Pain and misery (Foxtons)

Member Name: Nathan Jam

Product:	Foxtons
Date:	07/12/05 (1422 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Website

Disadvantages: Rubbish properties, arrogant and pushy staff, hugely expensive

I have signed up to this website specifically to write this review. This shows how much I hate Foxtons.

WEBSITE

Very flash, but many of the properties are already sold or let. Does not in any way make up for the exorbitant costs or barrage of lies.

LETTING

The charges that you incur for any interaction with them are ridiculous. Most charges are much higher than other estate agents. You even have to pay to end your contract. Of course, none of these charges are explained to you but all are contained in the lengthy documents you have to sign at the start of the tenancy (of course I should have read them more thoroughly but most other estate agents talk you through them honestly).

Also, when the property was to be re-let they would call me and leave a message on the mobile saying they were on there way round with a prospective tenant and would be there in 10 minutes "let me know if this is a problem". No warning whatsoever and abusive when rung up and told that this was not ok.

BUYING

Crime 1: Insisting that for the money we could not get what we wanted and would have to try another area (which just happened to be an area where they had a lot of properties to sell). Subsequently got a property that was better than we were aiming for through a different estate agent in the area we wanted.

Crime 2: Lying about the state of the market. Both in general and in the local area. As if we'd have done no research and would lap up every word they said.

Crime 3: Lying about current status of property. Many times they mentioned things about the current owners which proved to be completely false on further inspection. e.g. "there's plenty of space for an office, the current owner works from home"

Crime 4: "This property is very quiet". Then as Eurostar goes by less than 50m from window at full speed. "How unusual, is that a helicopter?" Estate agent then proceeds to stare at the sky in vain attempt to distract us from enormous train.

Crime 5: "This property is very quiet" Followed by sound of bus. "Well, there aren't that many buses on this route". (We already lived on that bus route and knew for fact that there were approximately 5 different buses on the route all of which went past every fifteen minutes).

Avoid like the plague.

Summary: When you see the Foxtons sign, run screaming in the opposite direction.