Kent Home Finders

Kent Home Finders Kent Home Finders is a bespoke property search company accessing on and off-market properties Kent Home Finders is a member of the Property Ombudsman.

Kent Home Finders offers you a bespoke home finding or property finding service based in West Kent and East Sussex including Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and far beyond. Local knowledge, great contacts with agents and other sources, access to off-market properties as well as good contacts at many schools make your move, whether local, from London or elsewhere in the UK, a successful one.

Kent Home Finders has good experience of helping families or anyone locating back into the UK from abroad. Kent Home Finders works only for you, the buyer and offers competitive fees that are often more than covered through good negotiation. If you would like to chat through any aspect of your move please give me, Louise Streets, a ring on 07771 723 807.

If you’re looking to move to Sevenoaks or surrounding villages please do get in touch for a chat. I’m Louise Streets, a ...
27/05/2024

If you’re looking to move to Sevenoaks or surrounding villages please do get in touch for a chat.
I’m Louise Streets, a property finder (or search agent) who has specialised in buying many homes for happy clients over the last ten years in and around Sevenoaks.
I work only for you, the buyer, liaising with all the agents, off-market properties and private sellers plus other many contacts to find the home that you’re looking for.
Negotiation is key, particularly in this market, often offsetting my reasonable fee.
I can do everything for you from our initial chat through to completion (finding, negotiating, helping with conveyancing, recommendations for surveyors, solicitors, garden designers etc), the best outcome resulting in you being happy in your new home.
It’s probably your biggest investment you’ll ever make, ideally you need someone to guide you (whatever your budget) who knows the local market backwards.
I’ve lived in the area for over 20 years having moved back down from London, love my job and am very happy for you to chat to past clients.
I look forward to hearing from you for a no obligation chat about your search.

If you are thinking of moving house in 2024 then you have come to the right place.If you are looking in West Kent or Eas...
05/01/2024

If you are thinking of moving house in 2024 then you have come to the right place.
If you are looking in West Kent or East Sussex – so Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Wadhurst, Mayfield (all the way down to Eastbourne) and over to Cranbrook and all the way around to Oxted (just tucked into Surrey), do give me a call as I can really help you with your move.
One of the main reservations people have with property search agents is the extra cost on an already costly move.
In fact we should be saving you money, either in the short or longer term, or ideally both. As a property finder (property search agent, home buyer etc) in a defined area I am very aware of pricing down to even the individual road level.
Some clients do come to me with their spreadsheets and that’s ok, it may be why they haven’t bought a house so far in their search but we can work with that and make them feel comfortable with their purchase if they find it harder to ‘feel’ it’s the right house for them or their family and need stats to back decisions up. Everyone has a different way of feeling comfortable.
These are the ways I would hope to help a client spend wisely on their next home:
Be totally on it in terms of valuation and supply/demand where you are buying and projecting alongside your timescales.
Negotiation – understanding what is going on in negotiation, not getting emotional, being able to stand back and use experience and see a way to make a deal that works for my client.
Being able to look ahead and future-proof any purchase – I’ve been there and done it, I try and plan for most eventualities because in practice life isn’t that easy, plan for the unexpected (without dwelling too much on the negative).
Logistics – how to make your new location work for you in terms of time spent in the car/time to the station/ realistic distances that you will be comfortable with (these often reduce as time goes on so I like to factor that in at the beginning of a search). This will save you time and money.
Making sure clients are aware of ongoing costs eg. gardening, hedge cutting and maintenance and how much that may cost them – something that they may not have factored in or be overlooking due to falling in love with a house.
Know when they can add value, which projects are overvalued, how they could progress and help them see that vision.
Help with living in the country (or town depending on their move), not taking on too big a project, understanding the costs involved (as above), the annoying country aspects eg cesspits, oil deliveries, mud, mud, mud…The wonderful aspects…walks, fresh air, blackberries and snowdrops…
Be realistic with timeframes (changing schools etc/ageing parents) and size of houses. Everyone wants a big house, but actually, do you?
There are a large number of off-market properties at the moment – some really interesting, some not so much, but the opportunity to buy in the winter months is something to be taken seriously – do give me a call if you are ready to make the leap or if you just want to chat through your options.

As of January 2024 I have around 45 plus properties in and around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells that are available off-m...
02/01/2024

As of January 2024 I have around 45 plus properties in and around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells that are available off-market. Most are very interesting and are a mix of in-town, village or out of town locations.
If you would like help finding your next house and to navigate the world of off-market properties whilst not overpaying for them, then please do get in touch.

