Trusted Agent profile · Birmingham
★★★★★
324 reviews across 2 platforms
172 High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9PP, B17 9PP
Shipways's office in Birmingham, at 172 High Street, is rated 3.4 out of 5 across 324 reviews on two platforms, including 213 Google reviews rated 4.2.
Every review we hold for the Birmingham office, from every platform, shown as written. First names only.
1/5
TrustpilotNot helpful at all
My elderly parents were selling their home with shipways . It sold quickly . Then you hear nothing from shipways , no updates . My sister acted on behalf of my mom and dad , they never even spoke to my dad even though he was paying them.
1/5
TrustpilotAwful service rude agent
Awful service, rude and there might be a racial discrimination practice going on there!!! Stay awayI wanted to view a property for rent, and i was a bit late. I tried to let them know and they did not pick up they never pick up the phone. The guy who was at the viewing called to ask where we are. I said stuck in traffic due to peak hour, coming quickly. He kept on poking in a negative way saying that “don’t you know your meeting is at this time, there is no peak hour now.” It was quite intimidating, he kept on saying not in a polite way “ i was there i reached here by 10 mins how come you are taking so long”. His tone was very intimidating and very rude and he spoke to me as if i was lying. I think that is very unprofessional. You can leave the property but there is no need to be rude. Why will i lie!!! No etiquette at all. Once i reached there he and the landlord didn’t seem interested much and mentioned that the property will be rented at a higher price now than was previously posted online. Either they just deceive people or illegally increase the rent or they just bluffed us with the higher rent so that we don’t come back. I have never seen a property agent increase the rent without posting and when we go for a viewing.Don’t know about the company but the agent should learn some manners.
3/5
TrustpilotSale of house
Gemma was most helpful otherwise not terribly impressed. The process took quite a long time. Buyers solicitors changed halfway through the transaction.
5/5
GoogleHave recently sold a house with Shipways, Harborne and were pleased to achieve the full asking price. All the team at Harborne were very efficient, professional and friendly. Thanks to all, especially Winnie for all her help and enthusiasm.
5/5
TrustpilotExcellent!
Very professional! My wife is a retired chartered surveyor, with nearly 40 years experience in residential agency having been a director of a well established firm of Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors. Being used to training staff, she and I have exceptionally high standards. The negotiator who took our initial enquiry for a market appraisal answered the phone promptly, was polite, enthusiastic (without being “over the top”), friendly and knowledgeable. Faultless. That told us how she would deal with potential purchasers and an eventual sale, so we were impressed. The market appraiser, Winnie, arrived promptly and had the same qualities as her colleague. As a retired residential valuer my wife had already done her homework, so knew what to expect from any decent agent we used, from comparables to valuation. Again, faultless. We know it isn’t the name of an estate agent business that is most important but how good the individual staff members are. Winnie did not disappoint us in any way. Her enthusiasm, friendliness, knowledge, presentation of the their services and overall professionalism were first class. We would have no hesitation in using Shipways, Harborne office for a house sale in the area.
1/5
TrustpilotDon’t waste your time
Don’t waste your time. The communication is non existent. Tried to sell my property with them and had no luck, which was fine, decided to take the property off the market for a while and then back on the market with another agent. They then proceeded to reduce the property and re advertise without permission and consent. Even though I had already taken it off the market with them for a few months. Do not recommend.
5/5
GoogleEasy, quick and direct communication. Helpful and reliable agents. I had a very good experience, strongly recommended
Thank you francesca Chiumenti for your thoughtful 5* review and recommendation! I will make sure your kind words are passed on to the local team. Best wishes, Lucy, Customer Relations.
1/5
TrustpilotShocking service from Hagley Branch
Shocking service from Hagley Branch , tried to book a viewing on an empty property for which they held a key and had to chase to view with no reply . Offered on an apartment in Hagley village , Haybridge Mews , offer only 5 K below asking price , no feedback on offer , unsure if vendor even received it and property still in market four months later after my offer , no offer acknowledged in writing. Appalling service , pity their vendors who have no idea it’s impossible to buy a property from them as a purchaser. Since bought and completed on other property in the area while still waiting for Shipways to confirm a viewing ! Now cold calling for custom as lockdown hits , how the tables turn !About to report to the ombudsman.
5/5
GoogleWe had a long and difficult move, for various reasons which were nothing to do with Shipways. Shipways were fantastic from beginning to end. They were professional in the way they marketed our house. The photos were brilliant and the listing looked great. Once we agreed a sale, Shipways were great at keeping in touch with our buyer. At times they seemed to be the only ones who could get hold of him! Throughout a very stressful period, I always had confidence that if I picked up the phone to Shipways they'd either know something more or they'd make it a priority to call whoever needed calling so they could find out what I needed to know. The staff at Shipways are friendly and professional. You can tell that they put the work in on your behalf. I would highly recommend selling through Shipways.
