On 20 Jul 2010 at 9:33am Ah haa wrote:
Can anyone recommend an honest reliable estate agent in Lewes?
On 20 Jul 2010 at 9:38am Crooked wrote:
Please tell me that was a joke?!! The words 'honest' and 'estate agent' do not go together
On 20 Jul 2010 at 9:40am Ah ha wrote:
Yes. A serious question. Am nervously embarking on moving from Lewes to nearby somewhere
On 20 Jul 2010 at 9:53am Down and Out wrote:
I can't make any positive recommendations, but I'd suggest you'd be best avoiding the 'local mafia' types - ie the ones which maybe only have an office in Lewes.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 10:13am kevsy wrote:
Horses for courses I'd say. Lewes Estates drove me up the wall, can't think what circustances anyone would use them. If you are targetting movers from London (as if.....) i'd avoid some of the tradional Lewes / East Susses ones ie Wycherly, Goringes as they come across as old fashioned and won't go out of their way to accomodate flexible viewings. If it is more likely to be local I though Clifford Dann were good - otherwise I'd agree with DandO - go for a chain with a decent reach and vagely modern processes. All that said - chances are they will still be hopeless - but marginally less hopeless.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 10:35am Independent thinker wrote:
Everyone's experiences are different, so I'd go in and chat to all of them to get a feel for yourself, but with our last move Wycherlys bent over backwards to help us with what proved to be a very complex sale. Really couldn't have done any more to secure the sale, even after we'd got cold feet at one point and nearly walked away from it. Now that most people start their house hunt online, as we did, it doesn't really matter how many offices they have, so don't know why people would think that's an issue.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 10:36am Mover and Shaker wrote:
I wasn't impressed with one of the 'chains', gave a low valuation and spent quite a lot of time slagging off the opposition...the independent Lewes ones were more straightforward and got to the point without too much corporate crap.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 10:49am Down and Out wrote:
IT - It's not about how many offices they have; it's just that I've heard tales to the effect that 'some' offices have unusually cosy relationships with local property buyers / developers, and have perhaps been known to bend over backwards to push a sale in a particular direction.
Not that any money would change hands behind the scenes. Heavens, no.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 11:30am Mystic Mog wrote:
Never had a problem with estate agents. It is solicitors that are the problem. I would get rid of at least half of all solicitors and get them to do something useful and creative, especially the so called family ones. Modernise the legal profession, get rid of antiquated language, standardise the law across Europe. Why should the process of buying a property be different for each European country? A solicitor is not actually needed for conveyancing. The process needs to be simplified. Rant over...for now!
Cubitt and West seem good.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 11:53am MC wrote:
I've had lots of contact (almost weekly) with all Lewes estate agents over the last five years. I'd recommend Cubitt and West and Clifford Dann. I'd definitely avoid Lewes Estates. Much as I hate Strutt and Parker (for giving me loads of stress as a buyer...to such an extent that now I have vowed never to buy anything via them) I suspect that they might get you the best price (assuming you had a decent enough property for them to feel it worth put some energy into).
Where are you moving too?
On 20 Jul 2010 at 12:06pm Ah haa wrote:
Well, options are Ringmer (edge of town), Uckfield (edge of town), Barcombe, Plumpton etc and other nearby villages also....need to be near Primary School....
On 20 Jul 2010 at 12:41pm MC wrote:
As a Barcombe resident I can recommend the place... if you'd like to take an active part in a small and thriving community it's a lovely place to live (and even if you don't). Main problem is you get very little house for your money and there aren't many of them. :-(
School could do with some more kids too. Worryingly small intake next year. (Barcombe should breed more).
On 20 Jul 2010 at 1:12pm Ah haa wrote:
My budget is realistically about 375K
On 20 Jul 2010 at 1:49pm Unlucky eddie wrote:
Don't move to Barcombe. Its full of country bumpkins that say ooo arrr a lot
On 20 Jul 2010 at 2:51pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I'm told that Lewes Estates like to get you on a "sole selling rights" contract that means you have to pay a commission even if you sell your house to a mate.
