The Challenge
Our Indian client was looking for a family apartment in St John’s Wood that was not only close to where his family already owned, but it also had to meet with his complex Vastu requirements. Vastu shastra (vāstu śāstra) is a pseudoscience originating in India which literally translates to “science of architecture”. According to Vastu Shastra, the main entrance to a home is not only the entry point for the family, but also for energy. The main door should face the north, east or in the north-east direction. Trying to find an apartment that meets with Vastu requirements is incredibly challenging as most do not comply.
The Perfect Conclusion
Vastu requirements can sometimes be fulfilled in new build developments, particularly when buying off plan, as long as the developer is open to making changes to the layout. Our direct relationship with developers often means we gain access to opportunities early, allowing our clients to select the very best options, and make changes.
We identified a superb off market, new build development less than a two minute walk from where our client’s family live. One St John’s Wood is set to be one of the most luxurious new build developments in St John’s Wood. Amenities include a 20m swimming pool, gym, steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi and plunge pools, cinema room, private dining room, business lounge, club lounge, concierge and residents lobby, residents roof terrace and valet parking. Once completed it will be without doubt one the most compressively serviced buildings in St John’s Wood.
We analysed the block and its units and concluded that combining two smaller units would give our client the size of apartment that he needed and, just as importantly, a layout that could be re-organised to comply with Vastu. We were not only able to get the developer to agree to the amalgamation of the units and change in layout, but we were also able to save our client money from the asking price.
The Unfair Advantage
Our direct relationships with developers is unrivalled. Early access meant that we could cherry pick the best units for our client and negotiate layout changes which were vital to meeting our clients strict Vastu requirements.
The Challenge
Our British clients had been living in West London for over 20 years but had decided that they wanted to live somewhere with a stronger sense of community and also a location which would be more convenient for them to access their second home in Dorset. Their favourite area was Richmond Hill but they were concerned as to how little seemed to come onto the open market. They wanted a family home, with a minimum of four bedrooms, a good sized garden and preferably something which had been recently renovated.
The Perfect Conclusion
Through our strong relationships with the local agents in Richmond we were able to access a house which was available on the lettings market but not for sale. The house was located on the best road on Richmond Hill and matched the brief perfectly: it had four bedrooms, off street parking for two cars, a lovely garden and had been the subject of a ‘back to brick’ renovation only a few years ago. We managed to negotiate £100,000 from the asking price and contracts were exchanged within 4 weeks and just 5 days before Christmas. Crucially the house never came onto the open market.
The Unfair Advantage
With more and more sellers opting to sell ‘off market’ we have the network to make sure our clients have access to the very best opportunities.
The Challenge
Our Canadian clients were looking for a pied-à-terre in Prime Central London that offered beautiful high ceilings, period details, green views and it had to be close to a tube station. They were only in London for a week and had limited time for viewings. Our clients knew and liked Marylebone, in particular because of the high street, but we felt that there were other areas worthy of consideration that were better value and would offer our clients more for their budget.
The Perfect Conclusion
Although our clients had initially come to us wanting to purchase in Marylebone, we ended up securing them a fabulous apartment in Chelsea. The Cadogan Estate have in recent years taken a very active role in the re-development of the area around Sloane Square, with Duke of York’s Square and Pavilion Road under-going a complete transformation, the latest stage of which will be the arrival of Hotel Costes with its first hotel outside of Paris.
We successfully negotiated the purchase of a stunning off market, 1st floor, one bedroom apartment overlooking private communal gardens located just a minutes’ walk from Sloane Square station. The apartment has the ideal East to West aspect which gives the bedroom the light in the morning and living room in the afternoon. It has the most wonderful period details which include exquisite ceiling mouldings and parquet flooring. Despite being off market we were still able to negotiate a saving of £45,000 from the asking price.
The Unfair Advantage
Our relationships with agents gain us priority access. We viewed this apartment before anyone else. This enabled us to offer and agree a purchase price before it was launched to the open market, thereby avoiding competition from other buyers.
The Challenge
Our South American client was looking for a new London home. They were already renting in the area and had identified a property which they liked, but needed specialist advice on pricing and negotiation. We were instructed by the trustees who wanted peace of mind that the client was purchasing the right property on the best possible terms.
