What the press have said about us...

Chicken run

The 'Jamie effect' means a new type of country property rules the roost - one with room for a free-range flock.
James Greenwood, and agent with Stacks Property Search reports that "buyers have a greater interest in rearing their own food than haveing a beautiful garden, so they are looking at lanscaping issues with very different eyes to five years ago".
James adds that hobby farming is addictive, with "happy chicking keeping leading to pig-keeping and then sheep-keeping. If you have an interest in hens, make sure you have enough land to take your pursuit to the next level

Sunday Telegraph 16/03/08

The next wave to hit the coast

There are bargains in Devon and Cornwall if you look hard enough.
"North of the A30, central and north Devon, is definitely cheaper than to the south," says David Berkeley of Stacks. Many of his clients look to north Devon after unsuccessful attempts to find good value homes on Dartmoor or in South Hams which are now as dear as the Cotswolds.

The Sunday Telegraph 24/02/08

The Cream of Cornwall

St Mawes, with its genteel charm and great views, is luring wealthy buyers.
"The geography, at the end of the peninsula means there are many more properties with water views, some over the rooftops of other homes," explains Nicola Oddy of Stacks. "In Rock there aren't many properties that really feel as though they're by the sea. St Mawes has dramatically better sailing facilities, more mooring options and the whole area is much more sailing-driven."

Financial Times 09/02/08

Houses near hunts

"Many of our clients moving from London aspire to be in a catchment area of a particular hunt," says Jo Aldridge of Stacks. "There are enormous advantages to being on the doorstep of a hunt, getting easily to the meet being the obvious one. Hunts have a great social life attached to them."
Choosing the perfect hunting property, however, can be difficult because buyers have to find both the right hunt and the right home to suit their needs.
Jo Aldridge's advice is to try before you buy. "Have a few days out with each of the hunts and make an informed choice.

Horse & Hound 07/02/08

Revaluating your house in the current climate

Although surveys from major lenders infer that house prices rose slightly during December, more agents believe they are actually falling than at any time since November 1992.
While the latest survey from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors shows a sharp rise in the number of agents reporting price falls in Decmber, many of these could be on homes which were over-valued last summer as agents chased instuctions.
At Stacks Property Search & Acquisition, a property search agency with 17 offices from East Anglia to the West Country, James Greenwood said: "We have negotiated some juicy price cuts, the largest on a home in Gloucestershire which came down from £800,000 to just over £500,000. But that was clearly overvalued.
"We have been knocking 10 per cent off asking prices for some time as a starting position, but vendors who have come onto the market recently are not mad.
"They won't take the first offer they get, and many might wait for a spring uplift in the market to kick in. Others recognise that valuations from early-2007 are now likely to be out of line."
Mr. Greenwood said: "If buyers are serious about moving, they should get into the market and find something suitable, before their own place is sold."
He added: "If they secure a decent deal on their next home, they are more likely to take a lower price on the home they want to sell."

Kentish Saturday Observer 02/02/08

Maturing nicely at last, the terroir of Grape Britain

As more of us raise our glasses to British wine, so the idea of owning a vineyard here has grown in popularity.
In strict property investment terms, owning a vineyard - or at least keeping it as one - is a challenge, especially when it come time to sell.
"Many potential purchasers are likely to want the land for something else. To them it's just a house with a field. So if you maintain land as a vineyard, you could be massively reducing your target market," warns Nicola Oddy of buying agency Stacks.
"If you love the idea of buying a property with a vneyard, bear in mind that they are a lot of work and not just in the mellow autumn when you're harvesting. Cold February days are when you prune each vine by hand, and tie them in. It's finger numbing work," she says.

Sunday Telegraph 27/01/8

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

The market is cooling; mortgage lenders are getting meaner. But learn more about the property game and the slowdown could even be your time of opportunity.

ONE STEP DOWN
Selling a large family home and buying a smaller property is a difficult venture. Nicola Oddy, of the buying agent Stacks in Cornwall, says: "There is huge competition. Whereas it used to be just down-sizers and second home buyers, it has spread to first-time buyers and young families, priced out of other areas and pushing prices up."
*Plan ahead - Don't leave your preparations until you are desperate to move. For one thing, your current home may take longer to sell than you think. Take time to consult your family if there are emotional or money issues to resolve.
*Get advice - Find a solicitor and an estate agent you trust. Nicola Oddy says that many of her clients are divorced or widowed. "Previously they weren't the one who dealt with the financial side and so this is new to them."
*Check that the move is financially viable - Selling your home may be a way to release capital but the income from this may not be sufficient for your needs.
*Location is everything - If you have young children, find out if there are good seconary as well as primary schools in the area. Most older people seek peace and quiet, weith no neighbours. But what if you fall ill and need help?
*Keep to your criteria - Ms Oddy says"Most people are moving from their family home with a lot of memories and time spent there. Don't be tempted by something more expenive and larger than you need"
*Think outside the box - Nicola Oddy had clients who rejected an ideal house that was way under their budget because the garden was too big. Her solution: hire a gardener with the money saved.

