The Right Buyer. The Right Home. Neither were on the open market.

This individual home had been on and off the market with a handful of local estate agencies but had not sold.

I knew the property from my time with a previous agency, although I had no current relationship or contact details for its owners. It was memorable because it offered something well beyond the usual buying criteria.

Meanwhile, a recent seller recommended me to a couple searching for a home with real individuality. After discussing what mattered to them, this particular property immediately came to mind.

Before contacting the owners, I checked the available sales data but could find no record of the property having completed.

Without a telephone number or email address, I wrote to them by recorded delivery. It was a simple but personal approach, explaining that I might have a serious buyer whose requirements appeared well suited to their home.

The owners contacted me and confirmed that they already had a potential buyer. However, they were not convinced the sale would proceed.

With another interested party ready to act, it was important to move quickly while handling the situation with sensitivity. A private viewing was arranged and the couple immediately recognised that the property offered exactly the character and individuality they had been searching for.

Their interest extended beyond the house itself. The owners also held additional land surrounding the property, opening the door to a broader discussion about what could be included within the purchase.

A series of negotiations followed as we worked through the extent of the land, the terms of the sale and the expectations of both parties.

By remaining closely involved, communicating clearly and keeping matters progressing, an agreement was reached for the house together with further surrounding land.

Contracts have now been exchanged, with completion due this summer.

The result

A home that was not actively being marketed has found its buyer through a personal recommendation, careful listening and the willingness to make a direct approach.

The buyers have secured a property that closely matches what they were hoping to find, including additional land that makes the purchase even more appealing. The sellers have achieved an off-market sale without launching another public marketing campaign.

Sometimes the right home is not visible on the property portals, and sometimes the right buyer is not known to the owner.

The value of an experienced estate agent lies in recognising that potential, bringing the two sides together and staying personally involved until the opportunity becomes a successful sale.