The Perfect Conclusion
Oceanic House was originally the London headquarters of the White Star Line from which tickets for the RMS Titanic were sold. The handsome Grade II listed building has now been re-developed into 7 luxury apartments. Before engaging Black Brick, our client had initially wanted to purchase the show apartment. Often developers will “dress” the weakest apartment. We identified an alternative, more attractive flat in the same building which was larger, with a better layout and improved position. Through our negotiation we then agreed a huge £800,000 discount from the asking price, equating to just over a 19% reduction. The property was newly refurbished with a number of new appliances and services, we therefore introduced a specialist M&E surveyor who put together an extensive list of items which we made sure the developers had fixed in order for the property to be handed over in fully working order. This can often be a problem with new build apartments but we ensured our client will move in without the hassle of any snagging issues. The entire process was managed and overseen by us in order to protect our clients best interests.
The Unfair Advantage
Buyer beware. Buying new builds can be very tricky. We know the market intimately, can identify more attractive properties and negotiate huge discounts for our clients. We identified a better apartment, saved our client 19% from the asking price and made sure there was no snagging issues when our client moved in.
The Challenge
Our Italian client was looking for a secure pied a terre in Kensington. They had already identified a property which they liked, but needed specialist advice on value and negotiation. Being based overseas they also wanted someone on the ground who could communicate more efficiently with the sellers, and who could subsequently provide ongoing management of works and a key holding once the purchase had completed.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully agreed the purchase at £150,000 less than the asking price. We have overseen the legal process and introduced best in class surveyors and building contractors to assist with advice on future works. The whole process has been managed and co-ordinated by us, reducing any risk of potential loss of time and escalating costs due to the client being busy and based overseas.
The Unfair Advantage
We have strong relationships built over decades. Our relationship with the estate agent meant we were able to save our clients 7% from the asking price.
The Challenge
Our clients had been trying unsuccessfully for more than a year to identify a suitable apartment to buy before instructing Black Brick to assist with their search. They had identified a very small area in Westminster where they wanted to buy an apartment. The area and style of property suited them for a number of reasons compared with more expensive surrounding areas, and they had narrowed their search down to one block in particular called Ashley Gardens. Property values and styles in Westminster mean that buyers are able to purchase large (in excess of 2000 square feet) lateral mansion block apartments for under £1300 per sq. foot. By way of comparison, a similar sized apartment in Belgravia would cost a minimum of £2000 per square foot. As a result competition can be fierce.
The Perfect Conclusion
Once instructed we managed to highlight a suitable opportunity in Ashley Gardens, prior to it coming to market, in the block they favoured. The flat worked especially well as it was located on the first floor, measuring 2200 sq. feet and had the unique appeal of having one of the largest balconies in the block. We were able to access the opportunity off-market, which enabled our clients to offer on the property without facing competition.
The Unfair Advantage
We gain access where others can’t. Our relationships with key estate agents in the area meant we were able to gain access to a special opportunity prior to it coming to market.
The Challenge
Our clients were looking to invest into the prime Central London property market for wealth preservation and diversification. They viewed the market as a good time to enter, given the fall in property values and depreciation of sterling, effectively giving them a 37% discount compared to buying in June 2014. They were mid to long term investors, looking for a combination of capital appreciation and rental return. They were initially open new build, freehold blocks and individuals units across multiple prime areas. Their goal was to buy a minimum of 6 apartments for within their budget.
The Perfect Conclusion
We spent time with our clients, educating them on different parts of London, pricing and rental yields. Eventually we successfully sourced this superb bulk discount purchase of multiple one bedroom units in one of the best new build boutique developments in Kensington. On account of our negotiation the client has secured a significant saving resulting in a 3+% projected gross yield. We will continue to assist our client in securing suitable tenants and managing the portfolio of properties via our dedicated Property Management Service.
The Unfair Advantage
We negotiate hard. Bulk deals give us greater leverage. We saved our clients a record discount for this particular development.
