“I would definitely not buy any property with Abbey properties ......”
1 Star Review
Jun 02,2014
By:
'One'
Jun 02,2014
Branch: London, 7-8 Regency Parade
Services: Sales (as a Buyer)
Would you recommend?: No
Postcode: NW8
Branch: London, 7-8 Regency Parade
Sales (as a Buyer)
Postcode: NW8
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I would definitely not buy any property with Abbey properties again. Although the purchase of the property did go through, it was a long and stressful path to completion for both the vendor and I.
Although pricing of the property ended up being quite fair for both buyer and vendor, the dealings were slightly inappropriate and unprofessional.
First of all, Oliver only showed me the property just once and have dropped a price offer to us sounding as if we are getting the best offer in the world, and that we should take it and pay tomorrow just like accepting a lettings offer. I ended up paying considerably lower after having reviewed the documents associated with the property and negotiated with the vendor (of course he was happy with the final price as well).
After having sensed that we are not too happy in dealing with Oliver, Stefan stepped in. He was all nice and polite at the beginning, but then started pressurising both the vendor and me once he has realised that we have incurred some sunk costs with the property.
First of all, he pressured both sides into taking a lock-out agreement prior to exchange and have told me that the vendor have threatened to pull out of the deal if I do not agree (and I found out later that he said vice versa to the vendor). This caused extra time delay in the conveyancing as well as further costs with the solicitors. Both our solicitors were also not familiar with the agreement and have asked for some guidance, in which he was not helpful either.
After a while, communication started to breakdown and somehow I managed to actually contact my vendor. We both got on very well and the process led to completion very shortly afterwards.
So, overall, I would say that they are incompetent, unprofessional and intimidating. I hoped they did not charge the vendor too much!
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I am really saddened to read your review, especially after what we had to do to secure the property for you.
Buying a property is generally one of the most stressful events a human being will experience in their life. Your case was one of the harder ones, as you were buying a flat in a council owned building. Therefore more complications, new notices and inconveniences.
I am not going to comment on the price you paid, as you know very well you had a great deal and the vendor was happy with it under certain conditions, which you were supposed to meet. Of course one of them was a timing schedule. If you remember, it took 11 weeks to exchange contracts and in the meantime as very little was happening from your side, vendor had other offers coming in from another agent.
There is a big element of lie in your review! Specifically "lock-out" and the fact you claim we have forced both parties to it. Not true at all! We only act on vendor's instructions and only in their best interest. Always. Talking to the owner directly doesn't mean you are told the same as we were by the way. At the end of the day, after having a contract for almost 2 months, vendor gave you an ultimatum through us, where you had a chance to decide between proceeding or not. It is very unfair to write a review that doesn't show the full picture of this experience. Especially as this happened a year before you wrote this review.
We have had a great relationship with the vendor over the years and he was very happy and thankful at the end of the day when he could finally hand over the keys to you and he could enjoy the beginning of a new life and looking forward to his retirement.
I am also sure when you now look back, that the hassle we all had to go through was well worth it and you enjoy your new home.