Newest first, from every platform, with the office each review is about. First names only.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleOver the years, we have bought and sold a number of houses, nevertheless selling a property can be taxing for most people. So when we decided to place our house on the market, we researched our options carefully. Eventually, we chose Dowen Estate Agents. Within three days, our property had been valued, beautifully photographed and listed on multiple platforms. The staff at the Bishop Auckland branch have been exemplary; all questions are answered fully, all phone calls and texts are responded to promptly and what is more, great effort has been made to ensure we are at ease with each step in the process. Within one month of placing our home on the market, we have accepted an offer.
Dowen have been thorough, efficient, uncomplicated and candid; a combination of qualities some may say are seldom seen within today’s real estate industry.
Anne · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Bishop Auckland
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Anne. We are extremely grateful for your wonderful review. Thank you. Dowen Bishop Auckland were very honoured to be appointed as your estate agent. Since then it has been a pleasure to watch and be engaged in the marketing, which ultimately culminated in an excellent offer. The new owners are, I'm sure, going to enjoy the property as much as you and your family. It is a truly charming residence. Your custom has been valuable and much appreciated. The team at Dowen Bishop Auckland are delighted with your complimentary words. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleRating only, no written review.
Zoe · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 4/5
GoogleWas happy with the good service provided.
Stephen · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleReally easy and reliable service we delt with Sally who really helped us and is polite and efficient would definitely recommend
Andrew · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Andrew, many thanks for taking time to post this review. Sally is an excellent estate agent and part of fantastic team at Dowen Durham. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleMandy was helpful with arranging viewings and provided fast, informative correspondence throughout the purchase.
Jack · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleHad a tenant for my house within a week of putting it on market. Any questions i had were answered expediently by Dawn who dealt with everything very efficiently and kept me up to date with whole process.
Kevin · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Many thanks for posting a great review, Kevin. I know Dawn will be delighted. Thank you for your valuable custom. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleFirst time buyer and was helped brilliantly by the staff, especially Sally. Kept me informed of all developments. Couldn't have done any more to help.
Simon · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleThe 'Dowen Team' (more often than not Sally) were very efficient in handling the sale of our property coping well with any problems and keeping us well informed in the process.
Colin · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Great to read your review Colin. The team in Durham are the best. Great job, Sally. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI have had excellent support from Dawn from Dowen's. She has helped and assured me during the process and made moving house as stress free it can be. Thank you! Rille
Rille · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Rille. Thank you for taking time to review our service. Great to see you found Dawn a fantastic letting agent. She is a star. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleExcellent service nothing is too much trouble. I would highly recommend Dowens to anyone who wishes to rent a property. Dawn has made renting very simple for me working around my hours of work .
Noel · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleMandy and the team at Dowan in Durham during the sale of our property have been professional and kept us informed at all stages of the sale. Many thanks to you all Debbie, Gavin and Chris
Chris · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Chris. Thank you for taking the time to provide a 5 STAR REVIEW for Dowen Durham. I'm so pleased that we delivered on the service levels that we constantly strive for Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleI've had an extremely disappointing experience with this real estate agency.
We arranged a viewing for a property in Newton Hall, Durham at 10.30am. We have originally informed the agent, Dawn Teggert, that we're coming all the way from Manchester, which is 2 1/2-hours driving distance away, to see the property. Meaning we needed to leave at around 8.00am to be there on time. However, at around 9am on the day of the viewing, I received a text message saying that they'll have to cancel the viewing. Keep in mind, we were already on the way at that time, having left at a little before 8am (and woken up at 5.30am for this purpose). You'll certainly agree that an agent informing a prospective tenant of any 'change of plans' about 1 1/2 hours before the time of the arranged viewing, despite them knowing they need 2 1/2 hours to reach the destination, isn't good practice. You'd expect the agent to make any required arrangements to accommodate you, especially in such circumstances. She offered us another viewing at 2.30pm on the same day and she made it appear as if she did us a favour. Really?
At around 2.15pm, I got a call from her asking where we were and whether we'd arrive as "she didn't have all the time to wait." It was just 2.15pm, 15 minutes earlier than the time of the arranged appointment (we were about 5 minutes away).
And we weren't even able to view the garage of the property as the previous tenants were still there (even though they were supposed to have moved out the other day).