The Times 18/01/08

A TOUCH OF GLASS

They have to be careful where they throw their stones, but it seems that people love to live in glass-fronted houses. Stylish and contempory on the outside and flooded with natural light on the inside, they are flamboyant, spacious and airy.

But there are drawbacks, too, warns Peter Lewis of Stacks Property Search, a buying agency.
'Glass fronted houses look exciting, are certainly innovitive and often fetch premium prices when they are on the market.' he says.
'Purchasers should look beyond the aesthetics and take into consideration the practicalities. What's the point of so much glass? You need to consider whether it will be noisy, how you will cover the windows and whether passers-by can peer in.'

Daily Mail - Property Mail 21/12/07

A house is for life - not just for Christmas!

"'We want great entertaining space' is the cry from many of our clients," says James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition.
"And for many people, especially those upsizing, the prospect of being able to throw big parties and comfortably seat twenty for dinner is a major part of the fantasy of a new house.
"But count up the number of annual events that require this kind of entertaining space, and, even for the most socialble family, you're propbably still in single figures,"suggests James.
"And for the other 355 days of the year, all that entertaining space represents tricky to use, expensive to heat and maintain, empty space."
Instead James recommends being more realistic about your entertaining needs.
"A great answer for those who have outbuildings, or outside space, is to convert or build a seperate entertaining room," advises James.
"The build can be to a lower spec than day-to-day living space and it can function a bit like a permanent marquee at the end of the garden."
Problem solved - now there's just the question of finding those exciting friends to invite round....!

Homes - Midlands 06/12/07

COUNTRY CONVERTS

Previously the preserve of horses, cattle and the latest harvest, barns, stables and farm outbuildings may soon become the next big things in country living if planners and developers act on a new Government report.
Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that as many as 11,000 country properties mainly on farms, are ripe for conversion into top quality homes.

'The trend for city dwellers, disenchanted by pollution and traffic, swopping the terrace houses for rural retreats continues to grow,' says Heather Wimshurst of Stacks Property Search, a buying agency.
'Flexible working hours and improved technology encourage and facilitate this trend,.
Infact the majority of Stacks' clients are townies looking to buy a home in the country.

Daily Mail - Property Mail 30/11/07

Self-builders are feeling the strain

"We looked and looked but eventually commissioned a buying agent, Stacks. We lived in Buckinghamshire and had made a series of abortive 500-mile round trips at weekends. We'd get details from estate agents but pictures wouldn't show the views or whats next door. So we came down, but only then realised they were widely inappropriate," explains Norman.
"About 10 per cent to 15 per cent of our inquiries are from people looking for a site, but 90 per cent are seriously uninformed," cautions Stacks' Nicola Oddy, who found the Carters' plot for them. "A buying agent's local contacts are essential to finding plots. Land often sells by word of mouth within the locality, so a committed buyer needs to have eyes and ears in the area on a daily basis."

The Weekly Telegraph 28/11/07

THE SOUND AND PRICE OF SILENCE

Silence isn't always golden.
Country-house buyers with sensitive ears should follow the following guidelines recommends James Greenwood:
Start by looking at a map. If you're within one mile of a motorway or major road, you will almost certainly hear a steady hum of traffic.

Noise if affected as much by topography as distance - if you have a large hill between you and a road, much of the noise will be cut out. Trees propvide a good screen for noise, so a wood between you and the noise source will also help.

Consider the prevailing wind. If this takes the noise away from you, you may decide that, on the rare occasions that the wind is from the opposite direction, you can live with the noise.

Remember that noise carries across water more than it does land.

Aim to listen at different times of the day, factoring in rush hours, and the times that you are likely to be seeking peace-weekends, evenings, and night-time, for example.

Try and create realistic scenarios - for instance, road noise sounds particulary bad when it's raining, but are you likely to want to sit outside in the rain?

If you're concerned about road noise, ask to spend some quiet time in the property with the windows open.

A background hum of constant traffic can be better than irregular traffic down a small road close by. If you buy a property on a 'quiet' lane, you may find you're on the regular route of heavy farm traffic.

Country Life Magazine 29/11/07

FINDERS KEEPERS

Struggling to locate your ideal home? It's time to call in the professionals.

Around 50 per cent of the properties I've found for clients haven't reached the open market. I've found them through speaking with estate agents or private sellers before brochures are printed or details are posted on the internet,' says Nicola Oddy of Stacks, one of the largest agencies with 17 offices in Engalnd and Wales.

'You pay for four key things,' says Oddy. 'First, there's the agent's local knowledge. They can give you invaluable information on local prices, the area's schools, estate agents and other services.

'Second, there's our independence. Estate agents act for the vendor; we are backing the buyer.

'Third, we get access to properties before everyone else. And fourth, we look for their ideal home, saving buyers time and money on abortive visits.'

Oddy's clients vary from buyers of multi-million-pound homes to those wanting a simple £250,000 cottages.

