Oxymoronic, I know.
However, I want to offer a number the chance to come over and try out for the role of selling our flat by giving us a valuation and schmoozing us a bit*.
Davies & Davies sold us this place and my husband is keen to give them another crack as he likes Malcolm. I've noticed that Winkworth seem to be the favoured sellers on our little road so we might give them a go too. Perhaps Brian Thomas on Green Lanes, as staff in there smiled a lot back in 2005 when we were buying. Beyond that, I am open to suggestions: has anyone ever had a positive experience with a local estate agency and think that they are worthy of a recommendation? Not Foxtons, obv.
* Possibly getting a little over-optimistic here.
Comments
Marky, I have no objection to hearing about your estate agency, although the moderators might! However, I *am* interested in what makes you nice! Anything beyond the promised SG.org discount? :D
This explains quite succinctly why you should avoid Foxtons (young agents with almost no local knowledge, flash cars, shiny Top-man suits. They don't even have a local office - properties in FP are handled by either Muswell Hill or Islington). AFAIK, the agents there are paid close to minimum wage and make all their money from commission. They are desperate for sales at all costs, knowing full well they won't be there for the (lack of) repeat business when the vendor or purchaser they are dealing with next comes to sell.
Smaller, local agents know full well that they are playing the long-game and that today's buyer is tomorrow's seller. (and to some extent that today's renter is tomorrow's buyer).
I bought in this area just over 5 and a half year ago, and looked around a number of properties sold through Davies & Davies, Christopher Charles and David Phillips. All of them are local agents with a good track record. Extra props to the agent at CC who I've bumped into several times since and who waves when I walk past.
D&D was the agent for the property I eventually bought. I Was happy with the experience, and will certainly consider them when I come to sell. Their internet marketing used to be a bit-below par, but ultimately, I don't think that's a deal-breaker.
Absolutely the best agents I have dealt with are Camden Bus, who deal almost exclusively in Victorian properties in Camden and Kentish Town. I think both the partners are almost accidental estate agents. Their knowledge of the area is unrivalled and they take pride on having sold properties on their patch many times over.
miss annie - yes, we volunteered (bravely?! foolishly?!) for the Mary Portas prog. I've no idea why it has been removed but will try to find out tomorrow!
Have had irritating experiences with KFH in Crouch End. D&D I like, David Philips I originally bought my flat through and they were OK too.
There's a really similar flat to mine currently being marketed by D&D on our road: I must say, I was disappointed by the pricing of it. Having been an avid reader of property sale price e-mails sent to me by Up My Street for the last few years, I was expecting to get a little more than my neighbour's asking price - and definitely would have anticipated it being on the market for another £10k on top of that in order to facilitate a bit of bargaining!
Has anyone ever had any dealings with Anthony Pepe & Co?
The Mary Portas show got a slating on twitter etc, mainly around what constitutes "good tv" these days (deliberately controversial for the sake of it). It also threw up some great stereotyped one-liners "west-facing is the new south-facing").
Radical, game-changing conclusion from the smarter-than-thou Mary: go for an Estate Agent that thoroughly knows the area and thoroughly gets to know your property.
IMHO M/G tick both boxes ...
Ask for Tim or Micheala, both very friendly, decent guys who know the area as well as anyone.
I found them to be very fair and I felt comfortable looking round properties with the agent (a young guy but I don't remember if he had a shiny suit mark o!) which as a lone woman was pretty important. He was honest about the flat and the area - so no suprises a year into my tenancy - which has not been the case with previous EA's I've encountered.
I do rent though, so can't really speak for the sales side of things but would recommend them for lettings.
My sister is looking to buy in Crouch End - does anyone have any experience as a first time buyer in the area?