Brief

Our client, a US-based finance professional, approached us with a highly personal brief: to acquire a Somerset country house that had been owned by their family for nearly 400 years. Having passed out of the family 13 years earlier, there was a strong desire to bring this historic property back into family ownership.

The Grade I listed house, dating from the early 1600s, had been extensively renovated and updated by its current owners. Complicating the search, the property was already under offer to another buyer, making discretion, speed and a carefully considered approach essential.

Result

We moved quickly, negotiating directly with the current owner and establishing the significance of the family’s historic connection to the property. Our negotiations extended beyond the house itself to include original pieces of furniture and chattels associated with the estate. We also introduced an antiques expert to provide specialist valuations of the chattels.

Despite the property already being under offer, we successfully secured the house for our client. From our initial introduction and appointment through to completion, the entire acquisition was concluded in just three months.

Your Unfair Advantage

Acquiring a significant country house is rarely just about finding the right property. In this case, the challenge was securing a Grade I listed family home with almost 400 years of history while another buyer was already in position.

By acting quickly and negotiating directly with the owner, we were able to communicate the importance of our client’s family connection and create an opportunity that might otherwise have been lost. Our ability to bring in trusted specialist expertise also ensured that the original furniture and chattels could form part of a carefully managed acquisition. The result was not simply the purchase of an exceptional historic house, but the return of a long-held family home to the family within just three months.