'It's the service, the information and the access that we are hired for. Those are important, whatever the price of the property,' says Oddy.

Daily Mail - Property Mail 16/11/07

Come on baby, light my fire

Jo Aldridge of Stacks said” There’s nothing quite like a beautiful open fire to reel in a property purchase.
“Any estate agent worth his salt will light a fire in a gate before taking interior photos so canny vendors should make sure the fire is lit to welcome prospective purchasers.”

But Aldridge sounds a word of warning about fuel costs and the growing drive to be green and urges heating should be efficient and economic as well as attractive.
“As much as an open fire is a wonderful thing, consider how much fuel it consumes – fuel costs are rising – and how much heat does it give out.
It’s important to consider the practicalities as well as the look, and ensure that an open fireplace isn’t a source of draughts.”

Gazette,Monmouth Beacon,Berrow Worcester Journal,Bath Chronical,Ipswich Evening Star,Battle Observer 21/11/07 - 20/12/08

Why your home deserves film-star treatment

“Prop videos”, as they are known, are shot by professional cameramen and directors from the television industry. They are then edited into “mini-documentaries” with a proper story, script and score, and placed on estate agents websites such as Primelocation and Rightmove. And the use of these slick films, which may give your home the edge when it comes time to sell, is percolating down to the middle market.

Although “prop videos” can be useful, nothing can replace viewing a home in person, says James Greenwood of Stacks. “What the videos don’t allow for is looking over boundary walls and fences, talking to the vendors, checking out the neighbourhood, and seeing the things that the vendor and agent don’t want you to see.” A video can provide some clues it seems, but the only “eyes” to really trust are your own.

The Sunday Telegraph 04/11/07

IS IT ON THE MARKET – OR ISN’T IT?

James Greenwood, managing director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition, helps makes sense of a confusing market.

Consider this. An estate agent rings you and asks if you would like to view a property. You ask them to send you the particulars, but there aren’t any. You look it up on their website – but it’s not there. Are there any pictures – well, no….

So what’s happening?

One of the best questions a buyer can ask when viewing property is ‘why?’ An understanding of a vendor’s motivation is valuable when it comes to negotiating, and finding out why a property is being marketed quietly is a crucial factor when it comes to securing a property.

There are a number of reasons why a property comes to the market without a fanfare. More often than not it’s simply that the vendor doesn’t want the associated hassle – people wanting to view who aren’t serious buyers; neighbours gossiping; staff becoming unsettled; or children needlessly concerned.

Another reason is that the best time for marketing doesn’t always coincide with a property being at its most photogenic. So an agent will start getting potential buyers around the property in advance of the full marketing material being produced.

Pre-marketing is sometimes used as a device for ‘trying’ a property at a big price. The agents don’t produce any marketing material, and they offer the property to a few select buyers. If it doesn’t sell, they put it on the market officially at a lower price.

If you’re interested in a property that isn’t properly on the market, you need to ask lots of questions:

• When is it likely to be advertised/appear on the website etc?
• How many people are seeing it now?
• What is the vendors’ situation – do they want to move quickly, are they serious about selling or are they just testing the market, have they found somewhere else to live? Find out as much as you can.

If you think you are being offered the property at an optimistic level, you would do well to take advice and find representation for yourself. A good buying agent will advise purchasers on a property they have found themselves, and we will assess how much over the odds you are being asked to pay. They will also advise you on how to go about securing it with the advantage of no competition, while negotiating the price to a more reasonable level. It’s not unreasonable to be asked to pay slightly more for a property if it means you have a clear run at it, but there are ways of playing the situation to your advantage.

Country House Oct 2007

PRICES SLIDE TO A HALT

The property market has swung in favour of buyers as house price rises come to a stand still throughout much of the country.
Buyers are exploiting nervousness in the market by lowering their offers, while a growing number of agents are advising sellers to drop their prises.
Buying agents are now instructing their clients to exploit the market. James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition says: “Buyers should be looking at getting the asking price down by at least 10 per cent, possibly more.”

The Times, Market Report 05/10/07

Why would someone use a buying agent?

Tracie Griffiths of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition’s Welsh Borders office says, “Buying agents are relative newcomers to the property market. More and more people, especially at the upper end of the market, are using them, and it’s not just those searching from afar – 40% of Stacks clients live within the area that they wish to purchase their next property.
“While finding the perfect property is the most high profile part of a buying agent job, this is by no means where the tasks starts and finishes. Your buying agent should safeguard your interests at all times in a market that might otherwise be dominated by the vendor and estate agent.
“In a nutshell, a good buying agent will be much more than just a property finder.”

Monmouthshire Beacon 27/09/07

Follow the rich and famous to St Mawes

It’s the favourite Cornish hideaway of Charles and Camilla, the Duke of Westminster and Formula 1 bosses. But there’s still time to find a place in this peninsular paradise before prices get wholly beyond reach.

