William H Brown Ipswich reviews

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

Bit of a delay in writing this due to the house move but in January, I put my house on the market with an online estate agent which was a pointless exercise. I then decided to go with a newly set up independent agent, who tried, but they just didn’t have the experience, professionalism or know how and we ended up losing out on a house we really liked. I was adamant I wasn’t going with a high street agent due to the high fees but once we found a house we fell in love with, we needed to move quickly. I called William H Brown in Ipswich and within days they had been out, measured, photos and given us a draft of what the ad would look like. Before it even went live, they had 2 viewings arranged. Within a week, we were sold. Penelope Froggett was fantastic and her response time was superb. She was patient and knowledgable and a real angel to deal with. Lil, the manager was fabulous too and no matter what, she and Penelope were friendly and professional and seemed that they really cared. I was quite stressed but both Penelope and Lil knew exactly the right approach and did all they could to help. The fees are high but they do get the job done and after being disappointed and frustrated twice with two other agents (who couldn’t even get the measurements, spelling or plans right) WHB came in like super heroes and got the job done in record time. I don’t want the stress of moving again but if I was mad enough to, I would go with them and not even bother with online agents or independents (selling or buying). I would have given 5 stars but for the property lawyers WHB recommend; Premier Property Lawyers. They are shocking and I feel disappointed that WHB are so professional yet they recommend the worst property lawyers ever. We had no end of problems and delays due to PPL and their lack of conveying knowledge and honestly, I wouldn’t recommend them ever. If WHB could find a better lawyer to hitch their wagon to, they would be 5 star all day. Thanks Penelope and Lil.PositiveResponsiveness, Professionalism

Lil · 24 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

After being badly let down by another estate agent, we turned to WH Brown or should I say Lil Maile the branch manager. She said she would sell our property and she did twice over after one sale fell through.. Throughout what seemed like a very long process from initial sale to completion, she did all should could to maintain our confidence constantly reassuring us that things would work out which they did. She always responded to all our questions and concerns and went the extra mile to do so especially when it came to driving the exchange and completion process involving five parties. Lil is absolutely brilliant at what she does .She demonstrates high levels of customer care and knows her job so well. She has such a lovely personality with a great sense of humour. She is highly professional.She leads by example and must be a superb role model for her staff. WH Brown do not know how lucky they are. Thank you Lil for getting us through

Mel · 24 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Abbey has been amazing all the way through as this is our first time buying a house. She found us the best mortgage deal and has kept in touch all the way through. Due to covid things have taken longer than normally expected and our mortgage did need to be extended which she also did immediately for us. Most people say buying a house is the most stressful thing you can do but not with Abbey she has kept us informed and up to date the whole time which has really took the pressure off. Any documents that needed to be done she let us know straight away so nothing was left waiting. If we move again in the future I would 100% use her and William H Brown as a whole again. Thank you so much to the whole team

Nadine · 24 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Having dealt with a number of estate agents in Ipswich which includes some horrible ones I am glad that I finally found William H Brown, in my opinion, it is one of the best estate agent in the neighborhood. Fantastic service throughout the entire process. Unlike some agents, William H Brown offer support every step of the way and were friendly and professional throughout. I can't thank Ms Lil and the team enough and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a first time to buy or sell in the area. Mr Reece is friendly and helpful as well I would strongly recommend him and this agent to anyone. If someone asked me to grade them i will prefer 10 out of 10

Rezia · 24 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Excellent service, Matthew was very helpful. They have made the move a lot less stressful than it could have been. Would highly reccoment to anyone.

Esther · 10 January 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Please take my advice and stay well…

Please take my advice and stay well away from these people. I have viewed a property through the Newark branch and made an offer to which I have waited over a week for a reply, only to call and be told it is sold with accompanying giggles.I arranged a viewing of another property and after a three-hour drive was told my fictious daughter had called and cancelled the viewing.There is something very wrong with these prople.

123 · 16 May 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Please Please avoid the sudbury branch…

Please Please avoid the sudbury branch it seems that they put sold houses showing them as for sale and even keep up for the sale boards . I called about a property that has just been advertised on Rightmove only to be told it was sold two weeks ago and this is there internal process that they MUST advertise. This creates false advertising . Despite speaking to the Manager they feel what they are doing is correct , Rightmove is allowing this kind of behaviour.

Suzanne · 10 September 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Dan and Makena have been amazing. From the moment we were shown the property to collecting the keys, it was a stress free process. Great communication, even while we were in another country on holiday, everything was done in a timely manner. I would highly recommend anyone who is looking to either rent or buy a property to go through these guys.

Kerry · 25 July 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

I have to chase them regularly for updates. Give you the spill at first. Toby was great but communication poor from the branch .

Tony · 10 January 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Extremely unprofessional and…

Extremely unprofessional and disorganized team. I contacted this agency regarding a property to let. Michelle initially promised to arrange a viewing but never followed up. After chasing them myself, I finally spoke with another team member who scheduled a viewing, only for it to be for a completely different property than the one advertised on their website.