We had our place valued a while ago. The dogs seemed to like the man from Cubitt and West best, and he was the least pushy/smarmy.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 6:40pm Sussex Scribbler wrote:
Having just bought a house in Lewes recently, I'd add my vote to Cubitt & West who were the most pro-active and friendly. A couple of others (including Lewes Estates) never contacted me at all after I'd registered as a 'hot prospect' on their lists.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 10:42pm Lewes Estates wrote:
Sorry Sussex Scribbler, we must have put you the 'Time Wasting Twot' list by mistake.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 11:02pm time wasting twot wrote:
Allegedly Lewes estates are the slimeyest agents in town and employ pimply kids who actively lie to get sales and push the prices up, so I am told.
Wicherleys also price highly and it's interesting to see houses lingering on their books for months, whilst agents like Gorringes seem to get pretty swift sales (a good sign that they are pricing fairly).
One thing is for sure - there are a lot of greedy sellers in Lewes - you'd never guess there is a recession on judging by the prices in the estate agents windows.
Cubit and West and Ciifford Dann are the most active and follow up viewings for feedback etc.
On 20 Jul 2010 at 11:12pm Lewes Estates wrote:
Quite agree TWT, the greedy sellers are also the ones who harp on about the need for 'affordable housing'
On 21 Jul 2010 at 8:03am Ah haa wrote:
I'm depressed. I have chosen my agent and hope they do a decent job..
...surely most people see houses on the internet these days and the EA is almost irrelevant?
On 21 Jul 2010 at 8:30am Clifford wrote:
If 'Lewes Estates' really does speak for Lewes Estates they're going to lose a lot of business after their crass display on here.
On 21 Jul 2010 at 9:29am Ah haa wrote:
To be fair, Lewes Estates have a lot of properties on their books....and the pimply kid seems very nice...
Need to remind ourselves that estate agents are basically salesmen and of course they will do their best to earn as much as poss.
As for overpricing, this would seem counterproductive for EAs. eg a house for 280K will only earn them an extra £300 pounds than a house for 250K. I would have thought a rapid turnover was more beneficial for them
On 21 Jul 2010 at 10:05am TeeHee wrote:
Paul is trying hard to get rid of the pimples you know.
On 21 Jul 2010 at 10:13am Holly Hock wrote:
How cruel!
Lay off him...he is cute
On 21 Jul 2010 at 10:17pm Time wasting twot wrote:
The reason why LE have a lot of property on their books is because the sellers are greedy and are convinced by them to put on for higher prices. Many of their properties are overpriced and sit on the market for months.
On 22 Jul 2010 at 8:28am catlin wrote:
I've always found Charles Wycherley to be fair. Not his sister Anne though!
On 22 Jul 2010 at 8:42am Ah haa wrote:
I too like Charles...a decent bloke!
On 23 Jul 2010 at 6:41am Fred D wrote:
Lewes Estates sold my last house without hassle they valued it at £210K one round the corner identicle in all ways was up with Clifford Dan at £240K.
I asked Lewes Estates if mine was under valued. they offer a lower commision rate if they sell for anything less than the asking price even if it's 1p Less.
They didnt think I'd get £240k so wanted me to put it on lower (I guess to make easier sale) I needed as much as possible for new house so I thought put up at highher price and I can always drop it we put it up at £240 we had 3 people look 2 made offers and I got £240k to a cash buyer in about 6 weeks.
Maybe I look at LE as slimey for under valueing or look at them as excellent for selling at higher than its worth.
I don't really care Im £30k better off because of it?
Lot's of my ex neighbours tried selling through other agents and had hard time so
It's really a what works for you and who can get you the most for your property.
As a buyer you'd be stupid not to look at all agents in an area to see whats about as every house is diffferent its The house that seals the deal not the agent.
Anybody not happy with estate agents you can always do it yourself loads of firms online sell kits inc access to websites for sale boards etc.
Good luck