On 17 Feb 2011 at 10:40pm Sharp practice wrote:
Currently in the process of buying a house and some of the games the estate agent is playing are both insulting, disgusting and laughable.
Has anybody had any good experiences with estate agents in lewes, especially lewes estates?
On 17 Feb 2011 at 10:53pm newRooksFan wrote:
Sounds intriguing. Have heard some less than complimentary things about them - and others in town - but no specifics yet. Can you say more??
On 17 Feb 2011 at 11:27pm Sharp Practice wrote:
Oh nothing illegal, just really poor customer service, avoiding phonecalls and some outrageous excuses etc.
All in my opinion of course and the opinions of several other people i have come across. Its about time these people (and they're (estate agents) all pretty bad) start to realise, that this is the most expensive purchase anyone will make and stop acting like vile little spivs.
On 17 Feb 2011 at 11:46pm Homebuyer wrote:
Estate agents, solicitors and surveyors are all the same. I hate them. They all take the p*** when you want to buy or sell a property. Unless one wants to go through all the self conveyancing rigmarole one does not have much of a choice but but to pay the gangsters.
On 18 Feb 2011 at 5:58am Deelite wrote:
Estate agency is money for old rope, one of the best ways to make decent money with little qualifications or nouse.
They're all pretty much of a muchness but my preferred Lewes agents would be Rowland Gorringe or Cubitt and West. Humberts seem self-satisfied to the point of rudeness and sharp practice and dishonesty abound at Lewes Estates. Spivs is exactly the right word for them. As for Strutt and Parker, there aren't words strong enough to describe my dislike of these post stuck up gits. Buying a house through them will definitely be the most stressful event of your life. Their guide prices are pitched deliberately low to get your attention and expectations up, they string you along and then they eventually tell you they are going to sealed bids. I've sworn I'll never buy a house through them.
On 18 Feb 2011 at 11:40am williamdyer wrote:
all my previous experiences of buying prior to my move to Lewes were in Scotland, where it's pretty much all handled by solicitors. Sealed-bids are the preferred method, and the offer you accept at that time is essentially binding. Financial penalties if either side backs out.
Much easier and more secure, and I cant understand why they don't do the same down in England. I assume it's an English Law thing...
On 18 Feb 2011 at 11:58am Brixtonbelle wrote:
Yes, spot on about Lewes estates, complete and utter 'spivs' - and thats being polite. We vowed never to use them after several instances of lying to get us to up our offers. They also overvalue - look at the amount of houses on the market with them that haven;t had a sniff of interest for months. We reckon they overvalue by about 70-100k in the 500k price range.
Strutt and Parker, so pleased someone else has had the same experience with them. Agree completely about the whole stressful process !
I concur that Gorringe's and Cubitt and West are the most honest and fairly priced.
On 18 Feb 2011 at 1:17pm Sharp Practice wrote:
I have heard so many complaints about L.E its unbelievable.
I certainly will never use them again, i was dealing with one of the partners at one point and he was the worst of the lot.
On 18 Feb 2011 at 1:32pm Agent of truth wrote:
Never trust anyone who has "Agent" in their job title; estate, lettings, recruitment etc
On 18 Feb 2011 at 2:06pm James Bond wrote:
I hope that does not include me.
On 18 Feb 2011 at 9:50pm W H Smith wrote:
Or me.
On 18 Feb 2011 at 10:41pm newRooksFan wrote:
B/Belle - that surprises me a bit. I'd picked up a very very clear sense that it's actually the oldest agents in the town who flagrantly overvalue everything by 10-15%, and so keep stuff yellowing in their window for months on end.
But I've lost track of the number of people - including industry-related professionals - who share your view re LE's mode of operation / ethics.
Part of the trouble is the lack of facts regarding values; C&W have been reducing the asking prices of some of their stock by huge amounts in recent months.
I'm surprised that self-selling hasn't caught on more, what with the web reaching ooo's of people with ease.
On 19 Feb 2011 at 10:37am Mata Hari wrote:
HQ, I think our spiv agents have been rumbled, too much like the real thing.
On 23 Feb 2011 at 10:51am hoist wrote:
Watch out for Whycherley too - seems drunk when you call at mid day and charged us more than double what he said he would for a valuation. (Other agents provided a better service for free.)
Oakley seem honest.
On 23 Feb 2011 at 11:25am Four bob note wrote:
I've been told that LE offer property to local BTL landlords at a knockdown price before marketing it on their website etc. Whether they then persuade sellers to accept a low price for a quick sale, and whether kickbacks are involved, I couldn't possibly comment.
On 23 Feb 2011 at 9:22pm catlin wrote:
Some of this thread seems to be history re-visited. Humberts has long gone into liquidation.
On 23 Feb 2011 at 9:45pm newRooksFan wrote:
Catlin - wrong, I think. Humberts bought by Chestertons so the name lives on. But Estate Agents' behaviour rarely improves, so old views are probably still valid...