A very happy, healthy 2024 to all my past clients, current clients and clients to be! Starting the year optimistic that ...
02/01/2024

A very happy, healthy 2024 to all my past clients, current clients and clients to be!
Starting the year optimistic that property finders can really add value in the market we are likely to experience over the coming year.
I always think we can add value (and if I didn't think I could I would always say), but in a 'tricky' market we can really help with buying the property you are looking for (or may not know you want yet) at a reasonable price on or off-market, whilst weighing up all your criteria, your lifestyle, whilst hopefully minimising surprises, managing expectations and making this undeniably challenging process a whole lot easier - enjoyable even!
My end game is to have clients who are excited to move into their next home, have been briefed and helped in all aspects of their move, can hit the ground running and get on with their life and will want to recommend my service to others thinking of moving.
My reputation is all down to my past clients and I am always happy to put you in touch with them so that you know I will do a good job for you.
There really is nothing more satisfying in this job than clients staying in touch post their move, letting you know that your help was invaluable and that they are happy and made the right move.
If you are thinking of moving to Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Oxted, Wadhurst, Cranbrook and all the villages around and about then do get in touch, I would love to have a complementary chat about your next move and how I could really help you.

I can absolutely verify that Wadhurst is a great place to live - have lived very close by for the last 20 years…Nestled...
24/03/2023

I can absolutely verify that Wadhurst is a great place to live - have lived very close by for the last 20 years…Nestled in some of the oldest woodlands in England yet near the coast and just over an hour from London with its own station it offers the best of all worlds.
Lots of independents, a great bookshop -Barnetts of Wadhurst, The Artful Grocer, At One (lifestyle store with presents you don’t find elsewhere), Hambly’s herbal that offers acupuncture, herbs and the natural approach to health with endless good advice on any health issue.
There are many deer 🦌🦌and getting through Wadhurst in the car can be a mission but it’s definitely worth it.
If you’re thinking of moving into the area I can help with any aspect of your move. Alongside finding your next home, negotiating on price, managing expectations (!), schools, commutes, solicitors, surveyors, managing conveyancing, local contacts and much more, just ring for a chat on 07771 723 807 ☎️

Downsizing is the new trend around here. But it's not really downsizing, more moving out of a big family house to anothe...
25/01/2023

Downsizing is the new trend around here. But it's not really downsizing, more moving out of a big family house to another quite large house whilst sorting 'stuff' out.

If you're in your late fifties or sixties there seems to be less of an urge to hang onto the big house with increasingly empty (and cold) rooms filled only at Christmas (or the height of covid). The cost of living crisis is live, the hostel over lockdown has been utilised, a second home in the sun may beckon. It seems time to sort out all the detritus and move onto the next stage of life, unencumbered by too many accumulated unused belongings.

Recycling, repurposing and auctioning are the way forward, why hang onto belongings that you no longer use but someone else could? There's no need to hoard as we can find a new home for everything we don't need. And that is a relief. If you've sorted through a family home that hasn't recycled a single thing in forty years then, in my experience, you kind of get the bug for it, no cupboard or innocent loft is safe, it needs sorting!

It's worth pointing out that the generation now in their 80's and 90's are and were generally more thrifty and resourceful (the tide is turning back thank goodness) and had no real way of recycling anything, sothey hung onto things for when they may have been needed, hence the excess.

Once children have left home and are hopefully finding their own way (but ideally with the option of living at home for a while), grandparents are increasing frail or have passed away having left their own houses to sort out, the bedroom heavy house (that probably needs some freshening up) can seem an additional burden that isn't needed, unless it comes with lots of extra help.

On the one hand it's great that large houses are being freed up for younger families to buy. And buy they do, in this neck of the woods they are snapped up and then the real spending really starts. Within 18 months they are usually unrecognisable having been sharply brought into the 2020's with glass atriums (pet hate), light everywhere, swimming pools, heat pumps and new windows. On the other hand it's a little sad, there is certainly some character being lost along the way but maybe it's just the disappearance of gentler pace of life, no one wants draughty windows when there are such good other options. Planning is maximised, lofts converted, basements dug (much less of this though), sedum roofs laid.

The other side of this trend is more tricky...Suitable houses for downsizers are in short supply. Ideally they want space, no cozying up post retirement, smaller gardens or less land and to be close to towns (or in town)or villages so they're accessible to all. And these houses are very popular with younger families coming into the area, their criteria are pretty similar meaning demand remains high for these types of houses in this area around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.

If you are thinking of 'downsizing' (in the new or old sense of the word), do get in touch to talk through your move and search, a search agent could be the inspiration that you are looking for.