The Challenge
Our clients were looking to sell this smartly converted two bedroom apartment in Westminster. Current market conditions are proving a tough environment to sell in and several properties in the same building had been withdrawn from the market over the last 24 months without having achieved a sale.
The Perfect Conclusion
After several months of viewings and negotiations with more than one buyer, we successfully identified the right buyer for the apartment. Once the sale was agreed we managed the legal process carefully to ensure that contracts were exchanged within a short time frame of just four weeks.
The Unfair Advantage
We’re focused. Our Managed Sale Service is low volume and high quality which means we have the focus and dedication to deliver a successful sale, no matter how long it takes or how tough the market conditions.
The Challenge
Our client’s instructed us to find them a three bedroom property with a large garden in a period building. They were very open to our advice as to differing neighbourhoods across the Capital, so initially we were looking from North West London to Richmond. However after several tours it became clear that Belsize Park, the area they were renting, was the preferred location. The main challenge was that their budget would not allow them to buy a house and most of the flats with gardens did not offer three double bedrooms.
The Perfect Conclusion
Having identified a wonderful two bedroom garden flat with planning permission granted to add another bedroom we found ourselves in a competitive bidding situation with another party. Despite putting forward the lower of the two bids our offer was accepted highlighting the strength of our relationships with estate agents and their preference to work with us over an unrepresented buyer.
We assisted our clients in obtaining detailed quotes from our extensive list of architects, builders and surveyors so they could accurately plan ahead and work out what would be possible, and importantly the costs to extend the property. This gave our clients the confidence to move ahead with the transaction knowing they would be able to create their ideal home by doing the work.
The Unfair Advantage
We go the extra mile – our trusted network of architects, surveyors and builders added huge value to this transaction, giving our clients the confidence to move ahead.
The Challenge
Our clients had been renting in London for more than 10 years but felt that the market conditions had changed so significantly that it was now the right time to buy their own home. They wanted a lateral apartment, in Kensington and Chelsea, of at least 2300 square foot within a mansion block that benefitted from a good sized lift. Their budget was circa £3.75m and they were happy to undertake a project if it made financial sense.
The Perfect Conclusion
The combination of our client’s exacting requirements and the lack of good quality options both on and off the open market meant that we undertook once of the longest searches in Black Brick’s history. 2 years after we started the search we identified a stunning apartment of more than 2700 square foot on the first floor of one of Kensington’s best mansion blocks. The property had not been modernised for 40 years and only had 11 years remaining on the lease. We used our extensive network to conduct an independent valuation as to the likely cost of extending the lease and sought advice as to whether our client’s proposed refurbishment would be permitted. On the basis of our research we put forward an offer and agreed terms with the seller at £1.35m which was £350,000 or 20.5% off the asking price.
The Unfair Advantage
We are patient – we work with our clients for as long as it takes to find the perfect property.
The Challenge
Our US client wanted to purchase a two bedroom apartment in Mayfair or Knightsbridge which would be let in the short term before being used by his family in the future. He was open to looking at both options in new build schemes as well as more traditional mansion block properties, and had a budget of up to £7,000,000. Before appointing Black Brick, our client had had a bad experience trying to acquire a property in a different part of London. It was at this point he decided that engaging a professional buying agent to assist with his search was the right approach.
The Perfect Conclusion
We undertook a forensic search of the significant number of new developments which had either recently completed or were available off plan whilst also looking at what was available in the more traditional mansion blocks. As a result of our analysis our client decided that he was not prepared to pay the premium being charged to be in a new build development, which in Mayfair can be as high as £5000-£6000 per sq. foot. Through our network we were alerted to an off market two bedroom, two bathroom apartment on the second floor of a period block on Mount Street which is one of Mayfair’s most iconic and prestigious addresses. The ceiling heights and aspect over Mount Street and Berkeley Square made this flat highly desirable. The vendor was asking £6,950,000 however as a result of our negotiations we were able to save our client £325,000 or 4.6% from the asking price. Our “first in the door” advantage followed by an offer meant that the property never came onto the open market.
The Unfair Advantage
Our network is unrivalled – we gained access to this highly desirable apartment located on Mount Street before anyone else.
