Case study: How to position yourself as a serious buyer in 2025

Increased demand and competition for properties were two of the key takeouts our experts predicted across Oxfordshire’s prime property market this year in our most recent blog.

Both characteristics naturally drive-up house prices and keep the number of homes available which fit a person’s requirements to a premium.

It’s why positioning yourself as a serious buyer committed to the point of exchange must be prioritised by those considering a move to Oxfordshire or the county’s surrounds in 2025.

But how do you achieve that? Does buying off-market make a significant difference? And what impact can using a buying agent have on your status among sellers?

We aim to answer all the above here with help from a recent client who initially found themselves stuck in the local market’s revolving door.

Open market blockers

It’s a common theme we encounter as buying agents among our client base at the first stage:

• Buyer scours the open market via Rightmove, Zoopla and the like.
• Buyer finds a property which ticks most, if not all, requirements on their wish list
• Significant open market interest prompts a bidding war, driving the price up
• Property in question is sold within days of appearing online

Simply put, by viewing properties on the open market a buyer is restricting themselves to a limited pool of properties in the company of an incomparably higher volume of bidders.

It’s why viewing properties off-market with the help of a buying agent is becoming increasingly popular.

“By time we enquired, every property we were interested in on the open market had reached the point of sale,” said our client. “Even during a slower year for transactions, competition for properties was still high.

“We read about off-market properties and agreed that was the way forwards.

“Working with Oxford Property Consulting placed us on the front foot, and we were able to consider all options – one property we viewed even came with land attached to it.”

Bolt on services

After viewing several properties off-market, our client identified the home they wished to make an offer for – and did so successfully with our team’s help.

The property has huge potential, but required work following a period of neglect which is where Oxford Property Consulting’s trusted black book of local contacts and tradesmen came in.

Our client added: “We didn’t account for access to a complete book of trusted contacts when using a buying agent.

“From estate agents to builders, tradesmen, lawyers and surveyors, Oxford Property Consulting’s recommendations were excellent.

“Without their help, we would have never moved here for two reasons.

“One, we wouldn’t have been aware of the property as it was sold off-market. Also, the team pointed us in the direction of trusted professionals who could help turn the property we purchased into our dream home, which is what happened.”

Key considerations

Of course, no move takes place without its due diligence.

Oxfordshire is a truly diverse county. From quaint Cotswold villages to the Chiltern’s rolling hills, riverside homes and busy city living – our county has it all.

With that comes a number of key considerations a person must understand before committing to a move. Traffic, local amenities, schools and transport links to name a few.

“We’ve lived in Oxford for over a decade, so know how much traffic affects our lives,” said our client. “It’s something the team at Oxford Property Consulting were really open about which shows they put the client first, which we loved.

“Greg and Anna were unbelievably friendly, and helpful too – particularly when things got stressful waiting on contracts to be signed.

“From our initial conversation to viewings, negotiations and being signposted to the right people who could turn the property into our dream home – everything was first class.”

Contact our team today!

If you’re considering a move to Oxfordshire or the county’s surrounds in 2025, drop our team a message today to see how we can help you source your dream property for the right price.

Phone: 01865 553956

Email: info@oxfordpropertyconsulting.co.uk