<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?> 
	 <rss version="2.0"> 
	 <channel> 	                        
		<title>AllAgents - Reviews of  madison-oakley-estate-agents</title> 
        <link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/rss/Madison Oakley Estate Agents</link> 
        <description>Combining over 50 years of experience in Bath estate agency, Madison Oakley offer a unique blend of traditional and technological solutions to the modern day demands of the Bath property market. We have one of the most experienced team of residential estate agents and surveyors in the local area, with each of our partners having worked in both independent and corporate estate agents within the city for many years. Our offices are ideally located in the heart of the BA1 and BA2 postcodes.</description><item>
		<title><![CDATA[8/5/2012 - Mr &amp; Mrs E.M. Hood rated Madison Oakley Estate Agents 5 stars]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/madison-oakley-estate-agents/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[We were very impressed with the service we received as recent buyers of a flat in Bath.  Carey was quick to respond to our queries and happy to offer several viewings.  We were also very satisfied with the negotiation process and we believe we obtained the property at a fair price.<br />This person would use Madison Oakley Estate Agents again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[17/4/2012 - Tang rated Madison Oakley Estate Agents 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/madison-oakley-estate-agents/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[I contacted the Madison Isleworth branch to look at a place in osterlley. Anita had poor telephone manners, always in a rush, impatient to read and spell apartment address that  I was interested in.  Poor at giving directions to the property when arrive nearby. We arrange to meet at 1830 17/04/2012.  He was unreliable did not show up at the property I waited 40 minutes, I call numerous times to find out where he was. He never called to apologise for his lateness.  I phone and left a message to say i am no longer interested in the property and will look elsewhere. He represented poor customer communicaton skills, carelessness and presented himself with arrogance.  I may have spelled his name wrong but take note people when you deal with him.<br />This person would not use Madison Oakley Estate Agents again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[3/2/2012 - RAF rated Madison Oakley Estate Agents 5 stars]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/madison-oakley-estate-agents/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[One of Madison Oakley’s advertisements reads “...We do what all the other estate agents do....”  No, they don’t – they do much more!  Whether you are a buyer or a seller, do not waste either your time or your money dealing with any other estate agent.

We had a need for Bath housing several years ago, and first met Carey during the one week we had available to search for a flat.  He was then manager of one of the Bath offices of a ‘national’ estate agent, and of the seven estate agents with whom we looked at flats that week, only he and one other agent (at a ‘local’ firm) listened to, AND ACTED WITHIN, our location, size, features, and budget requirements.  Carey did not waste our time showing us anything which did not meet ALL our requirements – agents at five other firms wasted our time with additional viewings of properties ‘not exactly where you’d like to be, but extremely close,’ or ‘just barely above your price range, but an incredible value, and you can offer low,’ or ‘it has everything you want, except [just one thing].’

So when we elected to sell our flat in a Grade II Listed building in the second half of 2011, we called Carey’s former firm and were told he was no longer there.  We contracted with that firm, anyway, though, on the advice of a local property manager who believed a ‘national’ estate agent would have greater marketing clout:  multiple Bath offices, multiple London offices, other nationwide offices, and their ‘national’ website.  The first six weeks we had about a half dozen showings, then none for the next six weeks.  By then we’d tracked Carey down at Madison Oakley, and switched agencies.  We had more viewings in the first two weeks with Madison Oakley than in the entire 3 months with the ‘national’ agency, plus, a qualified and acceptable offer!

Differences...?

1)  The ‘national’ agency placed an ad on their website, plus four print ads during their twelve weeks as our agent.  Madison Oakley placed electronic ads in four separate business and social ‘search’ media, plus print ads every week until we had an accepted purchase offer.  Additionally, Madison Oakley’s ads included interesting property history, and much better photos.

2)  The ‘national’ firm’s local office manager assured us that at least two of their four Bath area offices would show our property.  We later found out that each local office maintained its own list of ‘registered buyers’ and only after the office where we listed our flat had run through its own list of potential buyers did they attempt to involve any other office.   Madison Oakley contacted all their entire firm’s registered buyers right from the outset, and used all staff to market our flat.

