Best estate agents in London?

buzzyzoe

Hi all,

Sorry for my many questions! I'm looking for one or two bed flats in North London, specifically in Bounds Green, Wood Green or Tottenham Hale areas. So far, my dealings with estate agents haven't been overly positive.

A lot have failed to get back to me altogether. I have viewed a couple of properties with Winkworth, but the EA didn't know any specifics (things which I thought were basics, such as how long it would be on the market). She told me she would get back to me with answers to some of my questions but never did.

I've had the same experience with a few EA's, including Hane and Castles, where I've enquired about a property, but told that it's already under offer. No follow up from any of these, no details of similar properties they have available etc.

So far, the best I've encountered at getting in contact regularly is Bairstow Eves, but had 4 cancelled viewings yesterday with them, although they did at least keep me informed.

Wondering if anyone has had any particularly good EA experiences in London, particularly in the areas I've mentioned. I thought EA's would be jumping on potential business, but it just doesn't seem to be happening like that, so any recommendations very much appreciated!

R_P_W

Surely it is kind of irrelevant as a buyer? A property may be listed with only one agent - if you like the property then you like it.

[Deleted User]

It is quite relevant as a buyer, particularly if a property is on with more than one agent. I had a few bad experiences with Douglas Allen after I put in offers on properties with them, and now wouldn't view anything with them. If I liked the look of something they had advertised I would just wait and see if it got advertised with another agent.

roses

I used Greene and Co and found them to be quite professional

R_P_W

[Deleted User] wrote:

It is quite relevant as a buyer, particularly if a property is on with more than one agent. I had a few bad experiences with Douglas Allen after I put in offers on properties with them, and now wouldn't view anything with them. If I liked the look of something they had advertised I would just wait and see if it got advertised with another agent.

Some of the best properties dont even make it to a listing as they are snapped up so quick. Waiting for a property to be advertised with a different agent isnt a very good strategy.

OP - I think you will find they are all pretty much the same. Focus on the property, only offer what you think it is worth and treat any information that leaves an agents mouth with caution.

buzzyzoe

I agree that if I saw something I liked, I would view it, no matter who it was with. I was thinking more in terms of trying to befriend some of the EA's so that I get to hear about the best properties first - I would like to concentrate my efforts in doing this on ones that others have had good experiences with.

I will check out Greene and Co, and try to avoid Douglas Allen!

paulsad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu8pIeeoZcg

[Deleted User]

R_P_W wrote: »

Some of the best properties dont even make it to a listing as they are snapped up so quick. Waiting for a property to be advertised with a different agent isnt a very good strategy.

I agree, but I got to the point where I would rather miss out than see a property I liked through Douglas Allen and be tied into buying it through them. They were awful - not telling me when I'd been gazumped, not telling me I was in a race to contract, not telling me the seller had pulled etc. Totally unapologetic about constantly messing me around. Don't know if it was just that particular branch or if they're all like that.

navarato

Avoid Kings estate agents in North London at all costs. They are a bunch of incompetent cowboys. They did not tell me i had been gazumped (sp?) until the last min, causing me to waste time and money:mad:

Wish u luck in ur search:)

isisini

We had good experiences with Martyn Gerrard and David Andrew in those areas. Good luck!

theGrinch

winkworth, anthony pepe and wj meade (wood green). I think the proprietors are active in the office so things tend to get done.

now if your question was, which agents tend to price cautiously, then I may have given a different answer