Key the words "London" and "investment property" into Google and you get a staggering 2.2 million entries. That's just a bit more research than most people are willing to do in their search for a London bolt-hole. In fact many potential buyers simply give up because they don't know where to start, according to Patrick McCarthy, right.

"London is so big that buyers can waste a lot of time just getting from one side of the city to the other on the hunt for a suitable investment," says McCarthy who has set up Property Finders London to help.

A former property journalist with a degree in business, he renovated a string of properties in Ireland, before heading to London to buy investment property there. It took a while to find the right property but once he did, people started to ask him to find one for them too.

Armed with a laptop, an A to Z map and a good nose for a deal, McCarthy is aiming his service at the wealthy Irish who are cash-rich and time-poor.

"If such a service had existed when I started looking, it would have saved me time, money and a lot of stress," he says. His service involves searching out a suitable list of properties for viewing, and walking the client through each one.

"Good investments can be had in the city from £220,000 up to many millions, and with the current strength of the euro, it is a good time for the Irish to buy in London. With the Olympics in London in 2012, the city and its property market should also prove a winner."

The fee charged is less than 1 per cent of the overall purchase price, and includes an initial consultation and property selection fee.

www.propertyfinders-london.com