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How It Works
From the first conversation to a shortlist you can act on, in four stages and typically within ten working days.
What happens, and when
- 1
Profile
We begin with a structured conversation — by telephone, video or a written questionnaire if you prefer. We cover budget and buying position, the areas you are considering, the type and condition of property you want, and the practical things that shape daily life such as commuting, schools and how soon you need to move. The output is a written brief that you approve before any searching begins.
- 2
Research
Working from the agreed brief, we research current availability across your areas and build up the local picture around each option: transport links, amenities, school catchments, planning activity nearby and any public records that affect the property. Everything is recorded with its source, so nothing rests on our memory alone.
- 3
Compare
The options that survive research are then compared against one another on your own criteria. We list the advantages and the drawbacks of each in the same format, rank them using the priorities you set, and keep a reserve list of options that narrowly missed out.
- 4
Shortlist
You receive a finished shortlist document: the options worth seeing, a suggested viewing order, the questions to ask at each one and a memo of the points still open. We then make time to talk it through before you start arranging viewings.
Four things that make a search work
- A realistic budget, with your deposit and mortgage position confirmed
- One or more target areas, and the flexibility you have on them
- Your must-haves separated from your nice-to-haves
- An honest idea of your timescale, and what would make you walk away
If any of these are still unclear, that is normal. The requirements session exists to work them out, and the written brief is there to be amended.
An honest guide rather than a promise
| Stage | Typical duration | What can slow it down |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements session and brief | 2–3 working days | Awaiting mortgage position or a decision on areas |
| Research | 4–6 working days | Very wide areas, or types of property that rarely come up |
| Comparison and ranking | 1–2 working days | A large number of close options needing more detail |
| Shortlist and handover call | 1–2 working days | Scheduling a time to talk it through |
| Additional search round | 4–6 working days | A significant change to the brief or the budget |
What support looks like from there
Viewings are yours to arrange
We do not book or conduct viewings. The shortlist tells you what to look at and what to check.
You deal directly with the selling side
Offers, negotiation and paperwork sit with you, the seller’s representatives and your solicitor.
We answer questions for two weeks
Included in the full match: two weeks of follow-up questions as you work through the options.
Ready to start with a profile?
A requirement profile costs £45 and takes a single conversation. It is the piece of work that makes everything after it sharper.