County Homesearch

We are the leading property search agents in Devon.  David’s background is in estate agency, and his presence in the property consultancy arena is a classic case of poacher turned gamekeeper.  It stems from many  years  as an estate agent, principally in the South Hams of Devon.

Prior to that he dealt with country house sales in Exeter having initiated his property career in the mid 1980’s in Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.  In that capacity, given that he was of course acting for property vendors, he felt limited in the ability to give purchasers an impartial opinion as to the suitability of a property for their particular requirements, and long felt that he would like to switch to acting for them.  That is why he ultimately joined County Homesearch, so that he would be able to give the wide range of impartial assistance which is needed in the difficult task of finding a new home in an area with which clients may be unfamiliar or living at some distance from and possibly overseas.

David’s wide range of contacts gained through his estate agency years, including with other agents throughout the county, surveyors and solicitors, and his involvement in many property transactions in the region, give him the necessary knowledge and experience to be able to advise on the merits of a given purchase with full confidence of his knowledge of the market.

By contrast, Carol came to the homesearch industry through a completely different route.  Her background is principally in the legal profession in which she practised  both as a barrister and a solicitor and for a long period in Dubai.  In 1991, she was one of the current Chairman’s first clients when she purchased a property in South Devon with the benefit of his assistance.  She returned to England to live in that home in 2001.The fact that David and Carol are based in central Exeter puts them within easy reach of all parts of Devon as well as facilitating close liaison with the major agents.

As lovers of the countryside, walkers and dogowners and with an appreciation of fine wine and dining, David and Carol are very sure that the region which boasts two coastlines and two beautiful moorlands, coupled with excellent transport links with the rest of the county, is unrivalled in what it has to offer to anyone in a position to relocate to this unique part of the country.

David hopes one day to be able to renew his commercial helicopter licence so as to be able to give his clients an even better overview of properties!

Carol and David’s respective skills complement each other very well to be able to ensure with confidence that their clients are found a home which fulfils their every expectation.

Fiona Howell joined Carol and David during 2011.  Fiona looks after those clients wishing to purchase a property in East Devon, West Somerset or Exmoor.

Devon provides exceptional diversity for home-buyers, with moorland, city, village, market town or coastal locations all being available within the county. Types of home include classic period houses, estates, thatched cottages, farms or contemporary apartments by the sea and there is something for all tastes.

There are numerous opportunities to pursue country or other leisure activities and this, coupled with the mild climate and more relaxed lifestyle, make Devon a great place either to retire or to bring up a family. With improved communications and transport links that are now available, many people are finding it possible to realise lifestyle changes that they could only dream of previously. Devon attracts many excellent teachers and therefore provides a selection of outstanding schools both in the state and independent sectors.

Devon boasts two National Parks, Exmoor and Dartmoor, many stunning Blue Flag beaches and no less than five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) including the Blackdown Hills, Tamar Valley and those in North, South and East Devon. It is no wonder that Devon remains one of the UK ’s most sought after places to live.

Devon’s two major cities, Exeter and Plymouth are both steeped in history, Exeter dating from Celtic times and Plymouth with its strong maritime heritage. Both cities have recently undergone city centre re-developments to provide stylish shops, cafes, sport and cultural facilities, as well as attractively located properties.

• Barnstaple
• Budleigh Salterton
• Dartmouth
• Dulverton
• Exeter
• Honiton
• Ilfracombe
• Kingsbridge
• Plymouth
• Salcombe
• Sidmouth
• Taunton
• Tavistock
• Totnes

Devon has good road, rail and air links. There are fast trains from Tiverton or Exeter to London in 2-2.5 hours. Exeter airport has flights to many European and other major holiday/business destinations, including most recently, New York. Plymouth offers four flights a day to London’s Gatwick airport.

Thank you for finding us exactly what we wanted at such short notice and for helping us through rental agreements, recommending a removal company, setting up utilities etc.  We were living over 175 miles from our chosen area which made viewing several properties impractical. Your knowledge of the area and the local estate agents and friendly approach made the whole process stress-free.

Thanks also for giving us expert advice on the house and particularly the potential use of the farm buildings. Your constructive comments and pricing advice helped us make the right decision for us.
Mr and Mrs C, Yarnscombe

Unfailingly courteous and considerate, David Hindom and Carol Whelan of The County Homesearch Company rendered splendid service in helping us to find a suitable property in Devon. As we were living in Norfolk at the time, and travelling was difficult, the combination of their viewing properties on our behalf, and then driving us to view them ourselves when we came down, was invaluable. When it came to making an offer for the chosen property, we should not have had the nerve to take the price down as far as David did, but—leaving it in his capable hands—we felt quite relaxed about it. David's and Carol's help in liaising with agents and solicitors was a tension-reducing service.
The terms and conditions were transparent, and even when we had paid the fee after exchange of contracts the service continued in so many ways that it's hard to remember them all. Even now, several months after moving house, David and Carol will answer queries about local services and recommend useful people.
Mr and Mrs M, Paignton

We are delighted with the service of County Homesearch.  Carol and David are very supportive in the homes search process.
Mr and Mrs M, Taunton

We were deeply impressed by their unparalleled expertise, extensive knowledge and professional network.
Prof & Mrs B, Exeter

I really do feel you went far more than the extra mile for us and can honestly say the whole move would not have been possible without you.
Mr and Mrs N, Okehampton

Throughout the entire process from first instruction to finalisation of purchase they remained fully available and engaged on the task, and unfailingly responded promptly and carefully to any queries and requests.

They were proactive in seeking potential properties, not just by way of obtaining information from the market, but also in making visits to some of the houses in question to assess the suitability in advance of reporting to me.

They were also proactive in offering advice on ancillary matters such as surveyors and mortgage lenders, and indeed every step that had to be taken from start to finish.

Their grasp of the local market and ability to deal with estate agents enabled them to negotiate on my behalf a fair price, and indeed it was not necessary for me at any stage to discuss the purchase price with anyone apart from them. They exclusively handled the whole of the negotiation process smoothly and sensitively.

County Homesearch generally not only made the entire process as hassle free as such operations can be, but I also throughout felt in safe hands and much reassured that I was getting a fair deal on the house I bought.  Not least, ordinary house buyers need protection from estate agents, and with the County Homesearch team I had the reassurance and advantage of that prorection in full.
Mr. J.W.   from Totnes, South Devon

Address:

County Homesearch Company Ltd
2 Salutary Mount
Exeter
Devon
EX1 2QE

Telephone

+44 (0)1392 494722

Fax

+44 (0)1392 494722