For many, the dream final run on the property ladder is a period property that's stood for centuries, with plenty of character from heavy wood-beamed ceilings, elaborate marble fireplaces or large wooden sash windows.
It might be an elegant Georgian townhouse, or a large Edwardian family home in the countryside, which could be Grade II, Grade II* or Grade I Listed, and generally includes anything older than 1920.
Joanna Cocking, Head of Private Office, gives her valuable advice and insight on buying period properties from how to approach it, what to look out for and how Hamptons' vast experience makes the process smooth and simple.
What's the attraction to buying a period property?
"It's quite romantic, and lots of people love the idea of being the custodians of a piece of history. The builders of them knew where best to build these houses, so you're generally buying the best and most advantageous location. There's a deeper craftsmanship that people respect which has stood the testimony of hundreds of years, and you can't help but admire that."
What type of period properties do your clients most want to purchase?
"The perennial favourite is Georgian or Queen Anne properties, where it's all about high ceilings and big windows. If you harness that to location and topography, you're getting the best and the most advantageous views from those big windows."
Which areas should buyers look to for period homes?
"The Georgians built brilliantly in London, Cheltenham and Bath, but more sparingly elsewhere, so the Georgian rectory that many people would like to buy does not abound as much as you would think."
"For example in Buckinghamshire, which is hugely convenient to London, Heathrow, less than half an hour into Marylebone on the train, or the Elizabeth line into Paddington, you would pay an enhanced premium for a Georgian asset, because the build here exploded from larger estates and mostly occurred in the last century, and not the one before that."
"If you move down towards the many charming villages of the Cotswolds, you see a much higher predominance of Georgian architecture because they were harnessing the routes to the major spa towns."
How does Hamptons support clients purchasing a period home?
"We're very attuned to helping the seller unpick what the listing means and what's possible with it. We work very closely with heritage architects that we introduce clients to who will do anything from a lighter touch, such as a visit and verbal guidance, to a report, or obtaining a pre-app on what planning might allow the house to adapt it to a more modern standard of living – predominantly centered around older houses having kitchens in the backs of houses, rather than open style spaces that we all now want – right through to full planning. We make sure that the buyer can take a really supportive, educated view of what the asset is before they buy it."
What are the main considerations to keep in mind when purchasing a period property?
"Lean on the agent. They should be able to give you all of the information from running costs, to remedial work required and remedial work done, as well as what those listing labels mean. Also, look out for key elements such as the coping stones, the fireplace in the drawing room and the fine-oak staircase".
What's the best way to overcome the hurdles of buying a period home?
"It's a good idea to go in very open-armed with some good guidance from a good architect who can say what potential future plans could work, along with those that wouldn't, as they'll look at the planning history and see what's not been successful before. It's just really understanding what you're buying and also about doing all the due-diligence."
What's the biggest myth about purchasing a period property that you often hear?
"People make a very sweeping generalisation that just because it's listed you can't do anything to it. Instead, there's lots you can do, especially if it's Grade II, as that's generally focused on the exterior."
Does buying a period home usually take longer than other purchases?
"It doesn't delay a sale necessarily, but they will add a degree of complexity that if you're not ready for, it could potentially push that timeline further."
"For any work that has been undertaken on a listed house, we ask our seller clients to research and resource through their own lawyer that they've got the permissions, certificates and sign off, so that you're not going to run into that when you're going through the sale process. Any good client who's following my guidance will appoint their lawyer before they even think about coming to market."
What's the best advice to offer a buyer purchasing a period property for the first time?
"Do you research before you go to see the house. Also, delve a little into the history. There's so many lovely jobbing historians or village newsletters and it's astonishing what you find where people, just through sheer love of the subject, have done some research, put photographs up, or shown what happened during the war."
"It's all about the position too, so look beyond the scruffy paint, beyond the slipped roof tile, and actually see where it sits in that village and understand the reason why it was built here 200 years ago."
How have you seen the process of buying and selling period homes change over the years?
"As buyers are getting younger, it's becoming even more important to do due diligence. It's never too early to talk to us, particularly from a seller's perspective, the earlier the better. Years are welcome, even five years now."
"Then you're gently moving in a plan of action, rather than suddenly having to do so because your health changes, you find the dream downsize, the children want you to move closer to them, or your job suddenly relocates you. What you never want to do is be pressured in a sales process as a seller."
"We hugely welcome the opportunity to contribute to that narrative and journey. We give free advice every single day, so take advantage of it."