3)  The head of the ‘national’ firm’s local office nearest our flat was ostensibly managing our sale, but he was absent during two of the 12 weeks.  Well into his absence we learned his e-mail system was set up such that none of the emails we sent during that time could be accessed by anyone else – including the two agents he’d said would be ‘monitoring’ our property in his absence!  Madison Oakley’s partners have full access to all Madison Oakley business communications.  [This was particularly critical for us, since we are US residents and were working on an 8-hour time zone difference from Bath, and emails were a much better for communication than trans-Atlantic phone calls.]

4)  The ‘national’ agency proposed what turned out to be a ‘wishful’ sales price.  Madison Oakley’s partners told us we were off the market, roughly 7-10% too high, and when we lowered our price to their suggested level we had eight showings and a qualified offer within two weeks.

5)  Not only did Madison Oakley manage our sale, but since we were ‘absentee owners,’ they coordinated all appointments with the removers shipping things to us, and the auctioneer putting certain items up at local auction; plus, cleared out what little remained after the removal/auction and personally packed and shipped 3 items we wanted sent to a relative living elsewhere in England.  Carey essentially performed tasks we, as owners, would have been expected to do – well above and beyond any estate agent’s normal duties!

6)  Since we are US residents, and our Bath flat was our only British property, Madison Oakley’s partners also took it upon themselves to ‘translate’ specific words and phrases with different British/US meanings to make sure we understood all local selling procedures, norms, and protocols, and all buyer/seller requirements and expectations.  Their ability to ‘buffer’ and prevent misperceptions of English usage between the two cultures was key to accomplishing our smooth sale.

7)  Last but not least, we know that neither the ‘national’ agency’s local office nor Madison Oakley expected us to bring them future business, nor did they have to concern themselves with us possibly ‘dropping in’ and/or ‘second guessing’ their efforts.  While we suspect that may have influenced the behavior of the ‘national’ firm’s agents, Madison Oakley’s partners gave us and our flat their absolute professional and full attention throughout.  We weren’t the ‘national’ estate agent’s nor Madison Oakley’s only clients, but Madison Oakley’s partners certainly made us feel as though we were.

Again – as either a buyer or a seller, don’t waste your time or your money with a ‘national’ firm:  use Madison Oakley!<br />This person would use Madison Oakley Estate Agents again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[20/9/2011 - Richard rated Madison Oakley Estate Agents 5 stars]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/madison-oakley-estate-agents/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Excellent from start to finish. Easy to arrange viewings, detailed information provided and no-nonsense negotiations with the vendor. Efficient, professional.<br />This person would use Madison Oakley Estate Agents again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[7/9/2011 - Mrs R rated Madison Oakley Estate Agents 5 stars]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/madison-oakley-estate-agents/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Thank you to Madison Oakley for my successful sale. 

In addition thank you for the outstanding support and knowledgeable assistance regarding my purchase. You  provided a service far in excess to that of many agents: you all kept up to speed on the situation, were readily available for advice, took time to assist when problems arose, the list could go on...

Most importantly I did not have to chase you for anything. Genuinely fantastic - I have no hesitation in recommending you.<br />This person would use Madison Oakley Estate Agents again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[23/8/2011 - Mr D rated Madison Oakley Estate Agents 5 stars]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/madison-oakley-estate-agents/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Don't look any further, these guys are amazing.  NEVER thought I'd say this, but they deserve every penny of their fee.  Totally helpful and knowledgeable throughout every single stage of the sale of our 2 bedroom Georgian apartment.

They also helped us enormously with buying as well (even though we didn't buy through them), and were extremely generous with sharing their considerable knowledge of both buying and selling property in the Bath area.

I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

Mr &amp; Mrs D.
Perrymead, Widcombe, Bath<br />This person would use Madison Oakley Estate Agents again.]]></description></item>
</channel>
</rss>