Upon arriving, we weren't greeted in a friendly or particularly cordially manner. In fact, she didn't exactly greet us, and throughout the viewing she seemed to be rushing us every step of the way. Of course, we needed to ask several questions about the property, and her answers were always short, as if she didn't want to waste her words! Her attitude was extremely disgraceful, and it perpetually gave us to understand that we weren't wanted, that we weren't good enough for the property. She asked several questions regarding ourselves as prospective tenants, which I could have understood if it hadn't been for her repeatedly insinuating (quite directly) that we're dishonest and/or unreliable. And she did that without even making any checks or taking any action in this regard, which is absolutely shocking. This lady was rude, unhelpful, and not at all what you'd expect from a real agent with supposedly 20 years of industry experience!
We spent a total of 7 minutes viewing the property, and about 7 hours on the road (driving to the property and back to Manchester, after having to change direction twice because of the change in the time of the arranged viewing). Her tone seemed to say "You're not wanted here, I've got better fish to fry." Not to mention forking out (and wasting) £50 on gas.
I would strongly advise against renting any property from them. And if you get to deal with this particular agent, here's a piece of advice: don't waste your time OR money. You'll only end up at a loss and extremely frustrated. If there was no possibility to see the property at 2.30pm, we would have wasted hours, and she couldn't have cared any less. And don't expect a smile, either. All this lady can do is make a joke of your resources, call you a liar, and never once apologise for all the trouble she's putting you through because of her lack of breeding, professionalism, and respect.
We are planning to take action through The Property Ombudsman for bad practice as such attitude should not be tolerated. Nobody deserves to be treated in such a manner.
Corina · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Dear Miss Silverstru
I was very disappointed to read your review and as a consequence, have investigated your complaint
This is our version of events
It had been agreed, with existing tenants that they would be fully moved out, of the property, by Monday pm - with you able to view on the Tuesday am, at the agreed time
When on Tuesday morning, we found that keys had not be left at our branch as agreed, with the previous tenants, we contacted them first thing Monday, whereby they advised, they had, had a last moment, move out, issue and would have keys to us 2pm
Our branch, aware that you were on the road, immediately contacted you to advice of this unexpected problem and offered a 2.30pm appointment, which you accepted. It was unfortunate, that you had already set of from Manchester, but this was out of our control
You were then contacted a little later, to advise that if you were waiting around, we could accommodate you earlier, at the property, at 2.15pm. You chose to still arrive at 2.30pm
Our Durham branch, Lettings Portfolio Manager, Dawn Teggert, met you at the property. As is normal practise for a letting agent, had some basic information from you about your circumstances, but at the property, began to ask additional questions about your eligibility to rent the it i.e.: did you have right of residency in the UK, were you able to provide proper original ID, what was your previous letting history, what was your employment situation, etc. Many of your answers, were not in keeping with our landlords requirements, hence the need, for Dawn to ask more questions
We hope this clarifies our situation. Dawn's customer feedback is in general exceptional, as can be seen by the reviews here and on Facebook Dowen Durham. We are both very sorry, that you felt your experience, was not as such
Ultimately, based on the information you provided to us, the landlord was unable to consider any application, from you
We trust this properly explains the situation and wish you the best of luck, in successfully finding a property to rent, in the Durham area
John Nicholson - Branch Manager - Dowen Durham
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleFantastic service from start to finish. Purchased, let and sold the same property (1 St.Godrics, Durham) through them and couldn't fault the service on both sales and lettings from Sally Crooks and Dawn Teggert respectively. Special mention to John who has set a new standard for any estate agent I have future dealings with. Highly recommend.
James · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleDowen were courteous, friendly and professional and kept us well informed throughout the purchase process. We would not have got our house if they had not alerted us to the sale in advance and helped us view it the moment it went on the market, because the offers came so quickly. Thank you, Dowen!
Karen · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Karen. I took great pleasure in reading your review. Thank you for taking the time to post. Well done Team Dowen Durham. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWhen looking to rent my first property, Dawn was excellent at meeting our every needs. Being transparent about the entire process and making it as easy as possible. With this being the first time I have ever rented, the professionalism shown by Dawn helped ease the stress of the process and we were able to move in quickly. Would highly recommend this estate agent!
