My buying experience - Fulham Foxtons
Submitted by visitor on Tue, 13/01/2009 - 01:08.
I thought I'd share some of my Foxtons experiences.
It might be academic as they will (hopefully) cease to exist soon.
I hope that the more honest agents will prosper when they are gone.
In 2004 I put an offer on a house in Fulham, below asking. The Foxtons guy said that there was another 'mystery buyer' who wanted to offer more. Rather that get into a bidding war, the best way would be to put in the very best price possible in a sealed bid.
I thought 'this is a pack of lies'. I wasn't too worried about getting the house or not, so I put in a bid at £1 more.
The day came for the opening of the bids - I called up, but the 'manager' I needed to speak to wasn't around. A few more days passed - they would not answer my calls.
Finally, the mystery buyer had 'pulled out as his mortgage fell though', and I had won the bid. That proved that it was a scam. Perhaps it wasn't, but let's face it ...
Next I got a survey. It came back that the house had serious structural issues. It was splitting in half due to subsidence. I decided to withdraw.
The agent called me and said what's the problem? There's nothing that a bit of Polyfilla can't fix. I took great delight in telling him that "Too much bullshit" was the problem. He actually dropped his guard at last and laughed and said fair enough.
I do have very little respect for the wannabe public school, signet ring, fat tie knot, cufflink wearing arses who drive around in their pathetic minis thinking they are on a karting track.
The end of an era is nigh. I'm sure there will be someone else to moan about next.
(4 votes)
Foxtons St Johns Wood
I ended up buying a flat from Foxtons about 3 years ago. Prior to putting in an offer they are very professional. As soon as my offer (at asking price) was accepted I could never get hold of the sales guy and was often put through to different people. The after purchase service is terrible. I first made an offer below asking price, he said he would speak to the vendor. About 5 mins later he said it was not accepted. Lots of lies.
A year later I wanted to rent out the property and used Foxtons. The tenant wa s a sweet man who found all their charges way too much. You could never speak to anyone because their phones are diverted to voicemail. No one ever calls back. They also keep a key and also cut extra without informing you. Its their way of repeated business when the tenancy runs out. However, I have found this practice exists everywhere in the agency world. They laos have lost a set and never replaced.
They also try and get you to speak to one of their contacts at the mortgage arm. Never divulge any truthful information. I lied about my yearly income because I did not want them to show me properties outside the price range I stipulated (they will on purpose try and show you properties a little ove royur budget to make more commission).
Never again!
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