**DON'T SIGN THIER CONTRACTS WITHOUT READING! ** THEY HAVE HIDDEN FEES YOU HAVE TO PAY THEM IF THEY DON'T DO THIER JOB! We had the misfortune to be referred to Whitegates Huddersfield by another one of thier branches, who we had used, and found to be great. We thought, amazing! we'll get the same fabulous service. We couldn't of been more wrong. From the get go, Whitegates Huddersfield seemed to have little interest in helping us sell our properties. Getting them round valuations and photos wasn't the smoothest process. We took this to mean they were really busy, again, another great sign. Again, we were very mistaken. During the time they "marketed" our properties (2) we had minimal interest and viewings. They have made no proactive attempts to properly market our houses, or provide feed back and suggestions as to how to improve this. After 6 months I proactively contacted them to ask advice. The advice immediately given was to drop the prices, by a certain % so it will show up at the top of search lists on rightmove. Not anything , such as nee photo's, staging, a fresh coat of paint on the walls we could stretch to it. Nothing. Not even the suggestion of a floor plan (this is extra ££s with whitegates fyi, not standard.) We then sought advice from other agents, and what we had been told by Whitegates Huddersfield seemed to be contradictory. So, we refreshed the properties and gardens, and tried to arrange photographs with Whitegates Huddersfield. At this point we were informed that the keys and were being handed over to another office (Pontefract) as they were closer they would now be managing these accounts. 1) we didn't agree to this. 2) Pontefract is not closer to our properties. After further consultation with other agents we decided to give notice to Whitegates. I called the newly allocated office of pontefract to ask that we cease service. I gave my reasons, and was told I would be called back by another agent. I was called back, but by a very angry Georgia from Huddersfield, who was clearly infurated by our request to terminate our agreement with them. I was told we had to give them 14 days notice, despite being out of our initial marketing period. I asked it could be waived in this circumstance, as thier actions to date had made it very clear they didn't have any interest in selling our properties, and that we were in no way a priority them. This was met with an email demanding a termination fee of £250 per property. It is in the contract (I checked) but is discretionary, and doesn't have to be charged. This termination fee and it's presence in thier contracts allows them to recouple reasonable costs we choose to leave and they don't get thier sale fee. All fair IF the service has been provided, and that it is actually proportionate to thier loss. Neither of which I beleve to be . In conclusion, I would suggest that you do want to use these guys to help you navigate the stressful situation of selling a property (or properties) try negotiate on this point in the Ts and Cs. Having this clause in a sales contract indicates to me, that they aren't confident in thier ability to sell your property, and want a way to cover their ineptitude. I've paid this fee, so we can leave, but it's taken money out of the account we have to use to pay my Mums dementia care that we had to set up after the death of her partner. Whitegates Huddersfield weren't a great choice us, but when your grieving the loss of one parent and going through the heart ache of putting the other in a dementia care home, you miss things, and trust people when maybe you shouldn't. Don't end up like us, having to waste half a week of dementia care on unreasonable termination fees. I'm still waiting them to my keys to an office within reasonable distance to my properties collection.