‘One of the great advantages of St Mawes is that, as it’s at the end of a peninsular, the geography means there are many more properties with water views, some being over the roof tops of other homes. In Rock, there aren’t many properties that really feel as though they are by the sea,’ says Nicola Oddy of Stacks Property Search and Acquisition, a buying agency that helps people relocate to Cornwall or find second homes in the county.
‘I expect it to become as fashionable as Rock, but it’ll be for a slightly different set of people – St Mawes has dramatically better sailing facilities, more mooring options and the whole are is much more sailing driven,’ she says.

The Observer, Property 23/09/07

Buying agent can ease stress of purchasing

Your buying agent should safeguard your interests at all times in a market that might otherwise be dominated by the vendor and estate agent.
The search process should give you the inside track to properties on the open market, or being sold discreetly, but also to those that aren’t on the market at all.
A buying agent will take trouble to ensure you’ve explored all possibilities in terms of the kind of property you want, and that you are fully briefed about the area and local market trends.
Once they have found the right property, they will advise on the pros and cons of the property and its surroundings, assess pitfalls, planning potential and hazards, and provide valuations based on local knowledge.
Two of the most common emotions experienced by a buyer are “Am I doing the right thing?” and “What if I lose it?”.
Using a buying agent to handle the negotiations on your behalf dramatically decreases the risk of a purchase falling through, while their expertise and investigations should ensure that all decisions are fully considered and informed, and that the price and terms suit your requirements.
They will also help you arrange and interpret the survey, liaise with solicitors and agents, and advise on local professionals such as architects, builders, landscapers and interior designers.

Property Expert 21/09/07

YOUR TOP SEARCHES ON WWW.COUNTRYLIFE.CO.UK

Behind the scenes of www.countrylife.co.uk, we've been tracking the movements of the top end of the property market in the UK and abroad since the site's relaunch in spring this year.

From these searches, we've extracted a list of counties that prove most popular with our users. There wasn't much in it, but the number of users searching for properties for the sale in Dorset has pushed it to the top of the list.

'There are some people around here who will tell you that demand in Dorset is driven by the Olympic sailing in 2012, but i don't buy that,' says Peter Lewis, Dorset director of Stacks Property Search.
'I've been in the business for more than 20 years and have always said that the charm of Dorset is that it's a bit of a backwater. There's no good connection from east to west, either by road or rail, meaning that the whole of Dorset is untroubled by major communications. It's a haven of peace between the Home Counties and Devon and Cornwall.'

Country Life September 2007

Buyers' Guides: The beauty of renting in the country

Townies 'trying before they buy' and those in between properties are boosting the market for country-house rentals.

Trying before you buy can be a motivation to rent, but there are drawbacks, according to James Greenwood, managing director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition. 'So much of a rural property is based on where it is, to the extent that one part of a village dramatically differs from another. It can be deeply frustrating to have had an enormously successful rental property, only to find replicating it when buying impossible. But if you're serious about moving to the country, it is a good way to be on the spot, settle into schools and find the perfect property when you're in place.'

Country Life 18/10/07

End of the Storey?

The great British bungalow is under threat.

This is one storey that may not have a happy ending. According to research, bungalows make us happier than any other type of home - but they are also under threat from planning red tape and the rush to build flats.

Linda Jeffcoat of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition, says bungalows have many advantages - large gardens, scope for improvement and room on most plots for anm extension - but she admits her clients tend to think otherwise.
'I'm amazed by how many buyers say they're not interested in a bungalow . But for anyone prepared to look at improving a property, a bungalow is a great option. My advice would be to reconsider.' she says.

Daily Mail 24/08/07

To pastures new

Tired of the city hubbub? It's time to make a fresh start on a farm.

'In this climate, hobby farms may help protect the British countryside,' says Bob Humphrey of Stacks, a buying agents that helps city dwellers find the right smallholding.
'They range in size from as little as five acres to 100 arces. The farm is generally expected to pay for itself and put high quality food on the table.'
But do your homework before you jump in at the deep end as big farms quickly become more than just a hobby.
'Buyers need to understand how much work is involved. Everything from the buildings to the animals needs constant attention. It simply never stops, says Humphrey. 'It may prevent you from taking holidays, or even going away for the weekend.'
But the lifestyle and the handsome farmhouses that go with it are pulling in the buyers.

Daily Mail - Property Mail 31/08/07

Sealed bids offer hope

In a competitive market, sealed bids could be one way of allowing a property to reach it's true value.
Sealed bids allow anyone interested to see the property at leisure. They then work out how much they're prepared to pay, and submit their bid by the closing date - meaning everyone gets their chance.
Heather Wimshurst, regional director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition's Carmarthenshire and Pembrokshire office, said: "Many buyers come from out of the area and will make plans to come and see something within a few days of us calling them.
"But sometimes that isn't soon enough. It's real problem - someone will travel from London to find that a sale has been arranged that morning, and they've had a wasted journey."
But Heather added that sealed bids could be dangerous for both vendor and purchaser. Buyers were effectively bidding blind.

