Trusted Agent profile · Bristol, City of
★★★★★
1,791 reviews across 3 platforms
187 - 189 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2RY, Bristol, City of, BS8 2RY
Part of Ocean, see every office.
Ocean's office in Bristol, City of, at 187 - 189 Whiteladies Road, is rated 4.8 out of 5 across 1,791 reviews on three platforms, including 294 Google reviews rated 4.7.
294
Reviews on Google
This office
20
Reviews on Facebook
Business-wide
1,477
Reviews on Trustpilot
Business-wide
Every review we hold for the Bristol, City of office, from every platform, shown as written. First names only.
5/5
TrustpilotChantelle was our Lettings negotiator…
Chantelle was our Lettings negotiator with Ocean and she was very helpful in getting us complete the reference checks within 2 days. She was out of office during those 2 days but still she gave prompt replies to all our queries. She has even arranged a second viewing for us. So far ocean and Chantelle has been good for us in completing the first step towards renting a home in Bristol!
5/5
TrustpilotExpedited conveyancing service
We paid for an expedited conveyancing service as we were trying to beat an auction date, and Dimitri and his team were on it. We met our very tight deadline for exchange with ease and felt reassured throughout. Dimitri was always available for a chat and gave us thorough explanations as the sale progressed. Thank you Ocean and your great team!
5/5
GoogleLily is absolutely amazing and has been so helpful and attentive while I have been trying to find myself a flat!
2/5
TrustpilotCouldn't sell my house...others could
Initially smooth sailing and great photos. Annoying inaccuracies in promotional materials for the house that were never fully fixed despite requesting them to be corrected. Then lots of viewings but no offers. When asked, unable to give specific useful feedback about why people weren't offering. Eventually switched estate agents to Elephant (who were excellent in every way) and sold within 2 weeks.Update for accuracy: should have said no serious offers. Did have one below asking price offer very early on that Ocean were clear they thought wasn't serious. We attempted to negotiate and it was immediately withdrawn, confirming that view.
As an independent agent of 40 years, customer satisfaction during the whole moving process is of paramount importance to our teams. We apologise that your experience with us fell short of your expectations.Regarding your concerns. The tenure listing in marketing materials - We promptly updated Ocean's marketing materials upon your request. Unfortunately, national portals took longer to reflect these changes. Viewing feedback is requested in various ways, we appreciate how important this is to our sellers. Firstly a ‘temperature check’ is taken immediately by the agent, then by offering an online rating and comment opportunity via email and the buyer’s ‘My Ocean dashboard’. And lastly via next day follow-up calls. Regrettably, there were no consistent comments recorded in your case.During your time with Ocean, we received an offer less than -3% of the higher guide price when for sale with Ocean. This was rejected.We appreciate your feedback and take your comments seriously. Our Sales Director will review your file further. We're happy you found an excellent alternative agent for your move, and we wish you all the best in your new home!
5/5
TrustpilotUsed Ocean solicitors for our first time purchase…
Used Ocean solicitors for our house purchase, and cannot recommend them enough. Ashleigh was really attentive and quick to our questions, and spotting potential issues with our purchase ahead of time. They were also extremely helpful when our first house purchase fell through, and very sympathetic.Definitely recommend them as a first time buyer.
1/5
Trustpilot40-50% rent increases
40-50% rent increases to all the properties in my block of flats, overnight, and Section 21s issued to all the people who queried the legality or tried to negotiate. Some people lived in the building for over 10 years. Absolutely gutted. Months and months to complete repairs. Really bad peopleEdit: I was not offered a 10% discount, I was given an eviction notice when I tried to negotiate. What they have replied with isn't true.
Ocean Lettings and Management have been recently appointed to manage the building on behalf of the landlord. As with all rental agreements we act on the Landlord’s instructions. A Director fully appraised of this particular contract will reply in full ASAP. Regards Ocean. Update:We sympathise and understand your misgivings, unfortunately, costs have increased for all parties. Ocean Lettings and Management were appointed to assume management of the building on behalf the landlord. Following a circa 10-year hiatus, tenancy agreements required review. The building owner requested a rental appraisal, subsequently a 10% discount of current, average rental prices was offered. Regards, Ocean.
