This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website, to read more about the cookies we use, please read our cookies policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
We’d like to set Google Analytics cookies to help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone.
We and our advertising suppliers use these technologies to personalise the advertising you see. They work by seeing how you use our services and other websites. They use that information to predict what might interest you. You might see personalised advertising on our services, on other websites or in marketing emails.
Our website uses cookies in order to function properly and to help us deliver the best experience. By using our website you agree to the use of cookies. Please view our privacy policy to learn more about how we use cookies.
First In The Door is a trusted guide to the UK’s leading buying agents and property advisors — a dedicated, free service offering personalised, impartial recommendations and introductions to experts from our carefully curated panel.
Homebuyers can use our platform to identify the most suitable vetted buying agents for their brief, or speak directly with our team for tailored guidance and advice.
We believe the right representation changes everything.
We interview and assess buying agents across London and the UK — reviewing their track record, local expertise, client feedback and professional standards — to curate a panel made up of only the top performers.
Most applicants don’t make it through; fewer than 1 in 10 are accepted.
Working with First In The Door means starting your search with agents who are proven, trusted and genuinely best-in-class for your brief.
Many homebuyers are using a buying agent for the first time — and having a trusted guide by your side can make the process clearer and easier to navigate.
Claire Whisker, our Founder & MD, previously practised as a lawyer and barrister before moving into the property and digital sectors. Frequently quoted in the national press, she leads our helpful team here at First In The Door, offering thoughtful, impartial guidance as part of our dedicated free service for homebuyers.
If you’d like warm introductions or simply an expert perspective before you begin, we’re here to help.
London isn’t a single property market. It’s a patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with its own pricing logic, pace, selling agents and unwritten rules.
The relationships that matter — and the opportunities that surface — are almost always local: specific to a street, a postcode, a distinct enclave with its own dynamics.
That’s why we match you with buying agents who specialise in the exact area you’re searching.
From Chelsea and Mayfair to Clapham, Islington and Canary Wharf, you’ll be working with someone who knows that micro-market inside out.
Sshhh! Don’t tell anyone but estate agents frequently contact buying agents for hot-to-trot buyers before they even think about listing a home on property portals
Want the best possible purchase terms? Set yourself up to win with an expert to negotiate with estate agents on your behalf
Buying your home doesn’t need to be so hard. Our experts are here to advise you at every step of a complex transaction to get you swiftly and safely into your new home
While estate agents act for the seller — and are contractually obliged to secure the highest possible price — a buying agent acts solely for you, the buyer. The process typically begins with a detailed review of your brief, refining your priorities and benchmarking them against a localised market appraisal.
From there, your agent sources, filters and views properties on your behalf — including those circulated privately or off-market. They provide clear commercial due diligence, ensuring you understand any local plans, building considerations or long-term factors that may affect the home’s value and enjoyment.
When it comes to negotiation, your buying agent positions you as a preferred purchaser and ensures you are paying a fair and well-supported price. They coordinate the entire process, liaising with estate agents, surveyors, solicitors and mortgage advisors to keep the purchase moving smoothly.
Many agents also support you beyond completion, from recommending property management to introducing trusted maintenance and household staff.
Credible and experienced London buying agents typically charge a percentage of the purchase price, usually in the region of 2% to 2.5%. This remains the most common fee structure you’ll encounter across the capital.
Some agents may instead offer a fixed fee, agreed upfront and aligned with your overall budget — providing clarity and certainty from the outset. In certain circumstances, it may also be possible to agree a fee based on the saving achieved between the asking price and the final price paid.
Most agents request a retainer of £1,000 to £3,000, paid at the beginning of the search and deducted from the final success fee on completion.
Many of London’s best properties never reach the open market. They circulate quietly through trusted agent networks, long-standing relationships and private introductions.
A well-connected buying agent opens the door to these opportunities, whether the property is entirely off-market or simply being shown discreetly before it is listed. They hear about homes early, arrange confidential viewings and position you ahead of competing buyers. This is especially valuable in prime neighbourhoods where privacy is the norm and high-quality stock is limited
Using a London buying agent can save you time, reduce stress, and give you access to exclusive off-market properties while ensuring you don’t overpay in a competitive market.
Look for experience in your preferred area, proven success, transparent fees, and a strong network of local contacts. Platforms like First In The Door can connect you with trusted professionals who meet these criteria.
Today, London buying agents cater for many different budgets but typically for property purchases >£1m. Buying agents may service different types of buyers from international buyers, first-time-buyers and second-steppers, downsizers, retirees, investors and home buyers who are relocating.
In a fast-moving city like London, buying agents provide insight, speed, and access to properties that often sell before reaching the open market.
Call us on + 44 20 7167 8384 or message us below for a free consultation
"*" indicates required fields
Call us on + 44 20 7167 8384 or message us below for a free consultation
"*" indicates required fields