housenetwork - a review

kindofaverage

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

We're about six weeks into the conveyancing process, buying a house through Housenetwork. At no point have they asked us for any proof of funds or asked to see a mortgage agreement in principle. In fact, they've done nothing at all towards the sale of the property, other than passing on our initial request for a viewing - they've been far more interested in trying to persuade us to sell our house through them. As a buyer, I think they're wonderful - the photos and description of the house we're buying were so awful that I think we've got an absolute bargain - but as a seller I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

Have been reading a lot on here about housenetwork and our friends are with them. Very little interest at present but they want to know can they go with another EA. They can't remember if housenetwork are sole agency. They were originally told there would be a personal agent but he never answers the phone and the communication is always by email. To be fair they do reply to the emails quickly but sometimes speaking to someone like your personal agent is much better. Instead they have must have spoken to just about everyone by now in their offices. so can our friends go with another EA?

googler

kindofaverage wrote: »

Have been reading a lot on here about housenetwork and our friends are with them. Very little interest at present but they want to know can they go with another EA. They can't remember if housenetwork are sole agency.

They need to read their contract, if they signed one. Or read HN's terms of business, whatever....

They were originally told there would be a personal agent but he never answers the phone and the communication is always by email. To be fair they do reply to the emails quickly but sometimes speaking to someone like your personal agent is much better.

I have difficulty in regarding a person speaking by phone or e-mail from a distant call center as a 'personal' anything, since it's about as impersonal as you can get. 'Personal' to me is someone I meet face to face and talk to. I certainly don't refer to Rahul in Mumbai as my 'personal' IT helpdesk assistant.....


Instead they have must have spoken to just about everyone by now in their offices. so can our friends go with another EA?

They need to read HN's terms with respect to cancellation etc., no two ways round it. We can't read their contract from here.

kindofaverage

hi googler, sorry but their offices are in the south east, essex I believe and not overseas. It was a one off payment and I fear they have lost it. after talking to them this evening they appreciate that they took a gamble with them and now may have to consider going with a local EA who will actually pick up their phone and not be passed around to all and sundry!!! so much for their personal agent?

hotpot1000

Have they left a message for their personal contact at HN? they usually ring you back.
HN were great with my sale and were tenacious(my personal agent) in chasing countrywide for me.

kindofaverage

thanks hotpot - and yes they do ring back but it is usually someone else and not their promised personal agent. I think they have had enough now with them.

googler

kindofaverage wrote: »

hi googler, sorry but their offices are in the south east, essex I believe and not overseas.

Didn't say they were.

kindofaverage

googler wrote: »

Didn't say they were.

sorry googler - yes, you were just giving me an example. thanks

Tom72TT

I have used them in the past and my house is currently up for sale with them. I have always found there customer service to be excellent and questions or queries have been dealt with within half hour by email. I haven't ever phoned them though, so can't comment on that.

googler

Tom72TT wrote: »

I have used them in the past and my house is currently up for sale with them. I have always found there customer service to be excellent and questions or queries have been dealt with within half hour by email. I haven't ever phoned them though, so can't comment on that.

Well, that's weird; on 5th March you asked;

"Has anybody used any of the other "online estate agents"? Been looking at housenetwork, but a quick google search reveals at least 20 others who will list you on rightmove and do the other stuff for similar price as House network, and a few are quite a bit cheaper."

and now, barely 2 months on, you've "used them in the past" ...?

Tom72TT

Why is that weird? I used them about 4 years ago. Now there are dozens of companies doing the same thing, just wondered what people thought of the others. In the end I decided to go with them to sell my house now.