Family of 4 with two boys under five

Why they came to Stacks:

Mr and Mrs K had their house in London under offer and had an offer accepted on a house in the popular Exe Estuary area close to Exeter. The vendor was wavering about whether they actually wanted to sell, and our clients had concerns that they had overbid to secure it. A solution was needed before the period for porting their existing mortgage expired and their own buyer lost patience.

What the local area could offer:

The Exe Estuary area is very popular with young families wanting the lifestyle on offer in the popular locations of Topsham, Lympstone, Exmouth, Exton and Woodbury (just inland). The famous Darts Farm is the shopping destination that attracts locals and holiday makers from further afield. It has a huge array of fresh food and drink produce as well as high quality restaurants and a spa on site. Exeter is 20 minutes away by car or train, and the Exe cycle route is on the doorstep and takes you into the City via some renowned watering holes.

What they were looking for:

They were looking for a 4–5-bedroom house with good-sized garden close to the sea, in a town or large village with a bit of buzz, shops, restaurants and cafes. They needed to be close to a good primary school and to be settled before the start of the new school year. A train station was also important for when the boys would not be isolated when they become teenagers. As they were moving from London for a more peaceful rural life, any road noise would be unacceptable, however nice the house.

How Stacks helped:

Good houses in the area start at around £1.5M our clients had a maximum budget of £1.25M. We were able to highlight houses that met the brief, before they hit the market, visiting to send photos prior to viewing. We leveraged our relationships with the local agents, visiting them every few days to find out if any new properties were on the horizon.

The first suitable house was a probate sale, a family home with large garden on an exclusive private lane which backed straight onto the Exe cycle route. Our clients put forward their best bid but lost out to a cash buyer. We then found two more large houses for renovation that were also probate sales in Topsham, perfect except for the fact that the hum of the M5 could be heard when the wind blew from that direction. This eventually ruled them out.

Happily, an offer was accepted on a house with potential and a pool, on a large rural plot on the outskirts of Lympstone. A pretty village with pub, train station and school. The vendors agreed to sell on the condition that they managed to buy a smaller house in the village.

The happy outcome:

The family sold their London house and ported their mortgage in time. They moved into their new home shortly after the start of the school term, but are now settling in, and loving being back in the countryside once again.

How Stacks made a difference:

• Being based locally, we could view houses in advance collect and deliver our clients from the station.
• We had a good understanding of which locations within the search area met our clients’ needs and which would not.
• We cut out any wasted visits to view houses which looked good on paper but had issues which ruled them out straight away.
• Used our negotiation skills to increase our clients’ offer by just enough to come out on top.
• Arranging the survey and obtaining quotes from local companies for works to the pool, and drainage.
• Liaising with all parties to resolve issues and keep timings on track.

Thinking of moving? Then get in contact with Stacks to help find your next home.