The last three years have been full-on property finding. I could never have imagined the sustained house buying fever th...
15/01/2023

The last three years have been full-on property finding. I could never have imagined the sustained house buying fever that came from a pretty benign 2019 as covid took hold. The property market was crazy mad until September last year.

It made sense. Houses in the incredibly accessible and hugely attractive search areas around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells (not in town) had lagged their London counterparts almost to the point where you wondered if anyone would ever move to a large country house again.

Being interested in anything to do with Geography, it's breadth pretty much encompasses everything everywhere in some way. A global pandemic coupled with people having time to make major decisions in terms of where they wanted to live and how they hoped to live their lives going forward (given more flexibility at work) gave endless reading fodder and opportunity to speculate. And although the areas around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells have been popular with commuters for many many years, changes in the workplace made this an even more popular and accessible destination to buy for anyone looking to move out of London.

I was envious too. Families were able to move where they wanted to (within reason) and carry on working, not be to be totally constrained by both distance to work and childcare. Factors that had been very difficult before suddenly had an air of possibility, even though they were likely to evolve over the next few years. And childcare will have to catch up with these changes as supply is low out of London.

That's where my search area came into its own. It didn't involve a family relocating hundreds of miles away or even very far from London and at the same time there was, and remains, a safety net. If your job changed and you then had to go to the office again every day it really wasn't a problem, if your new boss suddenly changed any covid work arrangements and wanted everyone in for 7.30am rather than three times a week by 9am, it could still work.

Quite often you could get into work (train strikes aside) as quickly as living in London. The (often rainy and wet) West country & (Soho house, touristy) Gloucestershire can't really give you this option.

After the mad rush...What happens next?

2022 was a year that started full on and carried on in that vein until the natural (very hot!) summer holiday slowdown when people are away and focused on children and just enjoying the weather. Ukraine, politics at home and the impending fuel crisis slowed the market. Followed swiftly by the mess that was the mini budget under Liz Truss at last put the brakes on and anyone looking to secure a mortgage had to reconsider their position. The years of unbelievably low interest & mortgages rates were over.

2023 is going to be a mixed picture. The stock market has roared ahead in the first couple of weeks this year and estate agents are reasonably busy, not silly busy but actively being asked to carry out valuations, making sure current deals are on track to exchange and re-marketing properties that hadn't sold last year. Potential buyers are booking in viewings a week ahead, it's active which is a positive sign. Downsizers are a big dynamic, they are downsizing from large properties with land to...quite large properties with less land. Watch this space. Unfortunately it also means that families looking to trade up to a larger property but without large gardens (they don't have time to garden or spare budget to employ a gardener x days a week) are looking for the same properties and they are in short supply.

Vendors will have to be realistic, they need to prepare their houses for sale rather than 'winging it' and knowing it will sell. Ideally agents should help them have everything ready to go. This could be having a report done on their private drainage to make sure it is up to current regulations, to finish off those jobs that lay unfinished and will only rile an incoming purchaser. Have tiles replaced that have slipped, clear the garden, take leaves out of the drains and have the gutters swept.

There will be a trickle of houses coming onto the market until gardens look a little less wintery (although to see a garden looking wonderful in winter is special) and there are still plenty of cash buyers or clients with mortgages agreed out there if good houses appear off-market.

This area of the market should be busy this year, will less competition for houses it makes sense to try your hand off-market if you are selling, avoid the internet and then if that isn't successful go live after a few weeks.

As a search agent I can access these houses, make sure I'm one, if not the first in to view and give clients good advice on every aspect of their decision, the way forward, bidding and then securing the house making sure that all aspects have been covered thoroughly and making sure that clients make the right decisions for themselves and the years ahead.

I'm looking forward to whatever this year will bring, there are always surprises and special finds, stressful weeks and problems to unravel, but the only good results are happy clients in a their new home. Do get in touch with me on 07771 723 807 if you would like to chat through your search, I look forward to hearing from you.

I’m very lucky that Sevenoaks is my main search area for clients, it’s a great place to live so do get in touch if you’r...
09/04/2022

I’m very lucky that Sevenoaks is my main search area for clients, it’s a great place to live so do get in touch if you’re thinking of moving here!

We’re currently looking at a very tricky property market that’s been slowing down in the last couple of months due to th...
17/10/2021

We’re currently looking at a very tricky property market that’s been slowing down in the last couple of months due to the continued high demand from buyers coupled with sellers (understandably) wanting to find their next home before moving (rentals are pretty impossible). If you need some help from someone working only for you then do get in touch otherwise me for an informal chat about your search.
I search in a large area around Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and all surrounding villages down into East Sussex...

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