What we do
Land & Development
It is not uncommon to be baffled by the terminology and processes involved so please do get in touch if you have any questions at all. Our knowledge of the land and property development industry and the parties involved enables us to offer unrivalled advice and insight.
With our help you can achieve the best possible price with the least possible fuss. Contact us now on 01273 77 88 44 and read our brochure here.
Think you have land to sell?
Delivering Value for your Land
As a land or property owner you will no doubt appreciate that you possess a valuable asset. But are you aware of all the development opportunities available to you? If you have already applied for planning consent with a view to selling did you know that there are many lucrative options open to you that are often overlooked? Put simply your land could be worth more than you think. We are specialists in providing land owners like you with unrivalled insight and intelligence and on introducing you to trusted property buyers and local specialists.
We specialise in helping land owners like you navigate the many pitfalls that can occur when assessing a valued site. Plus, we have got the expertise and experience of dealing with a range of national, regional and local house builders, so if you are thinking of selling we can often introduce you to a serious buyer.
What types of sites are of interest?
Currently many shapes and sizes of land are in demand – from uniquely shaped parcels that often suit bespoke properties in densely populated areas to large open plots more suited to mixed use developments. Gardens, office buildings and commercial properties are also all desirable.
Brownfield, Greenfield and Strategic Land all have potential for any number of prospective uses – from residential housing and care homes through to retirement developments and affordable housing.
We are sensitive to the needs of those thinking of selling land in close proximity to their homes and neighbours. So we will work in partnership with you, carry out community consultations when necessary and clearly explain the process to help you achieve the level of planning consent you require to secure a sale.
We are adept at adding value for our clients at any stage of the process. Submitted planning? Awaiting a decision? Been refused? Consented? We can help.
What part does planning play?
Land tends to be offered for certain in one of three ways.
With planning consent.
Without planning consent.
Subject to planning consent.
When a piece of land is sold subject to planning, the interested buyer will agree to buy the site and exchange contracts as long as they are able to secure the planning consent they need to develop on the land (this agreement will be covered by what is known as either an option or conditional contract). So it becomes the buyer’s responsibility to submit the planning application at their own cost and when/or crucially if the planning consent is granted the sale will be completed. And while selling a site in this manner has risks and can be protracted a lengthy process It is by no means insurmountable.
Outstanding Customer Service
The consistency and professionalism in our lettings team combined with the creative and dynamic innovation and proven endorsed quality customer service, ensures that our philosophy of “going the extra mile” underpins everything we do.
We are well known within the local community for our professionalism and integrity and are established as a progressive company who achieve results for our customers. Our staff are perfectly placed to advise, both in the technicalities of the lettings market as well as possessing extensive local knowledge of the areas we cover throughout Brighton, Hove and Sussex.
By developing a multi-departmental, broad-based service, our knowledge across the board in sales, lettings and block management enables us to offer a more comprehensive proposition to our customers.
Protection & peace of mind for our landlords and tenants is of the utmost importance to us. Our Awards & Professional Associations, gained as a result of our client centered approach, offer this.
As a regulated member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), our clients can be confident that their funds are safe and secure and that they are using an agent that complies with the latest industry regulations. Our recognition as the ‘Best Independent Estate Agent’ in our area by the Guild of Property Professionals reflects our conformity to their rigorous standards, granting us exclusivity in our region. Additionally, our membership with the Property Ombudsman for lettings, sales, and block management, and the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association, assures our customers of our commitment to the highest professional standards and strict adherence to the codes of conduct of these respected bodies.
Brand Awareness
Our offices are situated in prime high street locations throughout Brighton and Hove, affording our clients maximum exposure for their properties. We offer properties for sale and to rent and property management across the whole of the Brighton and Hove area from Shoreham-by-sea to Peacehaven, with our Block/Estate Management department covering most of Sussex. We enjoy excellent footfall, with many clients visiting in person to undertake initial discussions and then to place their properties with us.
Our multi-departmental expertise in sales, lettings, and block management allows us to offer a more comprehensive service. ‘Buy to Let’ investors trust us due to our ability to advise on all aspects of their investments. Our Block Management knowledge also helps us to progress sales because we fully understand leasehold/freehold issues. This cross-departmental expertise enhances sales overall.
Marketing
Presentation of our rental properties is crucial to their marketability so to present each property in the best possible way both on the national portals and web-based media, we produce professionally designed details to promote the most attractive features and provide valuable information to buyers. To ensure that our properties stand out from the crowd, our attention to detail includes striking photography, concise text highlighting your property’s most salient points and high-quality floor plans. Instantly marketed by text and email in addition to being placed on our Sawyer & Co. website and the national sites, each property is given the best chance of efficient rental at the best possible price.
Our high-profile office locations in Brighton and Hove heightens our brand awareness, attracting many tenants to us both in person and via our fully responsive website and the national property portals. This together with our innovative marketing campaigns and proactive approach ensures that our rental properties are never on the market for long.
Flexible
By listening to our clients, we have developed a comprehensive service within our lettings department that expedites the rental process and achieves maximum rental values.
Let only
We would generally advise that our ‘Let Only’ service would be most suitable for experienced or corporate landlords with a deep understanding of relevant legislation or those with their own management departments. This service requires a solid grasp of property law and management practices to navigate independently. For most landlords, especially those without extensive experience, opting for a part or fully managed service is safer and more beneficial, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and reducing the burden of day-to-day property management.