Carmarthen Journal 25/07/07

THE GARDEN GRAB GATHERS SPACE

Building in your backyard can pay well.

One couple, Zoe and Norman Carter, bought a plot of land that was originally part of someone else's back garden in the North Cornwall village of St Breward, and have just built a new home on it. The neighbours objected.
James Greenwood, of Stacks, the buying agents who acted for the Carters, says that garden-grabbing is on the increase: "Traditionally, it was associated with the South East but now it is a widening phenomenon. Rock in Cornwall is a prime example. There is a huge demand for property here and the developers are buying up any small piece of land they can lay their hands on. But a warning to potential developers: you will not be popular with the locals. Villagers will never be happy about more properties being cramed into their area."

The Times 22/06/07

The plot thickens - Does your home have land attached? How to reap the reward

How to deal with an uplift clause.
Stacks Property Search's tips for investors facing an uplift clause:
First, try negotiating to get it removed.
If that fails, get the percentage of uplift reduced, and shorten the time period during which it applies.
Make sure that the price you pay is less than if you were buying it without the uplift clause.

The Independent 20/06/07

The plot thickens - Does your home have land attached? How to reap the reward

Estate agents are seeing a rapid increase in the use of uplift clauses in sales contracts, under which the buyer undertakes to pay a percentage of any increase in the value of the site if it is redeveloped. "From a vendor's point of view, an uplift clause on a house they have sold is essentially a free bet; a passive interest in a property they no longer have to finance," says James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition.
An uplift clause often causes two main problems: the property is worth slighty less and it can throw a spanner in the works if it is unveiled at a late stage in the sale.
"An uplift clause often only becomes evident when the buying process is already some way down the road, and in the hands of solicitors," Greenwood says. "My advice would be to resist and heavily argue against any new uplift clause that is being imposed. They arise from greed and from a climate that makes people think they should get something for nothing."

The Independent 20/06/07

Sealed bids can be a real danger - Nicola Oddy (Cornwall)

"Buyers are tempted to put in offers at a much higher level than the asking or guide prices, simply so they can secure it. They can end up paying way above a property's real value. Then rumours circulate of a huge gap between the winning and runner-up bids - and some back out of the deal."
As for vendors, Nicola Oddy says those who return to the market when a sale collapses may find disenfranchised original bidders have walked away, while "other potential purchasers believe the property has been on sales for weeks and won't touch it."
Says Ms Oddy: "Vendors could do better by paying attention to fixing a good asking price in the first place.
"Three or four valuations give a good idea of where true value lies, and valuations vary drastically in the current market, simply because it is moving so quickly."

Norwich Evening News 14/06/07

Buying Agents: From an accessory to a necessity

Buying agents are prepared to somersault in several different ways to satisfy the demands of the client. These can include anything from riding schools and music studios to the more esoteric.
'We had one client who wanted a tunnel from the house to the outbuildings. We couldn't find a property with an pre-existing tunnel, so had to build one from scratch,' says James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search. 'If we can't find an exact match to their requirements, it's our aim to find the buyer something they weren't expecting - a bit more land, for example.'

Country Life 14/06/07

To the manor reborn

The competition for large period houses set in sweeping parkland is so fierce that many buyers are giving up and building their own.
In the past two years, James Greenwood, managing director of Stacks has seen a massive increase in people wanting to buy new homes at the top end of the market. "People in their 30s, 40s and early 50s looking for five- or six-bedroom 'country' properties, set in their own grounds, would once have considered only period homes. Demand for new versions has increased by as much as 400 per cent in the last five years."

Sunday Telegraph 21/01/07

Shh, silence is golden - David Berkeley, Dartmoor & South Devon

"If you do speak, it should be to ask questions, not to volunteer information about yourself. Some buyers think a good subject for discussion is the other properties they have been to see. This gives the vendor valuble information about your budget and doesn't help should you find yourself trying to negotiate."
"This is not an opportunity for small talk, or for drawing attention to your wealth or success as a property tycoon. You are on a fact finding mission, not at a cocktail party."

Western Morning News 20/01/07

Top homes shortage will bump up prices - Competition growing for period gems

James Greenwood of Stacks said: "We see bids as much as £250,000 above guide price on properties above £1 million. None of these very high prices are paid by our clients, because we usually see little excuse for them. The difference is that 2007 is opening with too few properties on agents' books. By contrast January 2006 got off to a flying start because lots of property was overhanging the market after a quiet period in 2005."

Ipswich Evening Star and Northampton Chronicle 18/01/07

Farming's new breed

To our declining rural economy, the wealthy hobby farmer is a godsend. They are renewing the countryside - but also pushing up property prices.
"The bigger the farm they buy, the less of a hobby it is," says Gideon Sumption of Stacks.
"Purchasers should be wary of how much commitment they're prepared to take on. Fences and buildings require maintenance, grounds and infrastructure require constant attention, and weeds grow. Beware of the dream. There's lots of hard work - and it never stops."

