The best property purchases rarely come from simply watching the portals and booking viewings at the weekend. In the UK, particularly at the upper end of the market, the right house may be quietly offered to a small circle before it is ever advertised. The true value may be harder to judge than the guide price suggests. The risks may sit in the title, the planning history, the neighbouring land, or the condition of the roof. A property buying agent works on the buyer’s side o