5/5
GoogleWe have just completed a purchase with Ocean and they were very professional and knowledgeable throughout the process. They were always there to answer any questions we had. I would like to give a special thanks to Nicola who kept everything moving between all parties and was generally great! Thankyou
5/5
TrustpilotI cannot recommend Ocean enough
I cannot recommend Ocean enough! Finding accommodation in Bristol is notoriously tricky. My best friend recommended Ocean to me. The team is caring, kind and really take the time to listen to their clients. Annabel was great in taking down my details when we first met. Will handled my application and was instrumental in the process of me securing a place to live. He was so helpful and a delight to work with.
5/5
FacebookI cannot recommend Ocean enough! Finding accommodation in Bristol is notoriously tricky. My best friend recommended Ocean to me. The team is caring, kind and really take the time to listen to their clients. Annabel was great in taking down my details when we first met. Will handled my application and was instrumental in the process of me securing a place to live. He was so helpful and a delight to work with.
1/5
TrustpilotCan't even give the buyers the right keys
Despite finding a large number of people to view the property many were not in a position to proceed and many were not even on the market despite Ocean knowing we wanted to move quickly.It may be coincidence, or we may have been unlucky, but when we did receive two offers they recommended the lower one who was selling with them (which obviously generates more commission), after several months they could not proceed and we went with the other buyer who was a dream.The icing on the cake was on completion they gave our buyer the wrong key.
Thank you for your comments. As an independent agent of 40 years, we certainly know that selling a home can be complex and stressful, sometimes over an extended period. Not least after previously spending time on the market with an alternative agent. We are sorry that your experience fell short of your expectations. Finding qualified buyers was certainly indicative of the market at this time, it was very unfortunate that your initial buyer was unable to complete the sale due to unforeseen circumstances. Please be assured our best advice was given at the time of the offer. The misplacement of keys upon completion is unacceptable, we have taken this matter very seriously. A full investigation has now been completed and we assure you this was a one-off occurrence.The Sales Manager has attempted to contact you to offer a personal apology. Please feel free to contact him directly if you would like to discuss matters further. Thank you again for your feedback. Kind RegardsOcean
5/5
TrustpilotProfessional and Efficient services
Jack was very professional, polite and courteous. He showed us around our new home and answered all questions as well as gave some suggestions on furnishings which was much appreciated. My experience with Oceans Lettings and their agents is always professional and efficient and I would highly recommend them.
5/5
GoogleAs a student, Ocean have been an amazing agency to use and have supported my group throughout the whole application. Amelia West has been particularly helpful in outlining all the steps of our application and keeping us updated as it is processed. The agent Will was also very helpful in the early stages of our application in providing a really good tour of the property and helping in the early stages of our application. It has been so refreshing to have such an easy process with Ocean, in contrast to some of the other infamous student agencies in Bristol!
5/5
GoogleMyself and my partner have recently been looking for somewhere we can rent together. We viewed a property with Amelia who showed us around. Amelia was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and was able to answer any questions we had about the flat. She made us feel very comfortable and welcome. Since the viewing, Ocean have been extremely helpful and have been on hand to answer any questions that we have had over the phone or via email very quickly. They have made the whole process stress free and easy!
5/5
GoogleI've worked closely with Ocean in the process of renting my apartment. I have found that the team is quite a delight to work with and they have made the process very smooth and easy. The apartment I rented was one sent by Ocean to myself, after I had visited their office and registered my information. They continuously sent suitable properties for rent, which made me realise they really do care about their clients and the time and pressure they are under to find an apartment to live in. I had the pleasure of meeting Annabel, Alun and Amelia as well as the other members of the team who were all a great help in the process of renting my apartment. Annabel was at the viewing of the apartment and she graciously answered all of our questions and was also very helpful on our move-in day. I am very grateful for her guidance. I have recommend Ocean to my friend who is looking for apartments to rent and I would recommend it to anyone who comes across this review. The most speedy, efficient and enjoyable real estate services, in my opinion.