Mathew · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 4/5
GoogleI have given 4 stars because selling properties is never without stress! However the staff did everything to alleviate problems and nothing to make problems. Altogether we have sold three properties over the last few years and all through Dowens. John the Manager has all the knowledge and experience to advise on marketing properties correctly and professionally. Nothing is too much trouble and we sold each house within two weeks and one on the first day! We were wise to return to John Nicholson and his team each time.
Angela · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Thank you for taking the time to post your excellent review, Angela. John and the team will be appreciative. I’m also grateful for your very valuable custom. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleExcellent service provided by Mandy and the team at Dowen. We were informed at every step of the process and keys were available as promised. We even received a Welcome to your New Home card wishing us well in our new home.
Helen · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Helen. Thank you for taking the time to leave this lovely review. Mandy and the team at Durham are the very best of estate agents. Many thanks for your custom. We all wish you the best of luck and happiness in your new home. Denis Dowen, Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleOverall, an outstanding, excellent service was provided by John and Sally at Dowens (Durham).
A slow start due to the time of year we advertised the property (Christmas) but John and the team worked hard to ensure property was well marketed and prospects were found.
A great experience and certainly our new agent of choice for future property acquisitions and sales.
Paul · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Thank you for your fantastic review, Paul. The team at Dowen Durham will be delighted. Thank you so much for being a customer. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleDawn in lettings has been very efficient in handling the letting of one of my properties in the Durham area. She has arranged gas safety repairs and certificates, a small repair to a broken window and many smaller jobs and tasks regarding the let. We now have a tenant in the house and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial business arrangement. I would certainly recommend Dowen's service.
Ian · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Thank you for your review Ian. Dawn is a Lettings superstar. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWe've just completed on the sale of our property via Dowen Durham and would highly recommend them to anyone. From the valuation, arrangement of viewings, receiving feedback, through to the sales negotiations, everything was spot on. Mandy was so helpful throughout and always available to answer any queries. Would not hesitate to use them again in the future!
Laura · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
Agent replied · 13 June 2024
Laura. It was a pleasure for me to read your review. Thank you for taking the time to post. Our Durham team are the best. My colleagues and great friends. I’m so pleased that we delivered the 5 STAR SERVICE we all strive for Denis Dowen - Managing Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleRecently sold my house in Durham and was so impressed with the service given by Dowen Estate Agents , what a great team. !! Thankyou Mandy was dealing with the actual sale, she kept me updated every step of the way, communicating with me regularly and I knew I could rely on her. Mandy your help and attention made the whole process much less stressful , Thankyou so much .
Mary · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWe've had a few tough time in terms of selling our house but these guys have been excellent, right from the very first moment John came out to do the valuation; all the way up to the handing over of the keys on the day of completion. Sally constantly stayed in touch with us throughout the entire time and kept us aware of what was currently happening, what next steps would be etc. and was excellent in sourcing potential buyers for us, and getting those viewings in!! John himself was straight up, and very clear on the service and the pricing, and what we got and paid for, was exactly what he outlined on day one - you can't ask for fairer than that can you?!?!? I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Dowen's, for your Estate & Letting Agents needs in Durham. I had spoken to others for valuations but I found these guys to be the most genuine and honest (as well as the best overall package!); which I think for this type of transaction/business - that is what you really need don't you!
Lee · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI have received and continue to receive a high quality, professional service from the Dowen team in Durham.
I have bought and sold property with John and his knowledge and experience have ensured that it is always at the right price.
In addition, Dawn manages my let properties and offers both my tenants and myself the perfect balance of professional and friendly support.
I would not hesitate to recommend John, Dawn and the team who will continue to be my first choice Estate Agency.
Tracy · 15 June 2018 · Dowen Durham City
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleGood service and advice from Kelly and Thomas. Always a friendly yet professional response on the phones and positive approach to buying the house. Helpful when needed and finding answers to my questions quickly and efficiently.
Rachael · 25 December 2017 · Dowen Bishop Auckland
Agent replied · 23 December 2024
Hi Rachael, many thanks for your very kind comments. Thomas and Kelly are a young team, very keen and highly motivated. Both are a pleasure for me to work alomgside and part of our amazing Dowenamily. Denis Dowen - Managing Director
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