Finding the right London property is only part of the challenge. Knowing whether it is the right property at the right price can be considerably harder.
Curetons provides a complete London property buying service, representing buyers throughout the search and acquisition process. We search the open and off-market property markets, preview and assess suitable homes, advise on value, negotiate on your behalf and help manage the purchase through to completion. Unlike a traditional estate agent, we represent you — the buyer.
Contact Curetons for a free, no-obligation consultation about your property search.
A complete London property search
Once we understand your requirements, we build a search around your budget, preferred areas, property type and lifestyle. Our search goes beyond simply monitoring Rightmove and Zoopla. We speak directly to estate agents, developers and our wider network of property contacts to identify properties that are:
- openly advertised
- newly instructed or coming to market
- being marketed discreetly
- available privately or off market
For particularly specific searches, we can also make direct approaches to owners in individual streets or buildings. Our objective is simple: to find the best property available for your requirements, whether or not it is publicly advertised.
We filter the market for you
More property listings do not necessarily make finding the right home easier. Curetons filters potential opportunities before recommending them to you. Where appropriate, we preview properties ourselves and assess factors that may not be obvious from an estate agent’s photographs. That can include:
- condition and layout
- natural light and outlook
- location within a street or building
- lease length and service charges
- refurbishment requirements
- surrounding development
- future resale appeal
Instead of spending your evenings and weekends viewing unsuitable properties, you can concentrate on a carefully selected shortlist. This is particularly valuable for busy professionals and overseas buyers with limited time in London.
Independent advice on property value
The asking price is what the seller hopes to achieve. It is not necessarily what the property is worth. Before recommending an offer, we consider comparable sales, competing properties, condition, tenure, previous marketing history and current market conditions. We then give you an independent opinion on value. Sometimes our advice is to negotiate hard. Sometimes a correctly priced property requires a different strategy, and occasionally our advice is simply not to buy it. A selling agent represents the seller. Curetons represents the buyer.
Negotiation and acquisition
Once you decide to proceed, we agree an offer strategy with you and negotiate directly with the selling agent or private seller. Effective negotiation is not simply about making the lowest offer possible. The seller’s circumstances, competing interest, your financing position, timing and other terms can all influence the outcome.
Our aim is to secure the property on the most favourable price and terms reasonably achievable without unnecessarily risking the purchase of the right home. Already found a property yourself? Our separate property negotiation service may be more appropriate.
Due diligence through to completion
An accepted offer is not the end of the purchase. Surveys, conveyancing, mortgage arrangements and leasehold enquiries can all uncover issues or cause delays.
Curetons remains involved throughout the transaction, liaising with estate agents, solicitors, surveyors, mortgage advisers and other professionals where required. If a survey or other investigation changes our assessment of the property, we can advise on whether further negotiation or reconsideration is appropriate.
We do not replace your solicitor, surveyor or financial adviser. Our role is to represent your interests on the property side of the transaction and help keep the purchase moving through exchange and completion.
Buying property in London from overseas
Curetons regularly represents international buyers who need somebody on the ground in London. We can preview properties, provide detailed feedback, arrange remote or video viewings where appropriate and create a shortlist before you travel to the UK. This can dramatically reduce the amount of time you need to spend physically house hunting.We can also explain the practical differences involved in buying property in England and coordinate with your professional advisers throughout the acquisition.
Why use Curetons?
Curetons is an independent, privately owned property buying agency working on behalf of buyers rather than sellers. Our full property buying service combines:
- whole-market property search
- access to on and off-market opportunities
- property previews and shortlisting
- independent value assessment
- professional negotiation
- survey and due-diligence support
- transaction management through to completion
Most importantly, we are prepared to tell you when we think you should walk away. Our job is not simply to complete a transaction. It is to help you make the right property purchase.
How much does a buying agent cost?
Our full property purchase service typically combines an initial retainer with a success fee payable when a property is successfully acquired. See our Fees page for current charges, or contact us to discuss your particular search.
For a detailed explanation of each stage, see How our buying agent service works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a London property buying agent do?
A buying agent represents the purchaser rather than the seller. Curetons can search for properties, preview and shortlist suitable homes, assess value, negotiate the purchase and help manage the transaction through to completion.
Can Curetons find off-market properties?
Potentially. We speak directly with estate agents, developers and property contacts and can also make direct approaches where appropriate. However off-market does not automatically mean better value, so every opportunity is assessed on its merits.
Can Curetons help overseas buyers?
Yes. We regularly represent international clients and can undertake much of the property search remotely, including previews, video viewings and shortlisting before you travel to London.
What if I have already found a property?
You may only need our negotiation-only service, which provides independent advice on value and professional representation during the offer and negotiation.
Start your London property search
Tell us what you are looking for and we will give you an honest assessment of your search, your budget and where Curetons can add value.
Contact Curetons today for a free and confidential consultation about your London property search.
Case study – purchase
After having two children in quick succession we’d seriously outgrown our cramped central London apartment, we needed more space desperately and preferably with a garden for the kids to play in. However after a long and fruitless year of searching for a house while simultaneous juggling childcare and me going back to work after maternity leave, we’d almost completely given up on finding a property to buy. We’d lost out or been gazumped on several different properties and we were starting to despair. As a parent and busy hospital consultant finding the time to even view properties was hard enough and when I was taken out by estate agents I was just being shown properties that were completely unsuitable for our needs. This is when a friend recommended Curetons to us.
We’d never really heard of a property buying agent before, but the concept sounded ideal for us. Robin was extremely thorough in finding out exactly what we were looking for. We were quite fixed on areas, but he also pushed us to see areas we hadn’t previously considered. Eventually we found a house on a street that we loved, sadly that fell through because of an issue with the survey, but knowing we liked that street Robin sent letters to all the residents on that street asking if they were thinking of selling. Eventually we ended up doing an off-market deal on a house just a couple of doors down from the one we had previously offered on. Thankfully with Robin’s support it went through without too many complications. He even helped us with the removal company and sorted parking permits on the day of the move. We’ve now been in the new house for 6 months and we could not be happier, thank you for all your help.
TM, Chiswick. Budget £5million West London