0% lettings valuation accuracy
67% lettings fee satisfaction
Oct 08,2014
Oct 08,2014
7
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I used Taylors Letting, Worcester (part of the Countrywide group) for around 18 months to let rooms in my portfolio of 26 HMO rooms.
Their performance on finding tenants is rubbish. Their finders fee is twice what other local agents charge (average £378 inc VAT for my rooms as opposed to £192 inc VAT charged by another local agent). At this premium fee level you would expect them to be really good but nothing could be further from the truth! For example, they delivered just 5 viewers and no lets over the last 2 months where at the same time doing it myself and spending just £80 on advertising I got several dozen viewers and let 10 rooms. There are plenty good potential tenants out there but either they simply don't find them or they direct them to properties where they get higher management fees rather than just a finders fee.
When they do manage to let a room they take the first month's rent and the deposit from the tenant but then take a minimum of 2 weeks (often longer) to pass on the rent. I register the deposits myself, having to fund them from my own pocket but then they used every excuse in the book to delay handing over the deposit. In the most recent episode, they owed me £3,000. It took 3 weeks to get £2,000 of it and the remaining £1,000 is still not paid 38 days later despite constant requests and a formal complaint.
My recommendation : AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS. They will be VERY poor at renting your property and on the odd occasions when they do actually rent something, they will charge you twice the going rate, charge the tenant more than average and not hand over any money to you for a very long time.
Their performance on finding tenants is rubbish. Their finders fee is twice what other local agents charge (average £378 inc VAT for my rooms as opposed to £192 inc VAT charged by another local agent). At this premium fee level you would expect them to be really good but nothing could be further from the truth! For example, they delivered just 5 viewers and no lets over the last 2 months where at the same time doing it myself and spending just £80 on advertising I got several dozen viewers and let 10 rooms. There are plenty good potential tenants out there but either they simply don't find them or they direct them to properties where they get higher management fees rather than just a finders fee.
When they do manage to let a room they take the first month's rent and the deposit from the tenant but then take a minimum of 2 weeks (often longer) to pass on the rent. I register the deposits myself, having to fund them from my own pocket but then they used every excuse in the book to delay handing over the deposit. In the most recent episode, they owed me £3,000. It took 3 weeks to get £2,000 of it and the remaining £1,000 is still not paid 38 days later despite constant requests and a formal complaint.
My recommendation : AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS. They will be VERY poor at renting your property and on the odd occasions when they do actually rent something, they will charge you twice the going rate, charge the tenant more than average and not hand over any money to you for a very long time.
Comment on agent fees
They charge 75% + VAT and provide no discount even on a 26 room portfolio. This works out an average of ‚£378 inc VAT per room on my portfolio. Another reputable local agent charges a fixed fee of ‚£192 inc VAT providing the same service at half the price.
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31st May 2019
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13th Jul 2018
reviewed by 'ANI'
18th Jun 2018
reviewed by 'PA'
15th Jun 2018
reviewed by 'Annie'
15th Jun 2018
reviewed by 'viv'
Opening Hours
Address
Countrywide Estate Management
11th Floor Maitland House,
Warrior Square
Please select...,Southend on Sea
Essex
SS1 2JY
01702222899
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 0% | 67% | £0 | £0 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
Areas covered
Services offered
- Sales
- Lettings
- Block Management
- Surveys
- Conveyancing
- Mortgage Advice
- Home Builder
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May 31,2019
May 31,2019
2
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I am SO glad I'm now free of this bunch of cowboys!!! Countrywide Estate Management was appalling managing our building! Amanda Monger (Manager) was extremely good at avoiding anything that needed to be carried out. In 7 years, all we had repaired was a carport roof ...
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Comment on agent fees
Average until they demanded huge fees for one year for works which were never carried out.
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Jun 01, 2019
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The Branch address is wrong. I was referring to the Hampshire Link House Branch not Southend On Sea. ...
Oct 09,2018
Oct 09,2018
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
What a pleasure to work with Louise and her team, a breath of fresh to find a team that care as much as us about getting all the various maintenance works done on the various sites the Southend-on-sea branch manage. Its makes the job of ...
