Most property searches start on the internet, but Rachel Johnston of Stacks Property Search says, “Online is an aid, not a substitute for an exhaustive property search. Buyers that restrict their research to the armchair are likely to fall into the category of chronic searchers destined to look but never buy.

“But at least make your surfing as constructive as possible. My advice would be to set up very carefully organised searches for three or four of the main portals. This will involve:

  • Drawing a customised map of the area you’re interested in;
  • Set generous price bands – one tier above and below your budget. This will ensure you see property that’s out of your budget but that might be reduced or negotiable; and property that’s below your budget that could be improved / extended to meet your needs.
  • Don’t set a lower limit if you have any interest in serious renovation projects, extending, or building your own;
  • By the same token, don’t set any bedroom limits – good property buying is all about space, layout and ergonomics, not number of rooms; the floorplan should be one of the first things you look at.
  • Do sign up for alerts – when new properties come on and when a price is dropped. You might want to use a secondary e-mail address so your regular inbox isn’t overwhelmed by duplicate alerts from different portals;
  • Think carefully about the mainstream filters – do reduce the influx of properties by ruling out anything you are 100% certain you don’t want, for instance there’s no point hearing about flats if you’re a determined house buyer. But if there’s any doubt, leave these fields open.
  • Customise keywords if you have some red-line criteria, for instance, ‘garden’, ‘parking’, ‘garage’, but don’t get carried away, the best time to rule things out is when you can see how they won’t work for you, not before. Mistakes can be made in the categorisation process, so a broad search will override any human error.
  • Buyers who are looking for a certain something that is obscure and less easy to categorise will struggle – there’s no point putting in search terms like ‘quirky’, ‘characterful’, ‘good views’, or ‘generous proportions’ – the portals are too blunt an instrument.
  • Don’t rely on the portals’ information relating to sold prices and running costs – these can be inaccurate, especially for one-off rural properties.

“There are many advantages to the portals. Some will tell you how long the property’s been on the market, some will tell you whether the price has been reduced, and there’s plenty of historical information and comparisons that you can delve into that will help you build up a picture of the local market. You can also establish which estate agents operate in a particular area.

“But the portals should be complementary to estate agents, not a replacement. A good estate agent will start to build up a picture of what you do and don’t like; going to see properties and reporting back to them on what suited you and what didn’t will be much more effective than trying to get a search engine to understand the way your mind works.

“And remember, the portals are way behind the market. Before you get an e-mail alert, you’re behind the field. Buying agents will have seen the property, as will the proactive buyers who haven’t relied on the portals for their intelligence. And some properties won’t ever find their way onto the portals at all, their buyers preferring to keep a low profile and only show their properties to selected buyers.

“One of the greatest dangers of the property portals is that buyers tend to spend too long on the computer, and not enough time on the road.  Property simply isn’t a ‘virtual’ commodity. The impression you get from pictures and descriptions may vary dramatically from the real thing. So by all means start your search on the internet, but get on the phone, talk to the agents, and go and see as much property as you possibly can.”

Stacks Property Search & Acquisition, 01594 842880 / www.stacks.co.uk

Ends – 

    • For more information, jpgs and interviews, contact Amanda MacCaw, 01386 700068 / 07977 238175 / amanda@wildmaccaw.co.uk

Start your property search today

Call us on +44 (0) 1594 842880 or complete the form below

    Your Details



    Your property requirements:

    Status:
    SoldThinking of movingOn the marketExchangingIn rented accommodationCash buyerIn need of helpOther


    We will never share your details with a third party. For more information about how we handle your data, please see our Privacy Policy

    How we can help you

    View our property finder services

    When making probably the most important financial decision of your life, it pays to have the right advisors at your side.

    Property Finder Service

    We search high and low, on the market and off the market, and we keep hunting until we’ve found the right property for you. Next we negotiate the best price and terms on your behalf. And then we make sure you enjoy a hassle-free move.

    Downsizing or Resizing

    Retirement or semi-retirement is an exciting stage in life. Finding the right home to live in and enjoy it to the full is important. We know that and will do all that we can to understand what you’re looking for… before starting to search. And search we will, until we find the house of your dreams.

    Moving from Abroad

    Relocating is time consuming and stressful. We regularly work with clients who live abroad. We hunt, short-list, prepare your viewings, and make the search process as easy as possible. We oversee the negotiations, manage the conveyancing, and deal with the headaches, so you can concentrate on other aspects of your move.

    Holiday Home Hunt

    A holiday home is often an interesting mix of investment and heartfelt connection. You want to use it, but you may well also be keen for others to use it too. We can advise you on what factors to consider in making your decision. And we can then find the perfect holiday home for you to enjoy.

    Investing in UK Property

    Others say, ‘location, location, location’. We say, ‘location, purpose, price, capital growth, rental returns’… the list goes on. Knowing the market is critical. Local knowledge is key. We ensure all aspects of your investment decision are addressed. Finding, analysing, negotiating, and completing… it’s what we do.

    “You showed fantastic attention to detail, anticipated all eventualities, and provided timely and practical help and guidance every step of the way.  Above all, you supported me in making my own considered decisions, and I am so grateful to you for all your help in getting me to where I am now!”

    “We firmly believe that without Rachel and her skilled negotiation we would not have secured the property.”

    “We felt they genuinely wanted to help.”

    “Stacks’ performance on this assignment has been absolutely outstanding and more than met my expectations. Her understanding of the brief and the ‘after-find’ service set a standard of professionalism that I have not met before.”

    “It is not often that one is pleased to part with money but I can truthfully say that I am on this occasion. You have earned every penny of this cheque and what is more, you have done it with great courtesy and good humour. It has been very pleasant working with you. You really did take most of the stress out of our house hunting.”

    “Encouraging me to think creatively about what could work for me.”

    “Finding a plot not yet on the market and persuading the developer to enter into an exclusive contract with me to build to my specification.

    “I was impressed by the efficient, kind and courteous service provided by Stacks”

    “Stacks were a tremendous help and we would never have found our home without them. She is a lovely person with a great sense of humour which was essential during some of our tricky negotiations

    “You gave a much-valued ‘younger’ perspective on our situation, which was a real asset”

    “We found the service extremely helpful and professional at all times”

    “I have been delighted with the service I have received from Stacks and will not hesitate to recommend Stacks in the future.”

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Receive updates about the world of property, straight to your inbox.

    * indicates required