Live Beside The Sea Testimonials

Sue and I both have an affinity with the sea and had a long-term aim to live beside it. Family loss was the catalyst which focused 2021 as the year to make it so. We investigated several coastal areas from west and South Wales through Dorset and Devon but did not find what we were looking for. With little knowledge of Cornwall, we decided to investigate, and we’re initially attracted to Falmouth.

We lacked knowledge of the county and the local housing market and found Jayne through Coast magazine. From initial discussions with her it was obvious that she takes a client centric view of property searches and has a breadth and depth of knowledge of Cornwall and the Cornish market that we could never hope to obtain on our own.

Once she had taken time to understand what we were looking for she began to come up with a wide variety of options and encouraged us to think beyond Falmouth. She presented us with a stunning house in St Ives which met all our needs. Our offer was accepted but she did not sit back and let it run. Our sellers were looking to downsize, and she offered to help at no cost to them to make sure our purchase could get over the line.

However, due to the lack of supply of housing stock in Cornwall it became clear that our sellers were struggling to find anywhere and would probably take the house off the market. Undaunted Jayne researched a new build in Carbis Bay for us and encouraged us to view quickly. We drove down and back in a day to see the house and offered on the spot. The sale was already competitive, but our offer was accepted. Jayne then continued to work with us to get the purchase progressed and we exchanged and completed in November managing to move in before Christmas. So our objective of moving to the sea by year end 2021 was achieved!

Jayne is a very focused, tenacious sort of person but also knows how to build strong relationships with her clients and bring enthusiasm and good humour to what is always a very fraught process. We could not have made this move without her involvement and would recommend her services to others without hesitation.

We first contacted Jayne at Live Beside the Sea back at the beginning of 2018. Life has thrown Tina and I a few curveballs over the past few years and we have completely re-evaluated what we want and where we are heading in life. We have never been big dreamers or planned the years ahead, we have always kind of bumbled along. But the experiences of the past few years have been a bit of a wakeup call for us. We began to focus on what we really wanted and started to dream and make plans.

We had finally booked a date to get married after being together 23 years and engaged for 19 or those, at a venue overlooking Whitsand Bay, the first beach we visited in Cornwall on a camping trip back in 1999. And we decided to make plans to relocate to the county. Let’s live beside the sea… it could be amazing! And project Cornwall 2020 became a thing!

We spotted an advert for Jayne’s service in Coast magazine I think, and we spent a good while browsing her website and dreaming about what could be. Bearing in mind our budget wouldn’t stretch to a beach hut let alone the properties Jayne is used to dealing with, but I thought, in for a penny, in for a pound, we’ve got nothing to lose! The tricky bit was being up in Leicestershire, how do you even start viewing properties 250 miles away let alone anything else? That’s where someone like Jayne comes in.

So I picked up the phone and gave her a call. I explained our situation and Jayne was very understanding and inspirational. There was a connection there… she got where we were coming from and understood our “why”.

We weren’t in a position to do anything at all when we first contacted her but we spent the next year or so working hard to build our family business, pay off debts and prepare. All the while not knowing if we could pull it off or not, but just focusing on the dream of moving to the coast.

18 months later we were finally in a position to do something. Perhaps not in as grand a style as we’d ultimately like, but we could take the first step at last. We had a modest potential budget as we were still waiting for the current years company accounts to be completed, and our house was almost ready to put on the market. We’d kept in touch with Jayne over that period too, updating her on our progress and of our intention to work with her. This kept us focused on the goal and moving in the right direction.

We finally met in January 2020 at her office overlooking the sea and we quickly thrashed out a bit of a wants and must-haves list that would form the basis for her search to find us the ideal property to begin the next chapter of our life in Cornwall.

Over the next few weeks Jayne spent hours scouring all the property websites and speaking to estate agents, weeding out properties and creating a shortlist. Countless texts and emails flew back and forth as we pretty much re-wrote the must haves list several times over, which was an invaluable process. Jayne isn’t just a search agent, there’s also a coaching element to what she does, which helps you work out what you really want. She also helps keep you focused on the budget too and not get carried away by bright shiny objects! As a result, over the weeks we’d worked out that most of what we originally wanted wasn’t important at all!

Once we then had a much firmer idea of our maximum budget and taken heed of Jayne’s advice to stay well within it, Jayne was then able to begin viewings on our behalf, saving us countless hours on the motorway, providing detailed written and photographic reports on the properties she’d visited, creating the perfect property shortlist that suited our budget and requirements as a family. She would give us her brutally honest opinion on properties that had caught our eye to help guide us towards making the right decisions.

Our house went on the market at the end of February and we received an offer within 4 days. So the game was now well and truly on!

In early March, just before Lockdown, Jayne arranged viewings for two of the properties on the shortlist which were in our ideal location and well within budget. One of which was perfect for us. A short walk from the centre of the wonderful fishing village of Mevagissey, within easy reach of the coastal path and beaches, and conveniently located for commuting to work and taking our daughter to college.