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Jul 13,2018
Jul 13,2018
0
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I moved in to my flat in August 2016. Countrywide were and still are the property managers for my block of flats. The thing which made them stand out was that they decided to tidy up the entire property - refurbish the exterior of the building, ...
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Comment on agent fees
The fees so far seem reasonable and justified.
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Jun 18,2018
Jun 18,2018
0
people found
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I have found Lyn Walker extremely helpful and most competent in sorting out what has been a challenging task in relation to transferring a building I acquired to their managing department.
I would certainly not hesitate to recommend her and your whole department to any ...
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Comment on agent fees
Good
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Jun 15,2018
Jun 15,2018
0
people found
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Since we had Perry appointed as our agent we had a very prompt response to problems. Very helpful and I would recommend using them....
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Comment on agent fees
Acceptable
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Jun 15,2018
Jun 15,2018
0
people found
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Perry is a delight to work with, he will go far, he dots the i's and crosses the t's so to speak. He is very prompt at getting back to us, very fair and honest, gets amazing quotes.
We do live in fear that we ...
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n/a
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May 10,2018
May 10,2018
0
people found
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The building we live in is managed by CountryWide and we have found the staff at the Hemel Hempstead branch very helpful and prompt to respond to problems. On some occasions problems with the property were resolved within 24 hours of the initial report.
The property ...
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Comment on agent fees
The service charges were reasonable considering the works carried out on the property. Their legal fees are very expensive.
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May 03,2018
May 03,2018
0
people found
this helpful
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I cannot find anything to say but praise for Amanda since she took over our residency in Bournemouth.
She is always prompt and helpful whenever a problem arises and it always feels as if she genuinely cares about whatever she can do to help.
Amanda ...
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Comment on agent fees
Although our agent fees are high I believe they are well used. Our building is well maintained. The gardens, the outside of the building, gutters, bins etc are all cleaned like clock work. Recently I spoke to Amanda and she said we have some money over this year and she is looking into using it to have our interior decorated. Cannot fault her efforts
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Apr 02,2018
Apr 02,2018
1
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I have had the pleasure of working along side Louise and her Estate Management Team for the last 3 years And have always found all to be very professional, high levels of communication and an eye for detail
From initial inquiry through to completion the service ...
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Mar 27,2018
Mar 27,2018
2
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I have found Louise and her team at the Southend-on-Sea branch to be excellent! They are extremely professional, attentive and are always quick to respond to any issues i might have. I cannot recommend them enough!...
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Mar 09,2018
Mar 09,2018
0
people found
this helpful
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I have read some negative reviews on here regarding Countrywide as a whole, however I simply cannot write a bad thing about the Hemel Hempstead branch and particularly Carmen Thrussell who was absolutely wonderful. I found Carmen to be very patient, helpful and understanding and ...
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Comment on agent fees
I found the agent fees were competitive with other local agencies
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Feb 21,2018
Feb 21,2018
0
people found
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My dealings with Countrywide have always been fantastic. Especially Andrea who goes to show you can do your job with a smile and a bubbly voice! They have always been on hand to discuss any issues and whenever they need issues sorting and they listen ...
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Feb 22, 2018
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Pha you must be the only person that have ever experience good dealings with these rip off merchants..
Either that or you work there ...
Feb 20,2018
Feb 20,2018
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Prior to Roni taking over this site it was troublesome to say the least. Roni and Countrywide have managed to turn this site from a liability to an asset. I can not recommend Roni or Countrywide enough!!!...
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Jan 31,2018
Jan 31,2018
1
people found
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this helpful
I have worked with several managing agents in Sussex and I have found Countrywide to be professional, courteous and always willing to help. they have a good knowledge of the Landlord and Tenant Act and they are able to advise leaseholders accordingly....
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Comment on agent fees
good
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No fees information available
Kindly note that legally, letting agents need to publish information about their tenancy fees, government-approved redress schemes and client money protection schemes on their website and on third party websites (on which agents are listed). For properties to lease/rent in England, agents need to keep this information up to date and precise on allAgents or specify within the property description.
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