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| PRIVATE DETECTIVES Tel: 01483 423900 |
| THE HOUSE DETECTIVES Tel: 0800 980 4 267 |
| Buying a house ? so WHO are YOU going to end up living next door to? Want the answer BEFORE you part with your hard earned cash? Then CHECK OUT THE NEIGHBOURS......... |
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The House Detectives... Nigel Parsons spends a lot of time hanging around on Street corners, taking pictures of his trusty dog, Misty. Together they make an impressive, undercover team. You see, Nigel isn't really taking photos of Misty. He's far more interested in the houses behind her and the people who live in them. He is what you might call a 'house detective'.The popular serviced has featured on BBC London News (Watch video),BBC Watchdog (* Video), This Morning (*Video*)Richard and Judy(*Video*), Channel 5, BBC Asian Network and has been reported in the Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, New York Times, and most of the UK National newspapers. |
| When people find their perfect house, they don't want to move in and find they're next door to the neighbours from hell", says Nigel. "What I do is check out the neighbourhood and report back." They'll also tell you if any of the neighbours have loud arguments, never empty their bins, or can't afford to pay service charges. | The Independent |
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Sunday Times |
For £ 395, Nigel or one of his fellow house detectives will work over a period of seven to ten days, finding out everything there is to know about an area and its residents - who lives next door to a buyer's prospective house, what they do for a living and if they owe money. If a property nearby has had several residents in a short period, they'll find out why. And investigating the freeholder sometimes leads to discovering other properties they own where legal arguments have ensued. | Mail on Sunday |
What's on TV |
"What some people find acceptable, others don't" says Nigel." "All I can do is tell the clients everything, then let them make up their own minds. I'm usually asked to do my job just before contracts are exchanged, and if people don't like what I tell them they do back out" | Surrey Advertiser |
This Morning *Video* |
Noisy neighbours is a common fear, so to find out if there's a potential problem, Nigel visits the locality several times. "I recall standing outside one flat on a Friday night when a couple started rowing on the balcony. She was screaming at the top of her voice and he ran downstairs. Got in his car and screamed off, hitting two other cars in the process. After talking to the neighbours I discovered the pair did that sort of thing every weekend". | Daily Express |
ITN London News |
Talking to locals is a vital part of the job and Nigel is always wired up to tape conversations. "If there's a school nearby I might wait near the gates and chat to the mums - always, of course, being careful to be discreet and not alarm anyone" he says. "One told me of a gang of teenagers terrorising a peaceful area in Surrey. And when we checked it out .well, that's another story " | The Guardian |
Richard & Judy *Video* |
As well as being used by house buyers in the United Kingdom, many clients are referred by multinationals looking to relocate their staff to Britain. Because they have little, if any, local knowledge, the agencies expertise can be invaluable. | The Times |
Daily Star |
Liz White, for example, who moved to England from Boston six months ago, was saved from making what could have been an expensive mistake. "The house was described by the real estate agents as being in a quiet residential area. It turned out to be in the heart of Brixton. Now here, of course, Brixton has a reputation - not necessarily a bad one, but not the place for me." | Financial Times |
Daily Echo |
"It's as important to feel comfortable with your new environment as it is with your new house" says Nigel. So many houses with "for sale" signs seem perfect when visited, with real coffee on the stove and fresh bread aromas from the oven. Reality is something quite different" | Daily Telegraph |
| Moving House? Call the House Detectives....... 01483 423900 | ||
| Answers Investigation have other websites for specialist services and localised service: |
0800 980 4 267 |
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