Why Larkenshaw?
What do you do when the home you love isn't for sale?
Larkenshaw was created for the homes people fall in love with before they ever come onto the market.
Sometimes you find the right home at the wrong time
You might discover a house you would genuinely love to own, but there is currently no simple way to let the homeowner know that someone would be interested if they ever considered selling.
People often try a few things:
- repeatedly checking property websites
- hoping the house eventually comes onto the market
- asking a local estate agent whether they know if the owner might sell
- approaching the homeowner directly
None of these provide a simple, structured way to express genuine interest without putting pressure on the homeowner.
Where Larkenshaw came from
Larkenshaw started with a house we couldn't buy
The concept for Larkenshaw started with something very personal.
In May, during the COVID period, my now wife and I were dealing with the postponement of our wedding. Our original plans had been disrupted, so we spent a lot of time walking around Beaconsfield, a village we both loved.
During one of those walks, we came across a house that we both immediately fell in love with.
There was just one problem.
It wasn't for sale.
We kept walking past it and talking about it. We wondered what we would do if we could actually buy it. But there was no obvious way to let the homeowner know that there were people who genuinely loved the house and would potentially want to buy it if they ever decided to sell.
That thought stayed with us.
We eventually got married in September, but by then we had been walking around the village and thinking about that house for months.
The idea behind Larkenshaw came from that experience. What if people could simply say, "I would love to own this home," even when it wasn't for sale?
That is the idea Larkenshaw was built around.
Property doesn't always start with a For Sale sign
Traditional property websites generally begin with a simple question: "What homes are available to buy?"
Larkenshaw begins with a different question: "What homes would you love to own?"
That creates a different type of property demand. People can save individual homes, streets and neighbourhoods, and express their interest, even when those properties aren't currently for sale.
How Larkenshaw works
A simple way to express interest
- 1
Find a home you love
Find a property, street or neighbourhood that you would genuinely consider owning.
- 2
Save your interest
Save it on Larkenshaw, even if the property isn't currently for sale.
- 3
Homeowners can see the demand
Homeowners can see anonymised interest in their property and understand that there may be genuine people interested in buying.
- 4
The homeowner decides
If they ever decide they might consider selling, they can choose what happens next, including involving an estate agent.
Larkenshaw does not pressure homeowners to sell. It simply makes previously invisible buyer interest visible.
What if your home has more demand than you realise?
Homeowners may have no idea that people would love to buy their property. Larkenshaw gives homeowners access to useful, anonymised demand information.
This could help a homeowner understand:
- how much interest exists in their home
- where interested buyers are coming from
- the wider demand for homes in their area
- whether there may be genuine interest if they ever consider selling
Larkenshaw doesn't promise that a homeowner will receive an offer or that their property will sell. It simply makes the demand that already exists visible.
A new way for estate agents to understand demand
Larkenshaw is not trying to replace estate agents. It can complement what they do, rather than compete with it.
Estate agents can potentially use the demand information generated by Larkenshaw to:
- understand buyer demand
- identify homeowners who may have genuine interest in their property
- have better informed conversations with homeowners
- add professional expertise to the selling process when a homeowner decides to explore a sale
Larkenshaw is a source of demand and intent. Estate agents provide the professional expertise and services required when someone actually decides to sell.
From searching for property to expressing interest in property
Larkenshaw is trying to change the starting point of property search. Traditional property platforms focus primarily on homes that are already available.
Larkenshaw recognises that people's property preferences exist before a property becomes available. The platform allows that previously invisible interest to be captured.
You shouldn't have to wait for a home to go on the market before saying you'd love to own it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Traditionally, your options are limited. You could keep checking property websites and hope the house eventually appears, ask a local estate agent whether they know if the owner might sell, or approach the homeowner directly by letter or in person. None of these are ideal. Larkenshaw offers another option: you can save an interest in the property on Larkenshaw, even when it isn't for sale. The homeowner can see anonymised demand for their home, and if they ever decide to explore a sale, you can be among the first to know.
Yes, it is possible. A homeowner can decide to sell privately or through an estate agent even if their property isn't currently marketed. However, there is no guarantee the homeowner wants to sell. Larkenshaw allows people to express interest in a property without directly approaching or pressuring the homeowner. The homeowner sees anonymised demand and can decide whether they ever want to explore a sale on their own terms.
On Larkenshaw, you can search for a property, street or neighbourhood and save your interest, even if the property isn't currently for sale. Your interest is recorded anonymously. The homeowner sees the demand, not your identity. If they ever decide to explore a sale, you can be among the first to know. Saving interest is free for buyers.
If you're considering approaching a homeowner directly, be respectful and avoid putting pressure on them. A polite, no-obligation letter is generally better than an in-person visit. Give the homeowner space to consider and respond on their own terms. Larkenshaw provides an alternative to direct approaches. Instead of contacting the homeowner yourself, you can save an interest in the property on Larkenshaw. The homeowner sees anonymised demand without being approached directly, and can decide whether they want to explore a sale.
An off market property is a property that is being sold, or is available to buy, without being publicly advertised on the open market. This can happen when a homeowner sells privately, when an estate agent matches a buyer from their own network, or when a property is sold through discreet channels. Off market sales can suit homeowners who want to sell without the publicity of a traditional listing. Larkenshaw helps make buyer interest visible to homeowners even before a property goes on the market, which can lead to off market opportunities.
Yes. Estate agents often have local knowledge and contacts that can help identify properties that might be available even if they aren't publicly listed. Some agents will make discreet enquiries on behalf of a serious buyer. Larkenshaw can complement this relationship. Agents can use the demand information on Larkenshaw to understand where buyer interest is building, and can have better informed conversations with homeowners who may be open to a sale. If a homeowner decides to explore selling, the estate agent can provide the professional expertise needed to manage the sale.
Larkenshaw is a private UK property-demand network. It lets people save an interest in homes, streets and neighbourhoods they would love to own, even when those properties aren't currently for sale. Homeowners can see anonymised demand for their property, and if they ever decide to explore a sale, they can do so knowing there is genuine interest. Larkenshaw is not an estate agency and does not replace estate agents. It makes previously invisible buyer interest visible.
Explore further
If the home you love isn't for sale, here's where to go next:
- What is Larkenshaw? — a clear explanation of the platform.
- How to buy a house that isn't for sale — your practical options.
- The home I love isn't for sale — what to do when there's no For Sale sign.
- Express interest in a property — how interest works, at every level.
- What is an off-market property? — the term explained.
- Property guides — in-depth, plain English guides.
Save interest in a home you'd love, even if it's not for sale.
The homeowner stays in control. You simply let them know the interest is there.