Fox & Sons Estate Agents

Bexhill branch. Woeful, they move the goalposts and are sparing with the truth to the nth degree. The manager epitomises every stereotype of the old fashioned estate agents in every respect. I feel for their vendors.

Having just relocated to the UK with pets we were desperate for a rental.

An agent from the Salisbury branch managed to get us in into a nice place in the nick of time and saved us from having to live under a bridge.

Good job

Please do not use them, totally unprofessional, staff have no idea how to carry out a viewing, they often fail to turn up or make you do the viewing themselves. When someone wanted to make an offer they said the property was off the market and that he had 'dodged a bullet' with that one and would not pass on the offer. Purchaser had to deal direct with vendor and negotiate by himself. Little contact between offer and exchange causing frustration from top to bottom of chain. Complaints department take nearly 3 months to reply and then with threatening letters over fees. Avoid them, they give honest hard working agents a bad name, you would be better using an online agent, less fees, stress and expectations.

The selling team at the Bognor Regis branch are non-professional people. They can’t co-operate and internal and external communication doesn’t exist. I've met from their side many instances of trying to mislead and manipulate me, bringing extreme stress into my life. Let me tell you only some of the issues which I have met from Fox and Sons’ agents and their manager:

1. Before I signed the agreement I have been misled by Fox and Sons manager. She told me and my partner that selling our house will be very easy. She was pushing me to sell the house lower when the contract with them was going to end.

2. People were coming for viewing even when I didn’t accept the viewing. They informed me that no one from the agency told them about the cancellation.

3. On the day of viewing, the agency cancelled the viewing by not telling us any reason.

4. The agents decided to switch on the central heating without my permission. They left the property with the boiler switched on for a few days.

5. I have been misled by Fox and Son's negotiator that the period from accepting a buyer offer to exchange is 3 weeks only and from exchange to completion is a week only. As a result, we've been waiting 14 weeks for the completion date.

Be aware that there is an additional 28 day notice period once your contract term is over, or make sure you give the notice within the contract period if you wish to change agents. The risk is if you move to another agent and then sell, you could be liable for two commission fees. Other agents are much more relaxed and release people from these terms. The clause is hidden in the small print and Fox & Sons do not draw your attention to it. They are also particularly stubborn about sticking to it.

We have felt ill-advised throughout the selling process.

Very helpful letting staff. Property was let within a week of going on their books. Very friendly good advice and service. Good communication and all paper work completed.

Appalling service and communication. No feedback from viewings unless they were chased. No contact for 6 weeks, only then to be informed the buyer had pulled out twice. Never kept up to date with what was going on. Arranged the Survey 3 times, ensuring we were out the house only to find out when we requested feedback that the Survey hadn’t taken place!! Likewise on viewings. No feedback, made sure we were out the house, only to find out when we called and asked for feedback that the viewings hadn’t taken place!!! No courtesy call or communication to confirm exchange or completion. Last communication was with the Manager 4 days prior to exchange. After completing on the Monday morning, no courtesy call / communication, but enough time to spend the next 24 – 48 house taking potential rentals around the house for the new owners!!! Therefore, not only receiving thousands of pounds in commission on our property for doing jaff all but also getting a nice ongoing Management Fee Income from the property. Stressful, angry, disappointed and disgusted.

I asked to view a property. The agent was over 10 mins late. We asked numerous questions, both verbally and in writing. I didn't receive any acknowledgement of the email or any reply. I asked again in writing. Received a response - the majority of the answers bore no resemblance to the truth. I challenged them. They blamed the Vendor. I asked to see the property again, the same agent was 10 minutes late. We asked to walk around the property (without him on our heels the whole time) - he replied 'what can you have to say that you can't say in front of me?' We put in an offer. No response. No acknowledgement. Nothing for three days. We put in another offer. Complete silence. Telephoned and asked to speak the Branch Manager. I was told he would ring me back shortly. Zero response.

staff overvalued and then forgot about me. the staff dont really know what they are doing - I would avoid at all costs

I would recommend that you avoid:

Brighton Office valued my property far higher than any other agent. When challenged, they said they could find a buyer and give them a chance, just for 1 month. We verbally agreed that at the end of the month there would be no notice period. They now threaten me with their 'small print' and demand a notice period. Pretty stupid really, as there is no way I would accept any offer made through them even if I agreed to the false notice period. Maybe I should just let them waste their time.

Let's assume this to be their flawed memory rather than flawed honesty.