The Sunday Telegraph 14/01/07

Tips To Top The Market

James Greenwood, the managing director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition buying agent, says: "Be prepared to hit the ground running. Start by researching values. You must know what property has been selling for to know what you should be bidding. Look at properties that you don't want, as well as the ones you do, so that you can make an informed opinion."

The Times 12/01/07

Get most out of the market in 2007

Greenwood offers these guidelines to buyers:
*Be aggressive - act swiftly and decisively, and don't get sidelined.
*Ignore scare stories about a crash, provided you intend to retain the property for at least three years.
*Don't allow yourself to be bid up unwillingly in the frenzy of the moment. Stay in your comport zone, and pull out if you're being stretched financially.
*Do your homework on values, so your bids are sensible.
*Don't expect vendors or other buyers to abide by gentleman's rules.

Cardiff Post 14/12/06

To sell your home in a hurry, you have to excite potential buyers. Luckily, the house doctor is in

Some experts are wary of what they see as merely "dressing up a property". James Greenwood, director of property search company Stacks, says he always steers clients past properties that have had a makeover. He also points out that, in the countryside in particular, "there is a massive premium attached to an unimproved property. The tag 'in need of modernisation' on the front of particulars is one of the most useful weapons in an estate agent's armoury. It's likely to attract great attention - and fetch extraordinary prices".

Sunday Times 05/11/07

Wales - The next big thing

Regeneration and investment.
Part of Wales's recent success story is due to the fact that the country's relative poverty in Europe made it qualify for EU 'Objective One' funding. As a result, in the past six years it has received £1.4 billion for regeneration projects in west Wales and the Valleys region, and more than 15,000 jobs have either been saved or created. 'New investment in the region has really been noticable,' says Bob Humphrey of Stacks. 'The economy and standards of living have all gone up. Although a lot of our enquiries have been from English people completely new to Wales, a significant proportion are people whose parents or grandparents may have been Welsh but moved out to find work during the economic downturn, yet still have roots in the region and want to move back, especially as they see the economy picking up.'

Country Homes & Interiors October 2006

Stacks of delight

James Greenwood, managing director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition, an agency that represents buyers in the house purchasing process, said:"I'm delighted that the Home Condition Report element of HIPs has been shelved.

"My advice to clients, had it been introduced, would have been to obtain an independant survey anyway, because we would be unhappy relying on one commissioned by the buyers or their agent."

Negotiator 28/07/06

Another good day at the office

High-tech wizardry allows you to abandon 9-5 drudgery and work from home

"Ten years ago, Cornwall was only ever seen as a second-home destination or somewhere to retire to," agrees James Greenwood, managing director of Stacks. "Now, most clients are looking for a lifestyle change and can move due to changing working patterns and the advance in technology.

"Two years ago, one in 10 clients was looking to work from home; now it has grown to four in 10. This is the first year we haven't lost sales through a lack of broadband connection, but you do have to warn them about mobile reception. People can afford to be less centralised. Moving into Wales - Monmouthshire and Pembrokeshire are increasingly popular - as well as Cornwall."

The Sunday Times 02/07/06

Gardens are deal makers or breakers

Jo Aldridge, regional director of Stacks Property Search and Acquisition's Wiltshire office, says, "The rightness or wrongness of a garden can make or break a property deal, and there's no question that buyers look more carefully at gardens in the summer than in the winter."

Before starting a search, purchasers should analyse exactly what they want from a garden, what they will be using it for, how much knowledge they have, and how much time thay are prepared to spend working on it.

Barringtons Bath & Wilts Prestige Properties July 2006

The Good Life? Not entirely

Have you moved to the country then rued the day you upped sticks? Or have you never looked back?

The lack of public transport in rural areas will force you into your car, increasing your petrol costs. You may even find yourself behind the wheel in search of entertainment if you find out that you dislike the food, beer, clientele and landlord of the local pub. Nicola Oddy of Stacks Property Search and Acquisition, recommends that anyone thinking of buying in a village should first check out the atmosphere in the local holstelry.

Bricks and Mortar, The Times 23/06/06

Londoners tell us how lucky we are

Nicola Oddy, of Stacks Relocation's Cornwall office, says competition for good property is huge, and private plane or helicopter flights to view property are not unusual. "If we find a good house for a client we get them to jump on a plane to Newquay as soon as they can - and we are talking hours, not days. They'll see the property, go back the same day and make a decision overnight. You need to be decisive, especially for the smaller, chocolate-box cottages that are so in demand. Even Boscastle, which was devestated by floods, is doing well.

The Sunday Telegraph 18/06/2006

Be first in the queue

Hunting for a new home can be a thankless task, and hours of endless searching so often results in someone else snapping up your dream property.

If the constant monitoring of websites, newspapers, and speaking to agents is not for you, try enlisting a property finding firm.

Stacks Property Search & Acquisition has been established since 1984, and has 17 offices in the UK employing experienced property professionals with strong local contacts who act for the buyer.

