this.

1. We understand what you are looking for

We start with a free, no-obligation consultation to understand what you want to buy, your budget, preferred locations, timescale and priorities.

Just as importantly, we discuss where you are — and aren’t — prepared to compromise. We will give you a realistic assessment of what your budget can achieve and, where appropriate, suggest alternative locations or approaches that could give you better options.

Once you decide to instruct us, we agree a clear search brief and get started.

2. We search the whole market

We don’t simply set up alerts on the property portals. We speak directly with estate agents, developers and our wider network of contacts to search both the visible and less visible property market.

That can include homes which are:

Advertised for sale
About to come onto the market
Being quietly marketed
Available privately or off market

For particularly specific searches, we can also proactively investigate individual streets, buildings or other potential opportunities.

3. We filter the market and arrange viewings

Finding properties is only part of the job. Eliminating the wrong ones can be just as valuable. We assess potential properties against your brief and, where appropriate, preview them before recommending a viewing. We look beyond the photographs and estate agent description to consider factors such as condition, layout, natural light, location, tenure, service charges and likely resale appeal.

We then arrange viewings around your availability and help you compare the strongest options objectively. If none of them is right, we keep looking.

4. We assess the value and negotiate

Once you have found a property you would like to buy, we establish what we believe it is actually worth. We consider comparable sales, competing properties, market conditions, previous marketing history, buyer competition and the seller’s position where known. We agree an offer strategy with you and then negotiate directly with the selling agent or seller.

Our objective is simple: to secure the property on the best price and terms we reasonably can.

Already found a property yourself? You can also use our separate property negotiation service without instructing us for a full search.

5. We help with surveys and due diligence

An accepted offer is not the end of the purchase. We remain involved while your solicitor, surveyor, mortgage lender and other professionals carry out their respective work.

We liaise with the different parties, help keep the transaction moving and assist you in understanding any issues that arise. If a survey uncovers a significant problem, we can help assess the implications and, where appropriate, return to the negotiating table.

6. We stay involved through to completion

Property transactions rarely run entirely without complications. Chains can change, surveys uncover problems, legal enquiries take longer than expected and completion dates move.

We remain involved throughout, helping maintain communication between the different parties and resolving issues where we can. Our involvement continues through exchange of contracts and completion — when the property finally becomes yours.

One buying agent. One point of contact.

Buying property can involve estate agents, solicitors, surveyors, mortgage brokers, lenders, developers and managing agents.

Rather than managing everyone yourself, your Curetons buying agent remains your consistent point of contact throughout the process.

You make the decisions. We do the legwork and give you the information and advice you need to make them.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a property search take?

There is no fixed timescale. Some clients find and secure a property within weeks, while a particularly specific search can take considerably longer. We would rather keep searching than encourage you to buy the wrong property simply to complete a search quickly.

Do I still need a solicitor and surveyor?

Yes. Curetons manages and advises on the overall purchase but does not replace appropriately qualified legal, surveying, tax or financial professionals.

How much does a buying agent cost?

Our full buying service typically combines an initial retainer with a success fee payable when a property is successfully acquired. See our buying agent fees for more information.