The Search

A charming young lady came to us looking for help to buy her first ever home. Nervous about the process and making the right decision and with her mother located far out of town, she needed not only profession guidance but an ‘Auntie’ figure she could rely and lean on. She was not sure exactly where she wanted to live nor how much it would cost.

The Challenges

Initially our client was not sure where she wanted to live. She knew she wanted a change from her existing patch but we needed to get out and show her various properties in quite a few and quite different locations. She also asked we hunt at a price point lower than she could extend to and unsurprisingly she was disappointed with what was available. We had a number of outings to give her a really strong feeling for each area so she could decide which would best suit her and brought in higher priced properties to illustrate the likely cost of that she may like.
Once we found the perfect flat for her and got her offer accepted we then found the sellers to be very stressed due to their own buying and private situation. We buffered the negativity and persevered by keeping their agent informed of all our progress and relayed a calm response when pushed on points.

The Outcome

Although our client was not sure where she would buy initially with openness and perseverance we continued to explore and demonstrate options and found Brook Green was just the place. We got an offer accepted well under the asking price and, in spite of a few tricky moments with the seller, we provided calm support and regular updates and got there in the end. With little stress to our client we secured completion resulting in her delight, eager to get decorating and furnishing her new home.

Brook Green

Brook Green has been very popular for quite some time now. It is an area that has ready established gentrification. It is very central being just west of Kensington and Holland Park. Its namesake green is very small but provides a welcome green space and play area. There is a small but lovely selection of independently run restaurants, cafés and shops. There is also a large supermarket in Brook Green. Walking distance to Shepherd’s Bush and Hammersmith, Brook Green provides plenty of amenities as well as excellent public transportation.

Transportation Links in Brook Green

Although my client used her car to commute to work it was vital she had options should her working life change. We wanted to protect the re-sale interest of the flat for those in the future who may make use of public transport too. The Central Line at Shepherd’s Bush Station, Hammersmith Station (District, Circle and Hammersmith & City) as well as the Olympia Overland branch are all walking distance from Brook Green and provide excellent public transportation links east to central London (approximately 30 minutes). There are also plenty of buses as well as easy access west, out of town, via the A4/M4.

Schools in Brook Green

There was no immediate need to think about schools for our client but it is never a bad thing to future proof. It is always important for us to protect our client’s investment; considering what future potential buyers may need. There is a mix of state and independent schools available in Brook Green or nearby (some where it is difficult to get a place): Brackenbury Primary (Ofsted Outstanding, mixed age 3-11), Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School (Ofsted Outstanding, Co-educational Year 1 to 6), Ecole Francais Larmenier & Jacques Prevert (French school, age 4-11) and West London Free School Primary for example. For the older children there is: The Godolphin and Latymer School (independent girls school for ages 11-18), St Paul’s Girls’ School (age 10-19), Latymer Upper School (Co-educational 11+), St James Senior Girls’ (age 11-18), Sacred Heart High School (girls age 11-19) and the increasingly popular West London Free School (age 11-18) to name a few.

Shopping & Dining in Brook Green

There is a sweet little array of restaurants, cafés and gastro pubs located in Brook Green. Betty Blythe is one of the cutest with excellent teas, coffee and cakes. Authentic Italian food is scrumptious at Pentolina and both the Havelock Tavern and Bird in Hand offer truly yummy modern British pub grub in the centre of the village. Along the Shepherd’s Bush Road there are more including a gift shop, florist, frame maker, fishmonger, high end lighting and more. There are further places to tease your stomach be it at Los Molinos for tapas, family friendly all-day brunch at The Corner House or French\British cuisine at Mustard. There is also a large Tesco supermarket in Brook Green with parking within walking distance so all angles are covered.

In Summary

In summary Brook Green is a delightful location that was perfect for our young single adult client but also offers a wonderful mix of quality flats and houses suitable for all. Having been long established as a quality location it has a safe village feeling with plenty of amenities and still within close proximity to central London. My client is loving her home and we were delighted to get her settled in to such a fabulous and future proofed home and for a price that was a pleasant surprise.