He said: "Our service is not just for the wealthy and customers are going to have the whole market covered, won't be persuaded to buy a property that isn't suitable for them and will know any costs they are going to have to spend on renovations or planning. We also negotiate extremely hard against the agents and our average property purchase price is 14% below the asking price."

Western Morning News 22/05/06

Builders focus on urban areas

Although Sir Alan Sugar has concluded his search for a £100,00-a-year trainee in the TV show 'The Apprentice', the tycoon and his selection team have new targets on the horizon.

Nick Hewer, the eminent, greying advisor at Sir Alan's left-hand who rarely gets a decision wrong, is reportedly in search of investment properties.

Sarah McAllister, regional director of Stacks Property Search which tracks down quality properties on behalf of those too busy to look for themselves, says her agency is advising Mr Hewer on what to buy.

Sarah said: "The number of developers reserving newly built units is evidence that people see long-term capital growth."

Dorset Echo 25/05/06

Homes with outdoor spaces

June and July are dangerous months to view property, warns Nick Wooldridge from Stacks Property Search & Acquisition Thames Valley office. Most of us are susceptible to the charms of a garden in full bloom, but we should be concentrating on the more fundamental elements of outside space.

'Purchasers should assess a garden in much the same way they assess the house itself', he says. 'Prepare a list of priorities that address size, shape, what you will use it for, safety, maintainence and how much work you are prepared to do.'

Focus May 2006

And on his farm he had some birds

As government support for traditional farming continues to wither, land owners are realising the value of conservation and wildlife as a means of getting the best price on the property market.

James Greenwood, director of Stacks Property Search, which finds property for private clients, says: "Today, four out of five entrants buying farms are non-farmers and an environmental rationale is uppermost in their thinking. Species-rich environments are an asset."

The Sunday Telegraph 21/05/06

Market Towns

Best-of-both-worlds appeal

Increasingly, the market-town is becoming a first choice for city dwellers keen to carve out a greener, cleaner life. Jayne Perks, Regional Director of Stacks Property Search & Acquisition says, 'In the past five years I have noticed a growing number of clients, especially from the south-east, requesting properties in market towns.'

Jayne attibutes the trend to the improved amenities and shops that towns now offer. 'Easy parking, individual boutiques, green spaces and a sense of community are some of the reasons why market towns are so popular,' she says.

There's another reason why market towns are becoming a first choice for city folk. 'Lots of my clients leaving town are couples with children. They want to live in the country but they're nervous of moving to a remote spot and losing all of the conveniences of the city,'she says. The market town's best-of-both-world's combination of urban facilities and rural setting is, she says, the 'perfect solution'.

Country Homes & Interiors May 2006

In Camarthenshire, Pembrokshire and Ceredigion, the area that begins where the M4 ends, the average price of a detached house is £100,000 less than the national average, according to the Land Registry. But figures from the Halifax show that prices increased by an average price of 155% in Camarthenshire and Pembrokshire between 2000 and 2005, compared to 125% in Devon and Cornwall.

A Survey by the Office for National Statistics at the end of last year revealed that the southwest is no longer the top destination for internal migration. Bob Humphrey of Stacks, a property search agency, says: "Pembrokeshire and Camarthenshire are the baby sisters of Devon and Cornwall. We are witnessing an increasing stream of holiday buyers and downsizers from west London and the West Midlands."

Prices have begun to react to the increased interest.

Humphrey estimates that prices have more than doubled in the last two and a half years, but says that you can still find pretty three bed cottages for about £200,000 and smallholdings with land for less than £500,000.

The Sunday Times 09/04/2006

Join the new West Country gite set

You don't have to go to France these days to run a holiday let business

Janice Gordon, of relocation company Stacks' Devon office, has helped many urban refugees buy holiday cottage complexes.

'It's a fantastic way to change your life completely', she said. 'But buyers should be aware of borrowing too much to make the figures work. People think a turnover of £100,000 is OK, but if you don't get the bookings because everyone's glued to the World Cup - as they might be this summer - it can be tough.

Some of these complexes can be over-priced and, if buying in expensive areas such as the South Hams, you must check whether there's enough extra rent to cover the initial outlay'.

Daily Mail 17/03/06

A Steady March

By Nicola Oddy - Stacks Cornwall

This is the first time that Stacks in Cornwall has experienced a significant number of clients already living in the County requesting assistance to "trade up". In our previous experience, the majority of people have moved into Cornwall later in life and tended not to move again. The trend over the last decade to bring up a family in the county and remain here permanently, is leading to existing families seeking larger properties, and retiring buyers downsizing, whilst still remaining in the county.

The market is expected to go from strength to strength in 2006 and in order to be a successful buyer in Cornwall you will need to be well prepared, decisive, and quick to follow through.

Housemart March 2006

The Village

By Edward Pepper - Stacks Buckinghamshire

To the locals, Wendover is always known as 'the village', although it has all the amenities of a small town. Earlier this year Country Life indentified Wendover as one of ten 'commuter hotspots' where those needing to travel daily to London could buy a property rather more cheaply than in such places as Beaconsfield, The Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross, whilst still benefiting from a fast and reliable rail link to London Marylebone.

