Communication and privacy have become key demands for UK estates, says leading property advisor
Tom Hudson, co-founder of Middleton Advisors in the UK, specializes in the kind of accommodation one might find in an episode of ‘Downton Abbey’: significant estates, historic homes and grand country houses.
At the head of Middleton, a company he co-founded 13 years ago, Mr. Hudson is like a specialist real estate concierge for his clients, supporting them every step of the way. He provides strategic advice throughout the process of finding and buying real estate: research and preselection of properties, negotiating the best deals based on neighborhood real estate values and liaising with all parties involved, from lawyers to surveyors to construction crews journey from start to finish.
“Some of our clients ask us to look for larger homes and sports areas in much wider geographies. This research requires different data points and knowledge compared to our London and country offices, ”said Mr. Hudson, 46. “With over 20 years of experience in this field, Mark Parkinson, co-founder of Middleton Advisors, and I are available to advise clients on all real estate matters, from buying to building teams on field and long-term strategic advice.
We recently caught up with the Oxfordshire, England-based country house connoisseur to find out who buys these pastoral palaces and what their requirements are.
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Mansion Global: What is Middleton Advisors known for?
Tom Hudson: We pride ourselves on discretion and trust. Our relationships bear witness to this, as the majority of our business comes from repeat customers and referrals. This network is built, maintained and protected because we never underestimate the importance of travel for the customer. Each of our advisors is committed to providing clients with the best advice thanks to their unparalleled knowledge and experience of the market.
MG: What do you like the most about your job?
E: To have the chance to work for some fascinating people who have inevitably worked incredibly hard and then give me their money to go buy a property. Quite a privilege.
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MG: What do people look for in a luxury country house?
E: Architecture, setting and appearance remain the three most important things when it comes to buying a country house or estate. Buyers often have their own micro needs such as access to friends and family, but overall the type of architecture they are looking for, the setting of the house itself and how it looks all tend to be. to be top priorities.
MG:Who is buying at the moment?
E: We act on behalf of international clients looking to buy major homes in London or across the country, as well as advising our former clients on all aspects of their real estate needs. Our client list has always been varied, but we seem to be working for a large number of Americans, Middle Easterners and Europeans right now.
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MG: Which areas of the UK are most popular for country houses?
E: Less than two hours from London, the main country house search area remains the main search area. When it comes to domains, people often travel much further. Home counties (the counties of England surrounding London, such as Buckinghamshire, Surrey and Hertfordshire) remain the most popular for international buyers, as access to London and airports is often paramount.
MG: Where did the luxury country home market pick up?
E: This sector of the market has never really fallen when it comes to large country houses and estates. There is always a very limited supply of quality goods and the demand in any market tends to exceed this supply.
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MG: What are the prospects for the future?
E: A greater focus on communication and privacy seems to be at the top of the list at the moment. Trails and close neighbors are seen as a bigger problem than before, and not only communication via the road, but also mobile networks are more and more important. This can usually be achieved with teams we know who can install good IT, but it remains a key requirement for the majority of our buyers.
MG: What is your definition of luxury?
E: Privacy.
MG: What would your dream house look like?
E: While there are many beautiful period homes that I would love to buy, my dream has always been to build an amazing contemporary home, probably somewhere in a spectacular position overlooking the sea.
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