The Times, 18/03/18

Please sir, can I have your house

Quoting James Greenwood of Stacks Property Finders 

“A shortage of stock means buyers are resorting to begging letters

The hit rate for begging letters is about 5%, estimates James Greenwood, managing director of Stacks Property Search. People who have been contemplating selling up might be persuaded by a personal letter, especially if it means avoiding estate agents and the hordes traipsing through their house. Yet there are dangers in going it alone, too.

“If someone responds to our letter, we encourage them to get an agent,” Greenwood says. “Private buyer and seller is a recipe for disaster — 40% of all transactions fail before exchange — but an agent can smooth things over. And a private seller might overvalue by 20% to 40%.”

 

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"extremely helpful, knowledgeable and tireless in their efforts to assist us"
2018-11-21T12:33:22+00:00
"extremely helpful, knowledgeable and tireless in their efforts to assist us"
"Relentlessly provided us with the context and facts we needed to make an informed decision "
2018-11-21T12:50:28+00:00
"Relentlessly provided us with the context and facts we needed to make an informed decision "
"You have an empathetic approach which, added to your knowledge and wise guidance, has made the whole thing a lot less stressful"
2018-11-21T13:17:15+00:00
"You have an empathetic approach which, added to your knowledge and wise guidance, has made the whole thing a lot less stressful"
"Stacks has been an invaluable source of experience and wisdom on the successful landing of just the right house"
2018-11-21T12:53:20+00:00
"Stacks has been an invaluable source of experience and wisdom on the successful landing of just the right house"
"I needed the continuous advice and support on the many issues that can and do arise, and, above all, someone acting in one’s own interest."
2018-11-21T12:44:59+00:00
"I needed the continuous advice and support on the many issues that can and do arise, and, above all, someone acting in one’s own interest."
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2018-11-21T12:42:07+00:00
"How extraordinary to have found what we were looking for"
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2018-11-21T12:57:31+00:00
"They didn’t try to persuade us to buy anything unsuitable."
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2018-11-21T12:51:23+00:00
"Should I move again, I shall definitely use you again"
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2018-11-21T13:18:01+00:00
"You have exceeded our expectations for a buy-side property service and have made the process a smooth one for us."
"utterly tenacious..."
2018-11-21T13:06:52+00:00
"utterly tenacious..."
"Despite other interested parties, Stacks were able to help us secure our preferred property."
2018-11-21T12:32:12+00:00
"Despite other interested parties, Stacks were able to help us secure our preferred property."
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2018-11-21T12:43:48+00:00
"I gained a house, setting and location which are right for me"
"...negotiate on anything"

Financial Times

2018-11-06T14:00:36+00:00

Financial Times

"...negotiate on anything"
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2018-11-21T13:10:27+00:00
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2018-11-21T12:41:04+00:00
"helped our parents downsize from the family home, in what was a traumatic move for them"
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2018-11-21T13:07:43+00:00
"was fantastic at explaining and helping us with everything that was happening"
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2018-11-21T12:35:46+00:00
"found precisely what I was looking for, and even on my request made an offer before I had even seen the property!!"
"Practically, I needed someone to do the legwork and the eye-balling"
2018-11-21T12:49:38+00:00
"Practically, I needed someone to do the legwork and the eye-balling"
"Stacks takes great pride in their service, is an expert in their field and above all, demonstrated integrity in all our interaction with them"
2018-11-21T12:54:09+00:00
"Stacks takes great pride in their service, is an expert in their field and above all, demonstrated integrity in all our interaction with them"
"You saved me many miles of driving and were very professional"
2018-11-21T13:19:40+00:00
"You saved me many miles of driving and were very professional"
"We now own a most suitable house in the position of our dreams thanks to Stacks"
2018-11-21T13:11:13+00:00
"We now own a most suitable house in the position of our dreams thanks to Stacks"
"The house is ideal ... and it is nothing like our first (unsuitable) ideas!"
2018-11-21T12:56:37+00:00
"The house is ideal ... and it is nothing like our first (unsuitable) ideas!"
"We cannot imagine how long it would have taken us to find our perfect home without Stacks – and we suspect that we would have compromised a long time ago!"
2018-11-21T13:09:36+00:00
"We cannot imagine how long it would have taken us to find our perfect home without Stacks – and we suspect that we would have compromised a long time ago!"
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2018-11-21T12:55:04+00:00
"Thank you very much for the professionalism, patience and understanding"
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2018-11-21T12:30:52+00:00
"delivered a great service at a reasonable cost"
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2018-11-21T13:16:29+00:00
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2018-11-21T12:47:38+00:00
"In essence, you are buying your best ally "
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Sunday Telegraph

2018-11-06T13:59:47+00:00

Sunday Telegraph

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2018-11-21T13:12:46+00:00
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2018-11-21T12:48:37+00:00
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"carried out with discretion"
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"They've been a close and very helpful part of our discussions with everybody. When you’re new to a town and an area, that’s priceless."
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2018-11-21T12:59:15+00:00
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2018-11-21T13:15:37+00:00
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2018-11-21T12:52:31+00:00
"Stacks had the critical combination of expertise and tenacity to broker a solution for us"
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2018-11-05T22:55:02+00:00
“We want to thank you so much for the very professional and sensitive support you have given us in navigating through the various properties we have considered for investment of our small inheritance.”
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2018-11-21T12:43:03+00:00
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2018-11-21T12:17:11+00:00
"a fantastic job in impossible circumstances"
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2018-11-21T12:45:49+00:00
"I would recommend using Stacks as they are well connected to the property market and provide a realistic assessment of activity and pricing."
"great value to us during a difficult, competitive purchase"
2018-11-21T12:39:48+00:00
"great value to us during a difficult, competitive purchase"
"Being able to 'stand behind' Stacks, whilst they brought their negotiating skills to the fore, took us to another level"
2018-11-21T12:22:38+00:00
"Being able to 'stand behind' Stacks, whilst they brought their negotiating skills to the fore, took us to another level"
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2018-11-21T13:13:46+00:00
"We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them to anyone thinking of using such a service"
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2018-11-21T13:08:49+00:00
"We are delighted with our choice and so are the children."
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2018-11-21T12:55:52+00:00
"The best decision we could have made!"
"got our offer accepted even when it was not the highest"
2018-11-21T12:38:34+00:00
"got our offer accepted even when it was not the highest"
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2018-11-21T12:13:26+00:00
"a calming, guiding presence where nothing was too much trouble"
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2018-11-21T13:21:20+00:00
"You were able, by taking on much of the responsibility and the effort, to enable us to relax and enjoy the process"
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2018-11-21T13:12:00+00:00
"We were in a tricky housing situation, looking to buy a very specific type of house and needing to find it in a very specific time frame"
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2018-11-21T12:19:57+00:00
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2018-11-21T13:20:39+00:00
"You we able to give us confidence that we were doing the right thing"

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