Q: Why do you specialise in the Bahamas and the Caribbean?

A: We specialise in these areas for a number of reasons.  English is the first language and therefore there is far less chance of there being any misunderstandings between buyers in the UK and sellers abroad.  Where these countries have a historic link with Britain, the legal systems are often based on UK law, which can have a positive benefit for investors looking to maximise their gains by buying via a trust or other tax-efficient vehicle.  Having a system similar to that existing in UK law also makes the process or purchasing easier, as it is familiar.  Brookes & Company has built up close relationships with local developers, banks, tax specialists and attorneys which allows us to negotiate from a position of knowledge and strength, to the benefit of our clients.  

Q:  How do you decide whether to take on an investment proposition?

A: We go through a stringent due diligence process whereby we look at all aspects of any proposition and local comparisons – essentially, we are checking to ensure that we are getting good value for money for our clients on every aspect of the deal, and we are trying to minimise the investment risk and maximise the potential gains.   This is a time-consuming process, but absolutely essential.  Only those projects that meet our criteria for potential growth make it through our internal selection process (and we look at an awful lot of projects, approving only a handful each year!)

Q:  How do I know that I’m getting the best deal if I buy via Brookes?

A: During our due diligence process we will go back to our developers to renegotiate prices if we find that the value is not as good as we would wish when measured against comparable developments.  We always look to buy under value in rising markets as this helps maximise returns, and quickly.  We are not estate agents and our primary interest is in making money for our clients – not selling a developer’s product at the highest price. 

As well as looking to get a good price, we also look for other benefits for our clients, including favourable rates from the financial institutions and legal service suppliers involved with any purchase.  With a background in Chartered Certified Accountancy we have in-house expertise to create tax-efficient solutions for our clients which would not be available to people buying individually.  We also make use of independent tax specialists to provide off-shore tax solutions which can open up a range of tax-efficient options for clients, and again, help maximise the gain

Q:  Why do developers use you then if they are not getting the highest price?

A:  Developers understand the value of the service we provide.  They know that Brookes and Company Property will provide them with clients who are knowledgeable about the land or home they are buying, and that those who buy will go through the process smoothly and without problems.  Managing the sale of multiple plots can be very complex and time-consuming.  Developers often prefer to give this task to specialists such as Brookes, who will place properties with investors in an organised and timely manner.

Q: Would you ever advise somebody not to buy into a certain project?

A: Yes.  Our primary motivator is in maximising returns for our clients, and protecting their long-term interest.  We would never take on a project if we did not believe in it ourselves, and we would never encourage a client to buy into any project if we felt it would harm their financial interests.  We are very proud of the fact that we a large number of our investment clients have been with the company since the Accountancy practice was set up 20 years ago.  We are also proud of that many of our clients are happy to personally recommend us to their friends and families.  The fact that so many of our clients buy into our projects again and again is shows us that they appreciate the advice we give them is not based on a short-term need to sell an investment.  They have benefited from ongoing good advice, and significant capital returns.  

Q: You claim that you never recommend an investment that you won’t buy into yourself.  Is that true?