Following its expansion into the West Country earlier this year, multi-award-winning buying agency Black Brick’s Country & Coast team gives its top tips on buying listed properties in the area.
From Rectory to Manor Houses to Thatched Cornish Long Houses, Rupert Stephenson and Anna Sharp of Black Brick Country and Coast have assisted buyers in purchasing some of the finest Listed properties across the southwest over the years.
Here are this leading buying agencies top tips when looking to buy a Listed Property:
- Consider the pros and cons: Buying a Listed property takes time, commitment, and investment once you have purchased it. They need much more maintenance than a modern house, so think about whether your lifestyle fits.
- Be proactive. We often find that several older-style properties never reach the open market and are often sold off-market, as they have been in the same family for many years. Instructing a buying agent will help you find these off-market properties.
- Get the right team behind you. From your buying agent to solicitors to building surveyors make sure you instruct the right team of specialists in this field. Buyers have to be much more proactive when buying a Listed property, aspects such as Listed buildings insurance are just one of the aspects we encourage our buyers to consider researching much earlier on in the purchase process than compared to a new build.
- Do your research: find out as much as you can about the history of the property. You’ll be surprised what you might find in a nearby local library!
- Think ahead: before purchasing the property plan ahead post-purchase. Listed professionals from architects to contractors often get booked up in advance. Ecology surveys have to be carried out at specific times of the year.
- Work with the Listed and Heritage officer, and reach out to your local agent. They will want to work with you, particularly if you are restoring the building and reinstating original features. They will also be aware that many of these older properties need to be brought into modern-day living.
- Be Innovative: work with your architect and do your research. Some incredible companies specifically create resources for traditional properties, from double-glazed windows, and joinery to appliances.
Rupert comments: “I helped clients from Oxfordshire buy this last year. It was a stunning house in a beautiful location but it required some updating. It was already a good layout so it was more a case of updating the electrics, heating, and fixtures than anything else so no more expensive than updating a non-listed house and didn’t require the involvement of the listed buildings officer. The main thing to remember is that you cannot change the windows to double glazing, knock down walls, or create new openings such as for bifold doors without listed building consent, so you should always allow for these things and the additional costs and additional paperwork for these types of applications. We have lived in listed buildings ourselves many times over the years and my advice would be not to be put off by listed buildings, they are a joy to own and to live in, but it is always important to employ a good planning consultant or architect right from the start and seek out an experienced builder who is used to dealing with listed buildings.”
Anna comments, “There’s always a story with older houses and something very special about buying into a bit of history. I think the country house market is making a comeback with people wanting more space around them, as well as the traditional design of older houses which has increased in popularity in recent years. However, any buyer considering an older property must be prepared to have patience, time, and a good budget, particularly when the property requires updating into modern-day living. I recently helped an older couple purchase a Grade II Listed property. They instructed a very experienced Listed Architect who assisted them through planning to make the ground floor area of the property disabled-friendly to meet the client’s needs.”
Established in 2007 by property expert Camilla Dell, Black Brick has consistently delivered an outstanding commitment to exceptional customer service and value to its clients. Flourishing from a two-person start-up to today, to one of the UK’s premier full-service buying agencies.
The firm specialises in representing high-net-worth individuals, family offices, investors, and corporate clients from around the world seeking unparalleled expertise in purchasing property. Camilla and her team collectively have over 100 years’ experience and have been responsible for sourcing nearly £2bn in residential property. They represent some of the most successful entrepreneurs, business leaders and royal families from around the world. The agency has earned a stellar reputation for its dedication to client satisfaction, market intelligence, and the ability to secure unique and high-value properties across prime London, Surrey and the West Country. They have won several prestigious awards including City Wealth Magic Circle Property Advisor of the Year 2024, consistently ranked in Chambers High Net Worth Guide and Spears 500 Top Flight Buying Agents.
Black Brick has consistently embraced innovation in the property market, using data analytics and market insights to provide its clients with a competitive advantage in identifying and securing prime properties. As well as being multi-award-winning, Camilla hosts a monthly podcast, “Finding Perfect Property, Diary of a Buying Agent,” interviewing her little Black Book of contacts on all thing’s luxury property. Each episode features on the firm’s YouTube channel, as well as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Each month, they produce Black Brick Monthly Market Update with news and insights on the PCL, Surrey and West Country property markets.
Featured Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash.
