Over the years, one of the most often asked questions is, how we differentiate ourselves from the competition. Please see below, how Neilson & Bauer sets themselves apart from the competition.
WHAT WE DO
James Neilson and Graham Bauer work six days a week. We are there for you with bags of experience and decades of knowledge and fabulous results. We are actually carrying out the viewing appointments with suitable applicants. We have decades of experience, and you are certainly not just another number with us. We are the owners and your point of contacts. James and Graham provide, accurate valuations using their experience and market knowledge, supported by facts and figures. More than anything, we have our finger on the pulse of the local and wider property market. When you add Don and David into the mix, you will understand why we are such a strong team.
When you book a free, no obligation appointment with us, we will chat through all the factors that influence the value of the property from a sales and lettings perspective and find out what you are looking to achieve. We will discuss current market conditions, what is likely to happen around the corner, the timing of any sale and letting, and what your options are.
We will prepare a plan of action for your sale (avoiding typical estate agency jargon) and explain what we would do in your position.
We encourage our sellers to commit to a 'lock-in agreement'
With nearly a third of sales falling through nationally, we like to give our sellers extra reassurance and encourage them to commit their buyers to a 'lock-in agreement’. As buyers do not have to commit financially to get a sale underway other than instructing solicitors and arranging a survey, we believe there is a fault in the system. We always check their financial arrangements and all details in any chain of sales. This enables us to get an idea of what hiccups could occur.
A lock-in agreement ensures that the buyer is financially committed to the purchase by requiring them to forfeit an agreed sum of money if they pull out of the purchase other than due to a problem with the survey or property searches. This protects our sellers and gives them peace of mind that the buyer is committed financially. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this in further detail.
Our carbon footprint matters
As part of our social responsibility, we strive to lower our carbon footprint wherever possible. We walk or cycle to almost all viewings within a mile radius of the office. To save trees, we do our utmost to have a paperless office. However, if we must use paper, then we use sustainable paper only. Additionally, our Sales and Lettings boards are made of Corex, a lightweight plastic that can be recycled and converted to biofuel. The posts for our for sales and lettings boards come from timber grown in Scandinavia, and for every tree felled another is planted. Any paper, glass or plastic that comes our way is naturally recycled.
Working alongside the community
James has worked in Islington for many years and has always been committed to working alongside the local community. Over the years, he has been involved with The Little Angel Theatre, Blackstock Gardens, Islington Giving, Highbury Grove School, and a number of other local charities and schools. Neilson & Bauer will donate to local charities and schools from every fee it receives.
We also hold free art exhibitions for local young aspiring artists from Islington, Highbury, Clerkenwell, Hackney and the surrounding area, and if you would like to get involved please get in touch.
Our office pet policy
We are super pet-friendly. So much so, that we have our own resident labradoodle, Kiki. Admittedly, she's not the best on providing information on market trends, but she does have excellent knowledge of the local parks and green spaces. She loves to be stroked, so please drop in to say hello – you’ll be guaranteed a friendly welcome and a wagging tail!
Who you will deal with at Neilson & Bauer
We have all been there – you meet the representative of a company, buy into them and wish to work with them, but once you've signed up they disappear. Not at Neilson & Bauer. We understand the importance of consistency and building relationships. After all, buying and selling a house or flat is not only a business transaction, it's an emotional investment too. You will receive the personal mobile number for each owner of the company and we are available to talk seven days a week.
Personal service
A successful sale relies on personal trust and rapport. Our dedicated, friendly staff go the extra mile on your behalf to ensure a smooth move. As a client of Neilson & Bauer, you will be given the owners mobile numbers so that you can speak to us seven days a week. We aim to show all sales and lettings staff your property to acquaint themselves before launching which enable us to sell from our heart.
PR and editorial
We have used many marketing options over the years, and PR and editorial sit firmly among our war chest of marketing options. Where possible, we will secure local and national press coverage for your property. James Neilson and Graham Bauer have been quoted extensively in national newspapers, property journals and magazines including The Sunday Times, The Times, Evening Standard, Metro, Country Life and other print and online publications. Effective PR and editorial rely on having a personal angle or a property having some special characteristic or history. We would be happy to discuss this further with you.
Online portals
We advertise all properties on our website NeilsonBauer.com, and on online portals Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market and Primelocation.com. Within seconds of being uploaded, your property will be available to be seen throughout the world via these portals.
Office and window display
We always aim to have an attractive, inviting, and interesting window display, located on Upper Street that stands out from the crowd. As well as a selection of our available properties, you may also see the display props from The Little Angel Theatre’s latest production, for example, or something else featuring the local community that will appeal to the high volume of foot and road traffic that passes our window.
Website
Once a marketing strategy has been agreed, particulars have been approved and photos have been taken we will update our website and all the major portals instantaneously with details of your property. We will then call out to our ever-growing database of applicants and clients to inform them of the listing. We also have the option to offer a 360' degree/virtual tour of your property, to help promote your property to potential buyers and tenants.
In house interior design specialist
Once you instruct Neilson & Bauer, we will offer you a free one-hour interior styling consultation with our trusted property dressing partner. They will advise you on the optimal way to present your property in order to show it in its best light.
Neilson & Bauer will also go through a list of what is needed to prepare your property for market. This will include:
Helping to arrange an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) for your property (which is a legal requirement)
Arranging professional photography
Approved floor planner to prepare floor plans in accordance with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Asking you for information about your property’s history for forthcoming viewings
We will only show applicants your home at times suitable to you. We will not release keys to your property without your express authority and only then once we have put the correct checks in place. We will lock up as we find and make sure your home is secure when we leave.
Alternative marketing options
We will use alternative marketing options where it is prudent to think outside the box in order to get results. We promise to never treat you like a number – you will always be treated as an individual.
Discreet marketing
If you would prefer to keep your sale private, we can provide a discreet marketing service, targeting serious buyers without putting your property on the open market.
Keeping you updated
Neilson & Bauer will update you at least weekly with an overview of the progress of your sale, although you can contact us at any time for an update. We aim to give you immediate feedback after each appointment and in any event within 24 hours of each viewing.
Offers
We will put forward all offers to you as soon as possible, and in any event within 24 hours. Our team is highly experienced at sales negotiations and will keep lines of communication clear, concise, factual and helpful. Furthermore, Neilson & Bauer will provide you written correspondence of the offer, confirming the potential purchaser's position along with financial details and any chain details, if applicable.
Sale Agreed
Neilson & Bauer will carry out due diligence on all buyers in order to comply with legal requirements. We will make every effort to obtain reassurance that prospective buyers are able to afford the property.
Once a sale is agreed we will issue a memorandum of sale to you, the buyer and the parties’ respective solicitors. We can recommend good lawyers to act on your behalf if you require.
We will assist with the progression of the sale to exchange and completion. We have heard many times from conveyancing lawyers that a good agent can keep a sale on track. James and Graham have some of the lowest fall through rates due to the manner in which we care for and progress sales.
Mortgages and Finance
Mortgage and financial advice from our quality financial advisor whether you are a first-time buyer, moving home or simply wish to find a more competitive interest rate, it is important that you have the right mortgage in place. The financial advisor can offer a comprehensive range of mortgages from across the marketplace to meet an array of requirements and circumstances.