Fee: 3 weeks’ rent plus VAT subject to a minimum of £1170 inc. VAT (£975 plus VAT)
This service includes the following:
- Production and distribution of promotional materials, to include photographs and a floorplan
- Arranging, where appropriate, an initial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Gas Safety Certificate and other legal required certification
- Provision of a To Let board
- Promotion of your property on Rightmove, Zoopla, Primelocation and OnTheMarket as well as our own website, sawyerandco.co.uk
- Accompanied viewing service
- Negotiate the terms of a tenancy
- Carry out the initial Right to Rent checks
- Completion of comprehensive credit and income
- checks on prospective tenants, for which we employ a third-party specialist
- Production of an appropriate tenancy agreement and associated documentation
- Collection of an appropriate deposit, which is lodged in our client account and registered with a Client Money Protection Scheme*
- Collection of the first month’s rent. We arrange for subsequent payments to be made directly to you
- Arrange an Inventory & Schedule of Condition (signed by the tenant) for you to use as the basis for comparison when the tenant vacates*
*Subject to additional fee
Part Managed
Fee: 12% including VAT (10% plus VAT)
Our Part Managed service includes all the benefits of our Let Only Service and in addition, Sawyer & Co Property Management will:
- Collect rent in accordance with the terms of the tenancy agreement
- Prepare and submit a regular Statement of Account to the landlord and/or the landlord’s accountant
- Transfer the net monies to the landlord
- Chase rent arrears
- At the end of the tenancy, we will arrange for the inventory to be checked by the inventory clerk and for a schedule of dilapidation (if any) to be prepared. Before the tenant’s deposit can be returned, a copy of the schedule of dilapidation is sent to the landlord for subsequent approval
- We will remind you when the Gas Safety Certificate EICR, EPC and end of tenancy renewals are due, and send you updates about major changes to legislation.
Full Managed
Fee: 14.4% including VAT (12% plus VAT)
In addition to the Letting and Part Managed Service as detailed above, this includes:
- Management of maintenance and repairs
- Collection of rent, chasing arrears and paying any agreed outgoings
- 6 monthly visits to the property to ensure the tenant is taking care of the property and when appropriate, providing you with a written report about issues arising from our visit
- Arranging Landlord Gas Safety Inspections to be carried out annually during the tenancy, and for a certificate to be provided
- Prior to the expiry of any fixed term contract, contact the Tenant to enquire whether they would like you to consider an extension of their tenancy
- Arrange tenancy renewals for further fixed term*
- Before we organise the release of the tenant’s security deposit an end of tenancy inventory check out will be arranged and we will negotiate any dilapidations.
- Arranging Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), as an when required
- Service of a Legal Notice for Possession
*Subject to additional fee
Additional fees
A full list of our fees is available on request or alternatively can be accessed via our website
Where we have stated that we will ‘arrange’ a specific service the Landlord should be aware that they are liable for the cost of the contractor invoice Our Part and Fully Managed Services are subject to a tenancy set up fee of 1.5 weeks’ rent + VAT (Min £690 inc. VAT / £575 plus VAT) this includes the marketing of your property, referencing, drafting AST and arranging the inventory.
Land for sale
Sawyer & Co’s Land & Development team operate throughout Sussex, selling both private or commercial, residential development sites. We have handled the sale of all manner of development sites or plots, ranging in size and complexity. This experience and knowledge ensures we achieve the absolute best price for our clients every time. If you would like to know more about how we operate, or have land that you want appraised then please give our team call today.
Landowner - Have you received a letter from Sawyer & Co?
At Sawyer & Co we pride ourselves on our focused targeting of potential development sites, thanks to the in-depth research done by our Land & Development team. If you have received a letter or card from our Land & Development team, be in no doubt, the approach is genuine and means that we strongly believe that your land has great potential for the development of much needed New Homes.
If we believe that your land has potential for New Homes, it means that we believe your land is worth more than you may think! Please contact us if you are interested to know how we unlock this hidden value. Our advice is always free & carries no obligation.
Development Consultancy Services & Land Acquisitions
At Sawyer & Co we can offer on the ground insight & tactical guidance and provide support and specific advice covering;
- In depth Pricing Reports
- Local Market Research
- Concept Analysis & Scheme Analysis
- Value Engineering
- New Home Sales
We have experienced acting on behalf of developers who are looking for their next acquisition, get in contact today to discuss how this works and how we may differ from other agents.
If you’re looking to invest in land, add to your portfolio, or even your first refurbishment – don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team; save yourself the time & effort of finding development land and let us do it for you!
New Homes Sales
We Take Your Business Seriously
We are proud to have made a name for ourselves in the Land and New Homes market by not only understanding the needs of house builders and land owners but offering the specialist services that support growth.
We excel in delivering all the necessary elements for the successful launch of a development and the expertise and commitment to fully support the project for its duration. We have a great deal of experience in managing the site sales operations for our clients and you can count on our staff to represent your company professionally and to uphold your best interests.
We have worked with many of the UK’s leading house builders and appreciate the finer details of working with premium developments. Our business driver is always to secure the best value for our clients, rather than take a sales rate. In addition, we understand that a cohesive approach from a sales and lettings prospective can foster both short and long term gains.
With us by your side you can achieve unrivalled exposure and enable the development to engage with an extensive catchment area. In short we will help you take your investment to the next level.
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU
Services we offer
We offer a comprehensive range of property solutions tailored to meet your needs. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to delivering outstanding services, ensuring a seamless and successful experience every step of the way.
Find out how much your home is worth
Curious about the value of your property? At Sawyer & Co Estate Agents, we offer a free and no-obligation property valuation service. Our experienced valuers will assess your property’s market value based on factors such as its location, size, condition, and recent sales in the area.