Jayne put an offer in on our behalf at lunchtime and it was accepted within an hour. Since then Jayne has helped with arranging Mundic tests, liaising with the vendors regarding our purchase and helping things run as smoothly as possible, which has been no mean feat during Lockdown. We’re now on the cusp of completion and can’t wait to begin the next chapter of family life in Cornwall this summer.

Thank you, Jayne, you’re amazing. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Justin, Tina, Elizabeth & Lola the dog x

https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk
Tel: 01530 456952

We live in London now but decided we wanted to buy a home in Cornwall. Initially this would be for us to use as a holiday home and possibly also to provide some rental income but ultimately for us to spend more time in Cornwall when our son leaves school.

So our requirements were not straightforward. We asked Jayne to help us find somewhere and we are delighted with the outcome having identified a property that meets almost all our requirements.

We found Jayne following an internet search and then spoke to previous clients who were all very positive about what Jayne had done for them. Having used Jayne on our successful search we can certainly echo those previous clients’ comments.

Jayne was very good at helping identify what we wanted from the property and where we were and were not prepared to compromise. Jayne was very good at filtering out properties for us – which saved an awful lot of time and aggravation. We found the reports she produced really helpful, particularly the videos. She is incredibly responsive and clearly knows the market very well.

We found her practical advice both before and after identifying a property really helpful. Knowledge of useful local contacts is a great help. We would have no hesitation in recommending Jayne to anyone looking to move to Cornwall.

By engaging Jayne, we spent less of our time endlessly searching online and viewing unsuitable houses. Jayne kept her eye on the market, viewed potential properties and showed us only those she felt would be of interest. Throughout the process, Jayne kept us informed and communicated frequently, sending us updates, reports and even videos of prospective houses.

Jayne is well accustomed to the journey clients go through when searching for a property. As we became more familiar with the area and realize what was most important to us, our priorities changed and Jayne readily adapted her searches to fit the new criteria. She came to know us very well and figured out what we were looking for even before we did!

Jayne has a phenomenal read of the Cornish housing market. She has had a successful real estate business for many years; her experience and knowledge of the area are priceless. Jayne’s connections helped us access properties before they went on the market; this resulted in us being able to view houses before other potential buyers.

Acting on Jayne’s advice, we prioritized the viewing of one particular property and immediately fell in love with the house. Jayne advised us on our offer and we were delighted that it was accepted straight away. Without Jayne, we certainly wouldn’t have the home of our dreams!

Thank you Jayne – we couldn’t have done it without you!

Mr & Mrs RJB

I didn’t actually know there was such a thing as a property search agent until some research about moving to Cornwall brought me to Jayne’s website. Initially I assumed it wasn’t something I needed or could justify financially, but as I explored further I realised that actually this could be the solution I was looking for.

I was already renting in Cornwall but after months of searching had not found anything that matched my extremely specific and long list of criteria within the budget, and was trying to sell my flat back in Brighton and run a business at the same time. Someone who had connections and a comprehensive knowledge of the area, access to properties not yet on the market, who would do the time consuming leg work of viewings before compiling a shortlist that fit my criteria, and who had years of experience in all aspects of moving including negotiating {not my strong suit}, sounded perfect.

Jayne turned out to be like my fairy godmother! Not only did she help me find and secure a property that ticked almost every box on my list {and it turned out the other things weren’t that important after all}, she also brought a hilarious sense of humour and an ability to be very nurturing to what can often be a stressful process. I felt like someone was on my team the whole time, which made everything easier and more enjoyable all round. Every property report was concise pointing out any negatives as well as the positives, and they were written in such style, almost like a story so it made them easy to read. Jayne has also been excellent at keeping me in the loop so I knew what was going on at all times, as well as finding builders, architects, and designers to help with next steps. I rather wish she could take charge of the upcoming renovations on the new house! It’s been such a pleasure to work with Jayne; she really is worth her weight in gold. I could not recommend her more highly.

I found Jayne at Live Beside The Sea one of my key players in achieving what only some people dream of, but I did ( with her help, of course).

I was suddenly widowed with two young girls and I needed to make a change for many reason in our lives. After researching I came across Jayne. I spoke with Jayne with a brief as to what my family were looking for and and what were our needs. Living some 350 miles away I was unable to pop to Cornwall and start doing all the investigations myself. I needed someone with their ear to the ground and would understand our hit list of requirements if possible. Jayne did what she said on the tin. She viewed property after we discussed over the phone and agreed which ones for her to view, she reported back very thoroughly. I then came down and viewed two houses and offered on the second, and 3 months later I had keys to a new life.

