Two Edinburgh women who have been friends since they met at university over twenty years ago are on a quest to become Scotland’s answer to Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer.
Leah Bryce, 39, and Nicky McConnachie, 50, met one another when studying and have built up a wealth of experience in property and ifinance throughout their time working around the world. They decided to team up and launch 29Twelve, which is an independent consultancy firm that specialises in sourcing properties in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.
They say their unique selling point is that they are able to support house hunters through the arduous jungle that is the current capital housing market every step of the way. As most of us have to juggle the kids' judo lessons with our careers and personal lives, the last thing we need is to also be scouring through housing reports, catchment areas and figuring out what is an appropriate price for properties when looking for the ideal family home.
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That is where Leah and mum Nicky come in. They say that they have a special set of skills and relationships that allows them to take the stress out of searching for that dream house. So if you are a young professional or a busy large family - the dynamic duo will look to give you that personalised Location, Location, Location experience.
“We can work across the scale, whether it is looking for a dream family home at the top end of the market, or a couple of properties in the £200,000-300,000 to invest in, we are able to find you exactly what you need”, Nicky said.
“We have found through our own research that one in six properties nationwide in Scotland are sold off-market and some homes in certain areas in Edinburgh will see one in two go off-market - so it really helps to have consultants with connections across the industry.
“Buying a home is the biggest investment of your life and we believe you should have all the help you can get in making that decision. We understand people are very busy with their lives but it is also very important to be able to do your due diligence with a home so you are not lumped with a bill for damp and mould or to find out that the area doesn’t work for your family when you move in.
“We do the groundwork for you and find all the available properties on and off the market that could meet your needs. We have built relationships with surveyors, agents, lawyers, architects and development officers to ensure that no stone is left unturned for our clients.”
Leah adds that not only does 29Twelve cater to the needs of Edinburgh and Scottish residents but that they are also able to help those from further afield to find properties, whether it is for a home, their son or daughter's student flat or even an investment opportunity.
She continued: “We narrow down the search for our clients and have worked with people from across Asia, America or for those down south who are looking to come back to Edinburgh with their families. We can look at home reports and catchment areas ensuring that all of the relevant information you need is at your fingertips.
“For those looking to invest we also look at what your critical yield will be, what investment is required and what level of rent you can expect in return. We are independent and can work with any estate agent which means we can cast your net as wide as possible.
“We are able to offer suggestions for when it is time to make an offer to make sure that you have the best opportunity to land your property. The market is crazy at the moment and we want our clients to not have to overpay as well as to be in the best position possible to have a stress free experience.
“Ultimately we want to be your eyes and your ears throughout your search for the ideal home or investment.”
The business partners state that they are only ever committed to a handful of clients at any one time which means that they are always on hand to be able to help in your search. They encourage anyone looking for their own Kirsty and Phil to get in touch through their website here.
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