Third Time Client Upsizes To Family Home

A lovely client got back in touch as he was looking to be on the move again. Initially LPM helped him, and his brother buy their first ever flat. Then, when his brother bought him out, I found him his own first flat – now a fully independent man. Three years later he got back in touch, had met the love of his life, was getting married and they both wanted my help finding the perfect home for them to start a family. The flat he had was unsuitable with a large terrace (beautiful for after supper drinks but not so good for a toddler!). Both of them, although very much on side in their overall life plans, were nervous about finding the right place and had a different idea of what would work for them therefore it was going to take a bit of time and probing to work out which bits were vital to each and where each may compromise (there is no such thing as ‘perfect’ in a London home – as much as we all wish there may be). Coming from a two-bed flat, firstly, they needed more room. But would three bedrooms do or must it be five? Will it be the right home? That was the biggest worry initially. One of the pair noted they did not want to do much work, the other had a hankering for putting their stamp on it. One was prepared to spend more now and tighten their belts elsewhere, the other wanted a nice home but still wanted the freedom of a not too compromised lifestyle. They were both nervous the right home would be found.

Initially, I showed them a range of houses that included some that required a little bit of tender loving care but in a price range lower than their maximum agreed on the brief and others newly renovated, some larger, that came in higher in their budget – a stretch that may compromise their current lifestyle. I knew they had to be near a good school and nice green spaces to visit with children (as well as their daily dog walking – for their first addition to the family!), a reasonable commute from the airport to visit family abroad and to have a short commute to work.

They initially had different ideas about the best location. One had lived in England most of their life and was used to our foibles, the other was brought up abroad where houses and gardens were naturally far bigger (and normally detached). Turns out, that was an easy adjustment (phew!). Should they stick with the area they currently live, look at recommended areas nearby or consider just that bit further out of central London where larger homes are often found? All this was explored in my investigations and initial viewing tours to show them their options.

After showing about ten properties (a filtered selection of the nearer to forty previewed) and within only a few weeks, the right one was found. It was in a fantastic area, Kensal Rise, near to where they were living, with excellent schools, restaurants, shops a short walk away. Also, the green space they wanted for walks and excellent transportation links (only a 6-minute walk to the nearest underground station). The house was a quintessential Victorian family home with high ceilings, four bedrooms, an extended kitchen/family room overlooking the considerable size garden with wonderful west facing garden for sun in the late afternoon and early evenings when they were most likely to be spending time there. They wanted to repaint to freshen it up and to work with their own décor plans but otherwise, it was ready to move into. I made recommendations for painter, decorators and carpenters, quotes were acquired, dates for the work set up – they were ready to go.

Delightfully, their family plans occurred swiftly, and I am pleased to say they have reported that they, their dog and their wonderful new daughter are loving every minute of their new home. No more worries.

They are now settled in a home to feel proud of, comfortable and relieved to have found. They can spend the next five to ten years growing together in it and stay or move on to their next stage of life elsewhere. We’ll see!

If you’d like our help finding your perfect family home please get in touch.