5/5
GoogleFantastic service by Attique. Provided an answer for every question we had and made the whole process quick smooth and simple. Highly recommended.
Thanks for the amazing recommendation and 5* review! Best wishes, Lucy, Customer Relations.
1/5
TrustpilotAwful! Avoid this company
Big mistake to fall for the excellent sales pitch! Started well with sale boards up in no time once the contract was signed but then the nightmare began! Took 3 weeks to get our property to market. The agent had our key but the photographer forgot to collect it and had to go back to the office to get it. The photos were rushed and very poor quality. The narrative on our sales particulars was so bland and didn’t make the most of the beautiful rural location of our property is in and the floor plans were a poor illustration and incorrect. The planned open day didn’t happen but they didn’t explain how it would work or that it wasn’t happening until we phoned to ask where the agent was when they didn’t show up. They held our key to enable any time viewing but office staff didn’t know they had the key and thought we were only accepting weekend viewings. They turned up 4 hours late for an appointment to retake photos and never returned our calls. We terminated our contract with them with the required 4 weeks notice and the for sale board was removed within 48 hours. When I phoned to ask whether they were still marketing our property they said the boards had been removed for decontamination reasons! They never returned our message asking about arrangements to return our key and we had to go into the office to demand it back. We made customer services aware of how unhappy we were and they didn’t return our calls either. If you want to avoid a similar experience then avoid this company.
1/5
TrustpilotAwful,don't sell your house with them!
Awful,don't sell your house with them!I had my house on the market with them for some months I had reduced it once And I got a phone call off them asking if I would like to reduce my house to be in the Boxing Day sale I said no and explicitly told them that I would Not!! reduce the price of my house again because I wouldn't be able to afford another house. So 2 weeks later you would imagine my surprise when on Christmas day I found my house had been reduced. When shipways where back open after Christmas I phoned up and asked them why my house was even in the sale when he had explicitly said no but they couldn't give me an answer so I complained and they said that she would pass my complaint on to the manager but they didn't get in contact with me for a whole month when I got a phone call of the manager and I said that I didn't want their services any more but up to this day 3 weeks later my house is still on the market
5/5
GoogleElton and Charlotte went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly for me; it is experiences like this that helps create a lasting relationship.
1/5
TrustpilotAwful company both from a rental and…
Awful company both from a rental and buyer. We had constant issues throughout our tenancy and were just told that they act on behalf of landlord not us! When it came to buying it was made very clear that if we wanted priority with the vendor we had to mortgage with them, which is completely illegal! Don't know how they aren't investigated by the ombudsman for there dodgy practices and shocking customer service!
5/5
TrustpilotShipways Dudley
When trying to sell my late parents house I was not having much luck until Winnie came out to do the market appraisal and told me the true value
1/5
TrustpilotIn my opinion this company is one of…
In my opinion this company is one of the worst I have had the displeasure to deal with and will certainly stear clear in the future we offered on a property and we where told the offer was accepted subject to being approved or qualified. So we booked time of work took all the relevant information mortgage had been approved funds for more than the 10% deposit as required, we had no chain and was good to go. So at this point we where told to arrange a solicitor which we did straight away and also gave notice on our rented accommodation and paid our mortgage advice. We was both very excited then after all this had been agreed and being told that once the offer had been accepted we where assured that there would be no bidding war as its just not fair (bull💩). So we are sitting there making plans for removal and decorating when I received an email stating that our offer as been rejected because someone had offered more, not even the courtesy of a phone call no response through social media. They cost me and my family money shattered our dreams and upset my children. All this is unprofessional unethical and unacceptable so that is why I am leaving this review for you own sakes stear clear trust me.
2/5
TrustpilotBad after sales service
I was initially impressed, had 30 viewings in one day via an open house day, did sell property but not from any of the viewings they conducted, it was from someone who had bought other properties in my road and contacted Shipways themselves. After it had been sold hardly any contact at all, had no update calls, in fact no contact at all unless it was in response to information I had chased them for. Left 2 messages on one occasion for the manager to call me, no response at all. All the staff were very courteous and helpful when I pushed it, but would have liked much more pro active after sales service from them. They actually had to do very little to earn the £2100 commission I had to pay them.