Jayne helped from the start of this journey, and along the way where I could not be around. Jayne was the professional contact with local Knowledge and understanding of my families needs. Jayne and her service which she provided us, yes was an extra cost in the moving budget but, I have absolutely no doubt it was a very important part of the plan to ensure we achieved what we set out to do. For my family I did not have the time or money to make an error and her compassion and performance was worth everything for us to get it right first time. With out any question Jayne was a key player and not only did we find a new life but our first Cornish friend to welcome us.

Engaging a property search agent can be a big blessing for buyers. You’ve not only got someone in your corner out hunting for and vetting properties for you, but you also have someone on your side who will make the case for you as a buyer, someone who will help with price negotiations as needed, and someone that can be a useful sounding board when you need someone to talk things through with. In addition, Jayne has a host of local contacts, and thus can recommend solicitors, movers, architects, designers and cleaners. So if you are thinking about hiring Jayne, just do it.

Jayne got me in to see 2 fabulous properties before they were officially on the market. That’s quite a windfall in the house hunting process! The first met all of my must-have list and all but one of my would-be-nice-if list, and was under budget. Sadly it just didn’t feel right for me. The second met most of my must-haves and was a lovely space, one that really spoke to me. Jayne could tell right away that this was the one for me, just by the look on my face. Sadly, it fell through as the seller pulled out half way through the process. Undeterred, Jayne continued to look for properties for me, and it wasn’t long before she found one that was on the market, but that was so far under my budget, it hadn’t shown up in my online searches! So I wouldn’t have even looked at the house I am buying if Jayne hadn’t found it.

Having been looking for our next house for the last 3 years, covering 2 counties and hundreds of miles, we were in dire need of someone with an unbiased and fresh perspective. Jayne turned out to be a breath of fresh air, and coincidentally originally came from our neck of the woods, up in the Midlands.

We talked through everything we wanted and what we didn’t, went through all the houses we had discounted and our reasons why. However, Jayne with her more realistic view managed to encourage us to widen our horizons and look at things we had dismissed. Fortunately for us Jayne trekked into the hinterland and beyond looking for our ‘dream’ home, including having to view places that were far from their advertisements. This was a blessing as we lived so far up country. Her viewing reports were incredibly informative and painted vivid pictures, and on occasions created a fair few laughs.

Jayne really comes into her own when you are down to the nitty-gritty. While we wondered round properties, she was busy getting all the insider information she possibly could, and building a rapport with vendors and agents alike. This put us in a great position once we had found ‘the one’. Thankfully Jayne can sell you as the buyer, meaning you tend to get your foot through the door long before anyone else. It is down to this ‘early doors tactic’, that after 3 long, long years, we finally found a house we all like. The bonus being we don’t even feel like any of us have had to compromise, which is as much a shock to us as I’m sure it is to Jayne!

When we both started to discuss the idea of moving to Cornwall from Tooting, we thought we’d be able to do the property searches ourselves and hoke off at weekends and check things out for ourselves. Yeah, right! Well, we soon realised that that wasn’t going to work, not least as, working full-time, we were both already shattered even before we’d done some “Zoopla-ing” or “Right Move- ing”, never mind making the trip, and so many estate agents never got back to us, or seemed to take us that seriously.

We talked to friends, read blogs and the idea of using a property search agent started to form: we investigated. I remember talking to 3 agents, one of whom was Jayne. The other 2 were national outfits, all very professional and informative, however, it seemed to make sense to use someone who lived and worked in Cornwall and who would be able to give us the ins and outs of moving to this beautiful county. Talking to Jayne for the first time, I got a distinct feeling that she would be able to help us, as she seemed to lock into what we thought we were looking for and, crucially, put us at ease. Her chatty and personable manner resonated, and her professionalism and grasp of our detail was impressive.

We had a few hiccups along the way – the messy outcome of the General Election certainly threw several spanners into the works – but things have worked out well for us. We are now in our lovely new home in Penzance – not where we’d originally thought of moving to – and we are slowly but surely finding our feet and settling into a new way of life. Jayne has been instrumental in helping to bring this result about for us – talking to estate agents, checking out the local environment, chatting to potential sellers and getting a feel for things generally. She has acted as an empathetic go-between for us and sellers and provided useful information along the way: some of her property reports have been hilarious – helpful, accurate but very humorous! I think it’s far to say that we probably wouldn’t have ended up buying this house had it not been for Jayne’s involvement. Thank you, Jayne: we’ll put the prosecco on ice for when the warm weather hits!

Jayne’s vast experience in the property market in Cornwall made her an obvious choice to co-ordinate the accommodation for the Finn Nationals and Finn Gold Cup in May 2012, two events that attracted entries and the media from all over the world.

Moving from Berkshire to Cornwall was a daunting prospect due to the distances involved. Jayne helped us by finding and viewing properties matching our criteria thereby helping us create a shortlist.

As we were retiring she made sure that we were moving to somewhere with a real community and not just a holiday area. It was very difficult for Jayne as we already lived in a lovely house but she persevered and found a suitable property.