The Challenge
We were instructed on behalf of a trust to sell this large freehold house which had a complicated history and was close to becoming a receivership sale. The property was in a very poor state of repair and there were no funds available to arrange a refurbishment.
The Perfect Conclusion
We understood that time was of the essence and so reached out to our carefully curated network of contacts which includes buying agents, private banks and other professional intermediaries. Within 8 weeks of being instructed on the sale, we had agreed terms with a suitable buyer who was keen to remodel the house to their own specifications. Contracts were exchanged 3 weeks later.
Our client commented:
‘It has been a pleasure working with Black Brick, and in particular I would like to thank Caspar for his dedication, persistence and unwavering commitment to getting this deal over the line! We shall be sure to keep you in mind for future property transactions in the London area.’ Trustee, Isle of Man.
The Unfair Advantage
Experience is key – over 80 years combined property experience allowed us to deal competently and confidently with a very complicated sale. Despite a challenging sales market, we achieved a successful sale within 8 weeks of being instructed.
The Challenge
Our British clients were looking for a London pied-à-terre in Prime Central London that had both outside space and private off street parking. They were hoping to find a property that was “future proofed” from an accessibility standpoint, so either a lateral apartment or a low built house with not many stairs.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully negotiated the purchase of a stunning three bedroom, three bathroom, two story freehold mews house which had both a private garage and terrace located in the heart of South Kensington. The house is positioned on the corner of the mews so light floods in from two aspects, an important feature as mews houses can tend to suffer from being dark. In addition to being dual aspect, the private outside space and parking made this particular mews house quite rare and therefore highly desirable. Due to the strength of our relationship with the selling agent, they shared the knowledge that the vendor would, in two weeks’ time, be reducing the asking price from £4,000,000 down to £3,750,000. Even so we were still able to negotiate £350,000 from the reduced asking price, equating to well under £1750 per sq. ft. in an area where these size houses have achieved in excess of £2,500 per sq.ft. Our clients have also taken advantage of our Vacant Care Service to ensure the house is looked after and in the condition they left it every time they return home.
The Unfair Advantage
We provide a complete service – not only were we able to find this unique house and save our clients just over 9% from the asking price, we will also continue to look after the property post purchase via our Vacant Care Service.
The Challenge
Our clients were looking to sell this unique Freehold “live-work” warehouse conversion measuring over 4000 sq. feet in Old Street/Clerkenwell, EC1. Our clients were high profile and we therefore decided on a more discreet approach that did not involve over exposure to the market, or listing the property on any of the traditional web portals. Given the rare and unique nature of the property we also knew exactly what kind of buyer the property would appeal to and how to effectively target them.
The Perfect Conclusion
After a carefully targeted campaign, tapping into our network of buying agents, private banks and other professional intermediaries, we generated multiple interest on the property resulting in several bids in a very short space of time. Within just a few weeks, we received a full asking price offer on the property from a well-qualified buyer. Once the sale was agreed the property exchanged contracts within one week. In a sluggish sales market, this was an outstanding achievement for our client.
The Unfair Advantage
We have the contacts and expertise to handle sensitive sales in a difficult market. The property was sold within four weeks at the full asking price resulting in the best possible outcome for our clients.
The Challenge
Our repeat Hong Kong client was searching for a property with very specific requirements that are hard to achieve in the Knightsbridge area. The property had to be situated in a period building, with ceiling heights of at least 3m, but with no-one above the bedrooms. Apartments in the area generally have depreciating ceiling heights as you go up in the building, so there are very few flats on the top floors where this can be found. The building also had to have a lift.
The Perfect Conclusion
We successfully agreed the purchase of this stunning 2,050 sq ft duplex penthouse apartment with 3m ceiling heights and far reaching views across Knightsbridge. The apartment has been purchased shell & core, providing a blank canvas for our client to create a new unique space to their own taste. We negotiated £200,000 off the asking price, with the final purchase price equating to a rate of £2,097 per sq ft. Similar flats in good condition on the street have achieved as much as £3,346 per sq ft in the last 12 months.
The Unfair Advantage
We’re patient – despite very tough search requirements, we worked tirelessly over a 12 month period in order to source the right apartment for our client