1/5
TrustpilotAwful
Awful. Requested a probate valuation. "Great!" said the voice at the other end of the phone, brightly. Should have given up there and then (it's more usual to offer condolences...). Liam turned up on time and was personable, didn't look at the outside of the property as it was raining.I then received a marketing report, no signed probate valuation, and was then told they don't do them (the other two firms we called had no problem doing what was required).The icing on the cake is the call I just had from customer services asking how my property search is going....she asked how she was supposed to know when I explained the situation (she couldn't grasp that at no point have I indicated we will be selling or searching for a property so she should not have my details). Clearly poor communication and training of both branch (manager and phone) and call centre staff, and appalling customer service with no humanity. We certainly won't be using Shipways when it is time to sell.
1/5
TrustpilotThe absolute WORST letting agency I’ve ever dealt with
I have lived in quite a few apartments in a number of cities, and Shipways were undoubtedly the most incompetent and money-grabbing letting agents I’ve ever come across.We had 3p in arrears (due to an error in the rounding up of rent), which we offered to pay over the phone but only with a £10 card charge. We then were sent letters threatening eviction and taking us to court OVER THREE PENCE!We also had a broken front door, which we reported twice to Shipways as it was a safety issue - not only could we be easily broken into but at any point we could have got stuck out or in. For the next 8 months we repeatedly received texts and emails asking if the door had been fixed and every single time we said no, only have nothing done. I still received those messages a few months after moving out.They also failed to even show up to viewings, meaning that my flatmates and I had to show prospective tenants around.They also took a large amount out of our deposit and claimed the house was abandoned, when in reality we had cleaned the place before leaving and had just gone home for the summer, so a bit of dust had collected.Yes, I know the apartments are cheap with these guys and that may seem alluring, but I can assure you after a year with this agency, it is never going to be worth it.
2/5
Trustpilottoo pushy and sometimes show a lack of respect for clients
I’ve bought a few properties through Shipways (Rugby branch) and the positives from a seller’s perspective are that they have a good office location and are highly focussed on getting to a sale.The downside is that a brash pushy style shows little respect for those they deal with. I’ve been out onto sales and mailing lists when I explicitly told them not to, been bothered at work after they insisted to my partner that they urgently needed to talk to me (it was just marketing) and been clearly lied to regarding them pushing commission insurance (when I complained they girl apparently couldn’t remember the conversation)
1/5
TrustpilotI booked an appointment with the…
I booked an appointment with the kidderminster office for a valuation on Sept 2nd . It was confirmed by a phone call in the 4th . On the day of the appointment no one arrived . I rang they had no record of the appointment. It was explained that some how it had been written down on paper but not recorded any where else . What a way to run a business.
1/5
TrustpilotWould score 0 if could
Would score 0 is could, avoid at all costs, slate other agents so you end up believing them when these are the worst of all kind. Lies all the way through sale, complete dishonesty, don't really care about you what so ever and the biggest one of all is Ben, avoid him at all costs, very slippery anyone but Shipways, trust me Oh, were still waiting for money they should have returned to us as the promise for the photos 4 months on .... absolute disgrace and embarrassment to the trade, like the old school dodgy car sales reps
1/5
TrustpilotDue to our experience
Due to our experience, we have lost money with Shipways. We were promised a guarantee that our application was correct and in receiving the house. At the last moment the landlord disagreed and declined our application. They did not explain what to do to meet the requirements to pass application. All the time we had to call them to ask about progress and any documents if needed. I would recommend to avoid this agency because twice we applied through this agency and both houses were declined. First time was advertised through Shipways and next time they promised they were good and not like others.
1/5
GooglePossibly the worst experience as a landlord living abroad and needing a full service. All correspondence done through faceless call centre other end of the country with different contact point every time, that knows nothing about your property history, and is too slow to take action between tenant and landlord, resulting in upset tenants that want to leave. Maybe it's unfair to make this review about the local office as they actually have nothing to do with running the tenancy; the call centre does. However you sign up with the local office and they tell you all about local support when you need it, but that quickly disappears and then they never get involved to help with any issues. Tenant got so fed up with them, they ended up calling in the council and ombudsman which Shipways kept hidden until too late. Very, very disappointing and time consuming experience.
Where the same review appears twice we show it once. We leave out reviews that name another agent or another of the brand's offices.
Shipways's Birmingham office has 324 reviews across two platforms: 213 on Google, 111 on Trustpilot (across the whole business).
Shipways Harborne is rated 3.4 out of 5 across all 324 reviews, and 4.2 out of 5 on Google from 213 reviews.
Shipways Harborne, 172 High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9PP, B17 9PP.
