In pursuit of perfection
September 2021 - Vogue, Tatler, House & Garden and GQ
Leveraging their under-the-radar network with utter dedication to delivering for clients, Aykroyd & Co are independent advisors who act solely on the acquisition of top-notch residential property in Prime Central London
If you are looking to buy your dream home in Prime Central London, a buying agent is not so much a luxury as a necessity. “We are currently in a highly competitive seller’s market for best in class family houses and large apartments, and the result is the majority of these properties are not being openly marketed,” says Hannah Aykroyd. “More than 70 per cent of homes we are acquiring for clients are quietly off-market. We regularly end up in tense best bid situations against other buying agents. If you are not represented, you don’t stand a chance.”
As a case in point, Aykroyd tells of acquiring a property in Holland Park for clients who undertook an unsuccessful solo search for nearly five years. “They retained us three months ago and last week we exchanged on a beautiful family house. The education process is a key part of what we offer, writing comparable reports on properties, giving people transparency on market prices. Our role is not just about sourcing, it’s about giving clients the confidence to offer what they need in order to secure a property.”
Independent, experienced and forensic in deploying their due-diligence know-how, Aykroyd & Co holds an unparalleled reputation as a stellar boutique operation. They save clients time, money and make the emotional experience of connecting to a new home as enjoyable as possible. So much so that the team has expanded to meet demand: Aykroyd, Sophie Bonsor and Edward Towers MRICS have been joined by experienced agent Chloe Leefe and associate Suzie Goodhew. Each agent works with only four or five clients. It is a time-intensive process uncovering and previewing properties, employing a tried-and tested team of professionals to assess all potential challenges, overseeing every element of a transaction until completion and beyond. As a law graduate, Aykroyd herself is known for her attention to detail and a comprehensive understanding of the conveyancing process.
“Speed is critical. We usually offer five working day exchanges so we will work solidly until we have safely done so, with often a long completion. And we always encourage our clients to write a personal note to accompany an offer letter to create a human connection.”
Equally, as objective advisors, they can diffuse situations where emotions are running high and are not afraid of tackling complicated matters on behalf of private clients or investors.