Matthew Braxton has spent his career helping people find – and let go of – homes in one of England’s most quietly beautiful corners. As Company Director at Batcheller Monkhouse’s Battle office, he has guided buyers and sellers through every kind of move imaginable: downsizes, upsizes, London escapes, family leaps and life-changing fresh starts. Here Matthew shares some thoughts to some often asked questions…
What Makes East Sussex Special for Property Buyers?
“I think people assume the Cotswolds is the benchmark – and it is stunning, of course – but every time I come back to East Sussex, I’m reminded that this is actually my favourite countryside in England. It’s more intimate. The Cotswolds has grand, sweeping expanses. Here, the land enfolds you. Small pastures, ancient coppices, hedgerows, streams. It’s a deeply wooded county – you don’t so much arrive in it as enter it. And because farming here has always been less intensively arable, that patchwork of fields and valleys has been preserved. Once people discover it, they rarely look anywhere else.”
East Sussex offers something quite rare – if you’re yet to discover it, Visit East Sussex is a good place to start.
Should You Wait for the Right Moment to Move?
A lot of people sit on the fence about when to move – they’re waiting for the ‘right moment’. What would you say to them?
“Move when it suits you, not when you think the market says you should. People spend years waiting for the perfect conditions, and life passes them by in the meantime. Whether the market is higher or lower than you’d like, there is always a balance to be struck, and a good agent will help you navigate that. But fundamentally? Life is too short. If you’re ready in your heart, that’s the timing that matters.“
What Actually Makes a Home Sell Well in this part of the world?
Beyond the obvious – condition, price, location – what actually makes a home sell well in this part of the world?
“Location is always fundamental, but what buyers want from a home has genuinely shifted. The formal dining room is largely a thing of the past – people want one generous, open living space where family life actually happens. The big family kitchen, where you cook and eat and talk and live, is what everyone is looking for now. Ceiling heights matter more than people realise, too – buyers are increasingly conscious of space and light. And interestingly, the heavily beamed, low-ceilinged cottage that was once so sought-after has become a harder sell – partly because people’s lifestyles have changed, and partly because running costs in older, draughtier properties are a real consideration now. People are far more mindful of energy efficiency than they were even five years ago.”
Who Is Buying Rural Property in East Sussex Right Now?
Who is actually buying out here right now — and what are they looking for in their next chapter?
“The profile has broadened considerably. Twenty-five years ago, the classic buyer was what we called the ‘Prep school mover’ – a family selling in Putney or Wandsworth and relocating to East Sussex in time for their children to start prep school. That buyer still exists, but the picture is much richer now. We’re seeing single buyers making the move for the first time. People upsizing as their families grow. Downsizers releasing equity and simplifying their lives. Returning expats who’ve been living abroad and want to come home to somewhere beautiful. And of course, retirees who have always dreamed of this landscape and are finally ready to make it happen. East Sussex offers something quite rare: genuine value for money, a remarkable quality of life, and better transport links than people often assume.“
How to Choose the Right East Sussex Estate Agent
Choosing an agent feels like a big decision. What should people actually be asking – and what should they listen for?
“Experience, above everything. The conveyancing process has become significantly more complex and lengthy in recent years. There are more legal hurdles, more surveys, more points at which a sale can run into difficulty. You want an agent who has seen it all before: who knows how to keep a transaction together when it gets complicated, how to manage all parties calmly, and how to protect your interests without losing the deal. But beyond that, I’d say: do you like them? Do you trust them? A good working relationship with your agent isn’t a nice-to-have – it genuinely contributes to achieving the best outcome. You’ll be in regular contact for months. It matters.“
As an East Sussex property expert with decades of experience, Matthew’s advice is consistent: prioritise trust, experience and local knowledge above everything else.
What Does a Good Move Really Feel Like?
Finally, what do you think makes a move feel like a truly good one? What do clients tell you that stays with you?
“The moves that stay with me most are the downsizes – particularly when someone has been in their family home for thirty or forty years. It can feel like an enormous wrench. That house holds everything: the children growing up, the Christmases, the ordinary Tuesdays that turn out to be the ones you remember. For some people, the thought of leaving is almost paralysing.
But here’s what I’ve noticed, consistently, over many years: when you bump into those clients six months later – and you always do, in a town like Battle – almost without exception they say, ‘I wish we’d done it sooner.’ Every time. The relief, the lightness, the sense of possibility that comes with a new chapter, it’s real and it’s profound. There is life on the other side of a move, and it’s often richer than people dare imagine. Letting go of the past and stepping into something new – that’s what we get to be part of. And I never take that for granted.“
Matthew’s connection to this landscape runs deeper than most. His father David Braxton founded Braxtons estate agency in 1947, establishing the roots of what would grow into Batcheller Monkhouse, one of the South East’s leading independent property firms today, and now proudly employee-owned.
Talk to Us
For a confidential conversation about buying or selling in East Sussex, call Battle 01424 775577 or Tunbridge Wells 01892 512020