''Hi, I am selling my home through Barnard Marcus. The first thing I wanted to do was to find somewhere suitable to rent for a while after the sale because I am intending to live permanently in Brasil within 3-5 years. and thought I'd found my dream rent house nearby-managed by Barnard Marcus. I chose BM because I remembered it from many years ago as a very mature and even-handed firm of Estate Agents. In my opinion, it used to be the best Agency in Fulham. The BM MD came to first view the property I have for sale and I was very happy with his presentation and plans for the flat's marketing. It was when his other agents got involved that things started to go off the rails. The first BM Agent (after the MD) who came to view my property reluctantly shook my hand which I usually extend to people I first meet out of courtesy. (I don't suffer from contagious leprosy!) She then breezed through the flat in about 4 -6 minutes not even venturing into the garden nor really paying much attention to anything-other than a casual mention of did I have planning permission for an extension -which I have-and told her so. Oh yes, she did say 'it's a bit of a rabbit warren isn't it?' - which didn't give me much confidence in how she would be intending to market the flat and how she would be likely contriving to push down the sale price (beware!) As she left without so much as giving me a glance I extended my hand again to say a courtesy farewell but she didn't even notice and my hand was left extended in mid-air as she breezed out of the flat and the house (!) Well that was my close encounter of a second kind! The close encounter of the first order was when I went to view a flat to rent-managed by BM. I cycled to the nearby house,was met by a BM Agent who showed me around and then said: 'Oh by the way, the owner would like to come regularly (while I have the 6-12 month month tenancy-should I take the flat) just to make sure the garden is kept tidy. He's volunteering to do this.' I asked if this was a condition for the previous tenants living in the property. He said that it was not. I asked if he even suggested this to them. He said that he did not. I left the viewing quite perplexed and I told a friend (a conveyancing solicitor who lives nearby.) She said it was a 'bloody cheek' and that I should ask him to put this in writing! I didn't want to get into an argument with the BM agent who showed me around as I know that there are more than one agent willing to accept my £2000.00+ per month happily without further intrusion into my life whilst I maintain a good tenancy at whatever address in Fulham I find myself after I sell my flat so I told my friend I wouldn't be asking this of the particular BM agent. He wsn't unpleasant but I was alarmed at the prospect of an 'overseer' (the landlord) regularly intruding into my life and letting himself/herself into my home with his/her key-or demanding to be let in regularly to mow the garden - during the period of my tenancy. (Am I over-reacting? Am I too sensitive? Does this sort of thing happen all the time these days? Comments gratefully appreciated) My friend asked, just for her benefit (because she couldn't believe this statement from a BM Agent) if I would at least call back the Agent, with her present and listening, and confirm this detail again-which I did (and I let him know that a friend was present.) As I told her firmly I would not be complaining. her advice was to rent from a firm which would not be supportive of nor approving of landlords disturbing my peace and quiet whlst I maintained a tenancy. I am taking her advice in this regard.'' Another of their agents emailed me to demand the Energy Performance Certificate before she starts marketing the property. I wrote back to say that, as I understood it, I had to confirm that I had ordered it and would produce it within 28 days-that it was not a prerequisite to marketing the property as she was trying to claim. I have differences of opinions with other agencies but on the whole they have always been professional towards me at all times. If any of these staff had of visited my property the first time around I would probably not have marketed my property through BM. It's because of the MD of the local office that I am marketing my property through BM-he is pleasant,courteous,straightforward, professional and very hard-working and I'd be happy to give him the business anytime. Well, that's my more recent experience of Barnard Marcus. Make of it what you will. Pat (Fulham)

Pat from Fulham-Just To Set The Record Straight! Re-My post about Barnard Marcus in Fulham. (above) I have been contacted today by BM Fulham who have requested that I have not given an accurate representation about what was said and, for the record, I should correct it as in their view,I took it out of context. They have said that the offer to mow the garden was entirely voluntary and that it was offered to the previous tenants who declined it and that I misunderstood or misinterpreted what their agent said to me whilst I was viewing the property. They also say that there is a clause in the tenancy agreement relating to the maintenance of the garden-which they say can be difficult for some people and it was an offer to help and was not being forced upon myself, a prospective tenant. They have also said that there was never any intention to disturb my peace and quiet whilst a tenant-and that I should mention that this was never intended. They have also asked me to mention to you that the issues of how clients are treated is something they will be looking into-I mentioned how I was treated on greeting one of their agents who visited my home. With regard to the EPC, they say that I also misinterpreted or misunderstood their email sent to me and that it was ent was merely to inform me of my obligations to avoid any potential implications to myself. As I say, I regarded BM as one of the best Estate agents in Fulham. I am always happy to correct any misunderstandings but feel a little sad that these should even arise as issues to comment on. As I said previously, it has a great MD and on the basis of his presence alone, I would not have any problem marketing a property through BM in Fulham either now or in the future. Pat (Fulham)