Keys to the kingdom

Buying agents excel at gaining access to houses of which there's nary a whisper on the market, finds Annabel Dixon

- Annunciata Elwes

MOST clients come via word of mouth,’ says Guy Meacock, director of Prime Purchase (020–7881 2388). ‘The wealthy are used to getting advice, based on experience. Shouldn’t that be even more the case when it comes to your home?’

In the mid and upper echelons of the housing market, buying agents are familiar faces, quietly navigating highs and lows on behalf of their clients. In the Cotswolds prime country-house market, for example, 50% of transactions above £2 million involve buying agents. This proportion rises to 80% for homes of £10 million and over, says Jonathan Bramwell, head of The Buying Solution (01488 657912).

An ability to scour the market for time pressed buyers is one of the buying agent’s trump cards, complemented by local knowledge and a little black book of contacts. Often, they come up with homes that are marketed discreetly—or not at all; 67% of houses bought via Prime Purchase last year were off-market, says Mr Meacock.