5/5
GoogleThe team at Ocean Estate Agents were friendly and helpful in the - often tortuous - process of finding and buying a home in Bristol. Thanks Ollie in the opening stages, Andrew for the support; special thanks to Cleo, move manager, who skilfully kept it all moving for both sides.
5/5
TrustpilotWorked with Steve on a difficult…
Worked with Steve on a difficult purchase after having my house fall through and his understanding and willingness to keep the deal alive with his property I was buying was outstanding. Always returning calls and liasing with the seller to keep everyone involved up to speed. With recommend 👍🏽
1/5
TrustpilotDisappointing and stressful
On multiple occasions during our 2 year tenancy managed by Ocean, tradesmen were given access to our property without our prior consent or even notification. This was a significant breach of our privacy and security & left us feeling unsafe in our own home.Two months before our tenancy renewal date, we were served a "no fault" eviction notice. We were pressured to quickly decide on our intention to renew, despite the upcoming ban on such evictions. This added unnecessary stress and uncertainty to our living situation and we were told this was at the request of our landlord.Ocean & landlord claimed a large chunk of our deposit by inflating & fabricating claims in the hope that we were relying on funds being released rather than going through a lengthy dispute process. Luckily we were in a position where we were able to go through the dispute process as a result we were awarded 3 times the amount that they had agreed to release. While the property itself was lovely, our experience with Ocean Estate Agents management was unfortunately negative due to the issues mentioned above. We will not be using Ocean Estate Agents to purchase or rent in the future & would recommend to avoid. Due to the lack of transparency, communication, and respect for tenant rights & wellbeing.
Thank you for your feedback, we are sincerely sorry to hear about your less than satisfactory experience while renting with us. As you know, the rental agreement is between you, the tenant, and the landlord. We are hired by the landlord to act on their behalf, and we have to follow their directives according to our contractual agreement. The landlord instructed us to propose a claim on your deposit. As the deposit is your money, you have the full right to contest this. You disputed the claim, and it was referred to the TDS for adjudication. The adjudication awarded a sum more than double what you offered and just under half of what the landlord proposed. This demonstrates the benefits of registering the deposit as required to ensure a fair outcome for all parties.We acknowledge the oversight regarding the unconfirmed access to the property for the gas safety record. The property manager at the time failed to complete this task and offered an apology. You were given the option to file a complaint, which you chose not to pursue. We accept that this was our error and extend our sincere apologies.Concerning the issuance of the Section 21 notice to terminate the tenancy, this was done under the landlord's instructions. The notice was served due to a lack of response from you about extending your tenancy. It provided a two-month notice period for the end of the tenancy, which could have been revoked if you decided to extend. However, you chose not to extend, and the tenancy ended according to your notice, before the landlord's notice date. Your observations about the impending ban on Section 21 are largely accurate, and we anticipate it will become law in 2025.We regret to hear your negative comments about your future interactions with Ocean. We refute these comments as we were acting upon the landlord’s instructions and always prioritise tenants’ rights.We hope you have comfortably settled into your new home and wish you all the best for the future.Ocean
5/5
TrustpilotOcean were great from start to finish…
Ocean were great from start to finish and it helped using their solicitors for both the sale of my property and my purchase property.
5/5
TrustpilotExcellent service
From start to finish Adam and Julie were very professional and kept me informed at each stage of the house sale. Julie went above and beyond and went the extra mile during a slight complication towards the end of the sell so exchange of contracts were able to go ahead at the set date. Would wholeheartedly use Ocean again.
5/5
TrustpilotChantelle was very helpful in getting…
Chantelle was very helpful in getting us complete the reference checks within 2 days for a property that we liked from the listing on ocean. she gave prompt replies to all our queries even when she was out of office. She has also arranged a second viewing for us. Ocean and Chantelle has been good to us in completing our first step towards renting a home in Bristol!
5/5
GoogleMy partner and I recently found a property to let through Ocean. We worked with Amelia West throughout the process and she was extremely helpful, kind and friendly throughout the process! I would highly recommend both Amelia and Ocean for anyone who is looking to rent a property in Bristol. Super happy with all outcomes and I would definitely go with Ocean again in the future. :)
5/5
GoogleOcean have been wonderful throughout the whole process of me finding a flat. The team are attentive and invested. Annabel was especially helpful at the beginning, helping me view multiple properties and being in general just super accommodating. Lily and Amelia also have been great resolving any of my queries, and are always reachable. On the whole, Ocean have been great, and I couldn’t recommend them enough!
