How do we find off market properties?

[Detachedalltheway]

Hello,

We have been looking for a detached house in or around South Woodford area that is not stupidly expensive (less than a million) for a year, but with no luck. Is there any way to look for off market properties that we are missing?

We have registered with most estate agents in the area, but nothing is coming to the market. We have been checking Facebook Marketplace, asked friends and family living in the area if they could spread the word, but none of it has helped. Maybe we are looking for a unicorn, but it seems that quite a few sold properties in the past would have been within our budget if they were to come to the market again. Is there a way to look for those off market properties that we have not thought of? Maybe someone on here knows someone who’s thinking of selling a detached house in the area?

Thank you for you thoughts.

A buyers agent. They work for you and are in contact with agents, relocation, owners….
they will cold call properties that in principle you like. You pay them a commission on what you buy.

Thank you, we’ll give it a shot! We considered this once briefly, but it seemed that they mostly worked with international buyers and super expensive properties. I guess we lose nothing to try - thanks again for your advice.

Not at all, or certainly the one I have worked with before is for normal people like me and you!

That’s reassuring, thank you! 🙏 Would you be able to recommend anyone (if London based)?