First published in April 2022

It’s been an incredibly busy and momentous 12 months for Harwood Advisory. We see it as a new dawn for the super prime property industry. With over £150m in sales, and strong clients relationships in the UK, US, Asia, Middle East, and Europe – we’re feeling unbelievably positive for the year ahead, and beyond.

Life is tough sometimes. We shouldn’t shy away from those moments – instead, we should come together and learn from them.

Over the past two years, living through a global pandemic, we have seen first hand how people are living through all manner of issues in their personal worlds. Everyone’s day-to-day has been turned upside down, and as a consequence – we are seeing decisions being made much more quickly than they would otherwise have been. A change of job. A shift in outlook. A resetting of work life balance. A pressing need to stop putting that big life decision off for another day. A realisation that time is our most precious commodity.

Flexible, agile working has brought so much to the society of today. Coupled with the restrictions on travel, we’ve all had to find new and ingenious ways to find our own ‘quiet time’. But with this has also come an appreciation of personal space and location.

A UK Economic Report by PwC in January 2021 predicted that the population of London could fall in 2021 for the first time in more than 30 years, as the economic fallout from COVID-19 prompts people to reconsider big-city life. The report highlighted:

“City-dwellers are now rethinking their living situations in light of the pandemic, and re-evaluating the importance of larger homes, green spaces and connections with the local community. Increased working from home could mean that living in London may no longer be seen as a necessity for finding high-skilled, high-paid jobs.”

PwC also said in its report that it expected a decline of college graduates moving into London in 2021.

“Primarily driven by job opportunities, this pattern of graduate migration may be disrupted in 2021 as jobs are harder to find.”

But on the flip side, there is an inherent need for people to feel connected. To their friends, families and to their work. The isolation and peace that comes with living away from the city may not suit everyone ALL of the time. As such, those that are able to, are looking to keep a foot in both camps.

Whatever the driving factor, an increasing number of people are now acting on gut instinct. Previously, individuals, couples and families would deliberate these big life decisions for months – sometimes years – before taking that big step. The con’s would outweigh the pro’s and the status quo would remain. But no longer.

International buyers, now buoyed by the resumption of international travel, are heading back into the UK. From the US, the Middle East and Asia in particular. And typically these people act quickly. They know what they like and are constantly seeking new opportunities – which will no doubt increase demand and competition in the prime and super prime market further.

But our collective appreciation of time is what has changed the most. No longer do we take it for granted.

In being taken so far out of our comfort zones since the start of the pandemic, we have learned what is most important to us. And in so doing, we don’t want to waste a moment. It is more important to seize the day than miss the boat. And if a change of scene doesn’t work out the way it might be anticipated, then we now know that a new scene could just be around the corner. Waiting to be found.

In The Market

November 2020

Gaining and never breaking that trust is what we pride ourselves on.

With no exposure and no advertising, we have achieved over £43million in sales over the past 3-4 months – across London and the countryside.

It’s an incredible achievement given the traditional flattening of the super-prime market in the Summer months. Whilst wanting to avoid obvious clichés, it really is testament to hard work, relationships and our trusted little black book of international connections. And nobody works harder than Susannah Fox MRICS

Now that the days are getting shorter, we still have much to look forward to as Winter approaches. Our pipeline is reassuringly strong; international travel is increasingly more possible; and we’re currently busy selling a number of properties very discreetly, off-market right now.

We’re unashamedly proud of where we’ve reached since we launched just over a year ago. But we’ll never take anything for granted. Day or night, anywhere around the world, we will always go the extra mile to facilitate every need.

It’s very easy to jump up and down and shout about professional successes. But it’s harder to pinpoint why those milestones were achieved.

So I wanted to write a personal note of thanks to each and every one of our clients that have placed significant trust in us this past few months. Their belief in what we can achieve together has continually driven us forward, 24/7, to get the absolute best deal possible for them.

And in this past month alone – ahead of the closing of the stamp duty holiday, we’ve completed seven off-market deals totalling £34 million through sheer hard work and determination. The extra mile is more of an effortless sprint when we are spurred on by the faith that clients as far afield as Singapore, Malaysia and the US have in us.

There is no denying that COVID flipped the market on its head. The lack of international travel has forced us to work in new ways – but it has also made it even more vital that the relationship between the client and agent is one built on honesty, clear communication, and understanding. The prime market has continued to flourish because of those clients that fly in the face of a global pandemic. They are why we all work the hours we do. And they are why these incredible properties keep changing hands. So to all of our clients – a heart felt thank you.