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WILTSHIRE LIFE - November 2002
 All
part of the service to find a perfect home.
Estate
Agents form an important part of the property scene, increasingly
so with escalating prices. Their knowledge of the area and
the demand for differing kinds of property are well appreciated
when setting the selling price, before they begin to market
your house. They have an existing base of names of applicants
looking for property and know the most productive advertising
outlets. However, bear in mind that they act for the vendor
and have no allegiance to the purchaser at all.
By no means so well known are the advantages of employing
a homesearch agent, who will in turn act totally for you.
They are often able to save the buyer time, effort and expense
in finding the right property at the right price. Searching
for a house should be enjoyable but seldom is, the cost
in time alone frequently makes the process a frustrating
and inconvenient exercise.
In some cases a homesearch or relocation agent, is virtually
a necessity. Buying a property to relocate to Britain while
still living abroad can be a nightmare. Instead of dealing
with umpteen agents, trying to view properties, negotiating
the price, appointing a surveyor and then understanding
the report, finding local solicitors, woodworm, dry rot
specialists or builders for remedial work can all be encompassed
under the one hat of the homesearch agent, who is working
for you.
Buyers resident in the UK are also pleased to have help.
The homesearch agent contacts the estate agents, searches
local papers and the Internet. They will visit properties
for their clients, a tedious chore if children have to be
taken along, or someone found to look after them. He will
report back on these viewings and arrange for the clients
to see any which may be suitable. He or she will have local
knowledge of the area, traffic problems, possible building
work and can also help with information on schools, doctors
or anything else which is important to the client.
Once a suitable property has been found the homesearch agent
will handle the negotiations. Often these can be a lot easier
through a third party, who has no emotional involvement
and throughout the process the clients' best interests are
paramount.
The Association of Relocation Agents has the names and phone
numbers of their members throughout the country. Telephone
08700 737475.
Through my work I find that Wiltshire is a county which
many people are delighted to be able to call home. It is
a well located county and an example of one of its many
attractive houses is The Clock House, Berwick St James seen
above, currently on the books of Woolley & Wallis of Salisbury
at a price guide of £950,000. It is a Grade 11 listed property
dating back to the 16th century and besides having good
accommodation it also benefits from nearly one and a half
acres of ground with the lawns running down to the River
Till, so altogether you should know when it is "time to
relax".
Written by Michael Chandler FRICS.
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