Be aware as you won't get important information. After putting an offer in on a property in Hartlepool. I was contacted by one of the agents saying that my cash offer had been accepted and I needed to pay £350 for searches, even though I was a cash buyer. I asked for a refund after the sale fell through 3 weeks later. I was then told that I would only get a refund if i used their services again to buy another property and only if it was completed within 6 months. I made a complaint to their complaints department and received an email from their area manager Sharon Richards. In the email, it was stated that I had asked for searches when i only asked if i could arrange a survey. I was also told that it was not the estate agents responsibility to help me with information about searches and surveys, yet they told me that i needed to pay for searches! It was also mentioned in the email that I agreed to conveyance searches two days prior to my offer being accepted. I don't know how that works lol. So just to enlighten people who are buying a property for the first time through Manners and Harrison. As it is not their responsibility to give you this information according to their area manager.

1:If you are buying a property and are a cash buyer. You do not have to pay for searches. It is your choice. Don't feel pressured into it.

2: If you pay for searches at Manners and Harrison. They will not give you this information until after it goes wrong. You will not get a refund unless you continue to use their services when buying another house and it needs to be completed in 6 months. You then need to pay for searches again and try and claim the old payment back after completion.

3: If you are purchasing a property. You don't have to get the searches done by the estate agent and can search for your own (Surveys as well) If the seller of the property has not found a property. I would suggest holding off doing searches and surveys until they have got a property (Another thing you won't be told by the estate agent) Don't feel pressured into paying out any money until you have had time to think and had time to research.