Employing Home Search Agents

Search agents are useful if you lead a very busy life

What Does A Home Search Agent Do?
Costs & Contacts

Every week, we tune in to watch Phil and Kirstie help confused buyers find the home they really want. But you needn't be on the show to benefit from a home search agent's experience - and you needn't be looking for a £1 million property, either.

By Kate Faulkner

What Are Home Search Agents?

Home search agents work only for buyers, as opposed to estate agents who work for the seller. They'll:

Do the searching for you.
Deal with estate agents.
Negotiate and oversee the whole deal.

We're all glued to Location, Location, Location, but few of us, when it comes to house-hunting, actually use home search agents. Abroad though, things are very different - in the USA, the majority of homes are bought using buying agents. This should make perfect sense. The seller appoints the agent to sell, so why not appoint an agent to look after your interests and buy?

What Does A Home Buying Agent Do?

Historically, home buying agents carry out the following service on your behalf:

* Meet with you to discuss your requirements and budget.
* Give advice on the current market and whether the property you want exists.
* Search the market for properties that match your needs.
* Visit likely properties to secure a shortlist for you to visit.
* Visit the properties shortlisted with you.
* Recommend what offer to make on a property you like.
* Negotiate the property's price on your behalf.
* Carry out the purchase of the property for you.
* Carry out any works via tradespeople on your behalf.
* Organise all services so you can just move into the property.

On average this process will take anything from six weeks to several months.

Where Do You Find Home Buying Agents?

Ideally, you'll find one through recommendation. Homebuying agents can be part of a national company such as Stacks, Garringtons or The Buying Agents. Sometimes, these companies are franchises which means you are looked after by the person who owns the local business, but they have the advantage of a national presence and the backing of a larger organisation.

Many home buying agents work also with companies to help them find properties for employees they are relocating.

Alternatively, there may be someone locally who has set up their own home finding business and is advertising online or in local property newspapers.

See our contacts list on the next page for more.