What is our advise to buyers? We are told that the mother of John Sentamu, recently enthroned as Archbishop of York, said to him: "God gave you one mouth, two eyes and two ears and you should use them in the same proportion."

Whether true or not it is good advice for those viewing houses as it is only too easy to offend the vendor by making inappropriate comments. If you do speak it should be to ask a question, not to volunteer information about yourself, your budget and the other houses that you have been to see as this will give the vendor valuable information which may have an adverse effect when negotiating over the price.

Buckinghamshire Countryside March 2006

Jamie spices up surfing capital

The celebrity chef's new restaurant will fuel prices in booming Newquay.

Some property analysts believe Jamie Oliver will do what fellow celebrity chef Rick Stein has done for Padstow, 10 miles north east along the coast. 'Fifteen is going to be on a big surfing beach, Watergate Bay, a mile outside Newquay. Between here and Padstow are a dozen communities offering something different - surfing, a bucket and spade beach, cliff walks - property along this stretch of coast has risen but remains lower than Padstow. There's plenty of room for upward movement,' says Nicola Oddy of property buying agency Stacks.

The Observer 19/02/06

A homeowner's natural love/hate relationship

Imagine a neighbourhood without trees. It would be a drab, soulless place, lacking natural form, colour and bird life, without dead leaves to kick up or blossoms to admire.

But for all the homeowners who love their trees, there are others who would happily have them hacked down.

Felled trees can also spark disputes, particularly in the country. "If trees are already present around a property, the would be buyer tends to assume that's the way it is. But if those trees are screening somekind of blight - an unattractive property, a pig farm, pylons, a road and headlights - and they are not part of the property, then you're vunerable," explains Gideon Sumption, Regional Director of Stacks Property Search in Devon and Somerset. "There's nothing to prevent the farmer cutting down a big tree in his boundary hedge if he wants to - and spoiling your outlook in the process.".

Financial Times 18/02/06

Half-term house-hunting needn't be a trial, if you're properly prepared

A moody teen can influence a viewing as parents will get distracted. Leave them at home the first time round but include them again for the all-important second viewing. However inclusive you decide to be, there is such a thing as giving the children too much information, warns James Greenwood of buying agent Stacks. "I remember going round a house with a couple and their nine year old daughter, who was fantastically precocious," he says. His clients were rather excited about it, which the vendors sensed. The house was on the market for £875,000 and they said that they had been thinking of lowering the price to £850,000.

"The little girl immediately piped up and said, 'That's good because we've got plenty of money for that'. She'd obviously been listening in to their conversations, which is something I warn parents about now. Children have got to buy in to their new home but they're not the ones spending the money."

Many of Greenwood's biggest problems come with families moving out of "funky" west London to the depths of the country. "It is important for me to engage directly with the kids so that they don't feel left out.

Sometimes they'll tell me their fears when they won't tell their parents. My job can be like a cross between ACAS and the Samaritans."

Sunday Telegraph 12/02/06

A new cottage industry

Buy a romantic weekend retreat to get away from it all - and watch the cash roll in.

Choose the right sort of property: "Make sure accommodation ratios are right. If you rent to families you need plenty of bathrooms and downstairs facilities such as a shower, drying room and utility space. Sufficient parking is paramount as holiday destinations become grid locked in peak weeks, and tenants need to know they don't have to take their chances with day trippers. Outside space doesn't have to be extensive but space for barbecueing or eating outside is a minimum," says Nicola Oddy of Stacks.

Self managed or through an agent?: "Always ensure you have cleared funds for your bookings before giving keys or refunds. Ask for a deposit to cover any accidental damage - it's not unusual to request £100 or 25% of the rental value, whichever is greater."

If you hire a lettings agent expect to pay around 20 per cent of rental income as commission, plus other lump sums for maintaining the property when it's empty.

"On top of that you need to factor in cleaning, laundry and replacement of white goods, which have a much shorter life than in a normal home", says Nicola Oddy. "This is all on top of the normal property maintainence issues."

The Independent 08/02/06

We Bounced Back

Divorce does not have to mean moving to a smaller home.

James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search and Acquisition, agrees that, when it comes to going your seperate ways, bigger is better. "Divorcees should concentrate on getting plenty of space for their money. It may be at the expense of aesthetics, but it will be the thing they miss most when downsizing."

Although Greenwood spends most of his time telling buyers to "think long term", he suggests the opposite in this scenario. "People need to remember that this is probably not how it will be forever. The chances are that new relationships will flourish, new opportunities will arise, and what you need now to see you through the first phase will not be what you need long term." Renting is one way to cope with change. You can try out a new location, find out what your new needs are and buy only when your finances become clearer. "If renting is not an option, try to buy something that will sell easily and won't lose money in the short term," Greenwood suggests.

The Times 02/02/06