1/5
GoogleI called them to book a viewing for two houses and the woman was saying that the second house is full so she took my name and suddenly she ended the call. How rude? If I don’t meet the landlord needs family, pets,etc, just say it clearly. I have called again to check what happened and another person answered me after a minute or so asking about who is moving in and saying that it is not available for my situation. Does the workers usually sound disrespectful here? This was totally unfriendly. No way I’m coming back to this agency.😅
In this particular case, we must strongly reject your claims and the inaccurate portrayal of the brief interaction we had with our lettings office. The numerous positive reviews on Google, praising the exceptional expertise and professionalism of our team, serve as clear evidence of the superior level of customer care they consistently deliver. Finding a rental property in Bristol can be demanding, and our teams throughout the city fully understand and empathize with the challenges involved. They make every effort to ensure that anyone inquiring about, viewing, or renting a property with Ocean has a positive and reassuring experience. Regarding the call from our office manager, their intention was to address the matters at hand and provide you with the utmost assurance. Regrettably, the conversation was unexpectedly cut short, leaving us uncertain why. We wish you the best of luck in your property search, and should you require any assistance, please feel free to reach out to any of our office locations.
2/5
TrustpilotWe weren't particulary impressed
We weren't particulary impressed with the service overall, although I cannot say whether any other agents would have performed better. We felt they had overvalued the property to start with. During the sale process, communication improved only after we had complained several times about the lack of contact and failure to update progress online. More importantly, we also felt there was a conflict of interest as the buyers were using Ocean's in-house solicitors, who caused considerable problems and delays; at times it seemed to us that Ocean were acting more on behalf of the buyers than for us as vendors.
We appreciate your feedback and take it seriously. However, after reviewing your case, we respectfully disagree with your evaluation of the service we provided on this rare occasion.As an independent agency of 40 years, our experienced teams are dedicated and prioritise client service. Our operations and systems are designed with this in mind. As Bristol’s largest independent agent, we successfully assist thousands of home movers each year. We are very proud of the subsequent thousands of positive reviews we have received on Trust Pilot for all our services and branches, including Downend.We would like to emphasise that a contract exchange within 9 weeks is well within the average time frame, in the current market. Unfortunately, daily calls to the office for updates will inevitably create unrealistic expectations; many legal and transactional processes require professional attention and may not be completed within the 24-hour time frame you desire. The buyer’s appointment of their solicitor was also well within standard time frames, the time taken was due to AML, anti-money laundering checks and their initial funds to clear only. We note that there was a delay in the draft contract being released by your chosen solicitor, which prevented the buyer’s lawyer from beginning to progress the case. Their initial preference to handle the case via paper documents only and not email unfortunately also extended this time frame.Regarding the buyer's lawyer, we assure you that Ocean Property Lawyers are diligent in preventing any conflicts of interest and would immediately cease to act if one were to arise. We understand that as a seller, you may feel that the buyer’s lawyer is raising potential issues. However, this is because they need to act independently and in the best interest of their client, the buyer, as you would expect your lawyer to do. This does not impact the estate agents who are acting in your best interest, as the seller.The buyer’s lawyer made standard enquiries and whilst a seller may not ‘like’ such questions, it is necessary for them to address any legal issues, or concerns raised by their own client. Regarding your comment about the sellers’ dashboard, not being updated, we apologise if this was the case for you. Following a review of sample current files this morning, this shows that all updates and milestones are displayed appropriately but we take your feedback on board so that we can ensure this is not the case. You also received personal updates from your Move Manager, which are promptly provided as required to all clients to ensure efficiency for both the team and all clients.The significant savings following a poor survey of the property and the buyer’s subsequent attempt to renegotiate the purchase price demonstrates that the team acted in the best interest of their clients, as we would expect.We regret you were not happy with the service you received on this occasion, and we wish you all the very best for the future. RegardsOcean
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