Alon · 21 October 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I would really recommend them, great service from Makena and the team at lettings and more than helpful with any queries. They couldn't have made it easier

D · 24 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Makena mountain, attending to us was lovely, she made things so easy, she is the best estate that has ever attended to me, and above all she is very lovely

ODELABU · 8 September 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Makena recently helped me and my boyfriend with flat proceedings. She was very prompt and efficient with the whole process. Made moving a whole lot easier, so would definitely recommend.

Hannah · 8 September 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

I believe in giving praise where praise…

I believe in giving praise where praise is due and Liam you definitely deserve praise as you are doing a great job as how you represent W H Brown is exemplary. Thank you for the fantastic service you gave my husband and I when we recently purchased our new property.You went out of your way to keep us up to date with the progress of the sale. You supported us with an extra viewing, replied to emails and always promptly returned our calls. You were always jolly and very helpful.I believe you went above and beyond your job description to ensure we had a fantastic experience in purchasing our home. For this Chris and I are truly grateful. Nothing was too much trouble. With your help we managed to purchase a property in just over 5 weeks, at a crazy busy time, probably the busiest time in the last ten years, thank you.The whole William H Brown team were so professional and helpful throughout our purchase. Well done William H Brown.

Julia · 29 June 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Smashed up my TV, denied it and laughed in my face

Below are a list of grievances and occasions when I believe you have deliberately mislead/not been honest with us as vendors, as well as the description of the criminal damage that has taken place at 41 Tonning Street.Upon our initial meeting Joe gave us a great deal of confidence in the sale of 41 Tonning Street. The phrases used included ‘We’ll put it at £150,000 to get people through the door’, ‘It will easily sell’, ‘we have people in bidding wars on properties’, ‘you should make sure the house is ready for viewings at a few hours notice’, ‘we understand that you are a teacher and we can contact you via email if it makes life easier for you’. Based on Joe’s confidence, we signed up with William H Brown, also trusting them as a high street name. However, it soon transpired that these were false promises. We have had three viewings on our property in three weeks, no offers and very little interest.Reflecting on the initial asking price, I believe that Joe pressured us into putting the house up for £150,000 in order to heighten the fixed sales fee at £1500 plus VAT. Instead of a realistic asking price that would’ve yielded a lower fixed fee.In addition to this, every time I call for an update, Jamie, Joe Lydia or whoever answers the phone assures me that they are talking to multiple investors and arranging viewings, however these viewings never appear. Having been arranging viewing for potential properties for myself to purchase, I know that when you call up you can generally arrange a viewing that phone call. It feels like you are fobbing us off and just telling us what we want to hear to get us off the phone.Furthermore, after a viewing on Saturday a few weeks ago, Jamie told us we would expect and offer by the end of the day. Jamie then never responded. I rang him on Monday and then Jamie changed his stance to ‘the investor was looking at one of three properties.’ The Jamie was going to ring him as soon as our call ended. However, I didn’t hear anything further.Following on from this, I was under the impression that Joe would be handling our sale but then it’s passed to Lydia, Jamie and god knows who else. I don’t know who I’m asking for when I call up, and I believe this this is done deliberately in order for William H Brown to pass clients around and deter communication.Another example of unprofessionalism is that when we had our first viewing (I think with Lydia but God knows who actually I was speaking to). We returned home to a house we had left immaculately, to find sugar all over the table as if someone had eaten their lunch or a pack of doughnuts at our dining room table and not bothered to clean up after themselves.It seams that Joe cannot commit to even the simplest promise, he took our house key to get it cut and copied with the promise that the original would be return on the first viewing. However, this was 4 weeks ago and we are still waiting for our original to be returned. We only live a 10 minute walk from William H Brown.Lastly, and most prominently, Lydia conducted a viewing on Friday, the 25th of June in which our 50 inch smart TV was smashed, by the looks of it in order to access the gas meter. This was outright denied by both Jamie and your area manager. However, my partner and I were both out of the house from 7 am until 6 pm on the days of the viewing and so Lydia and the viewing participants were the only people in the house. The comments of your area manager were, was laughing, phone the police then. I found the police who said it was a civil matter and that it wasn't a police matter. I think the way I've been treated is disgusting and the outright lies that I've been told are despicable. For future reference the correct way to deal with this is to find me a soon as it happens apologise and replace the item immediately. This would have resulted in me being very understanding as I'm aware that accidents happen. However the way that it has been dealt with is disgusting.I am utterly dissatisfied with the lack of service William H Brown have provided to use as vendors. You promise the earth and don’t even deliver a pebble. It’s disgusting and I feel taken advantage of as a first time seller.

Max · 26 June 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

4 to 5 Phone Calls A Week For 5 Months To Hussle An Instruction!

This company needs to be regulated, but the problem is there is no proper body that deals with Estate Agents behaviour prior to contract, and only then will the relevant Ombudsman step in, but without teeth, and only for the vendor! Before contract William H. Brown, once they get a sniff of a property, will begin to hassle, harass, hound, and hustle to get the instruction! This will usually begin with a phone number and address being on file, as was with my case, and someone, probably the manager, will tell one of the negotiators to call the number to see if the person is still looking or has anything to sell. This usually, if selling, corresponds with a look at Rightmove or Zoopla, where they see the property is on, has been on, and with another agent. Then the calls begin.... and continue! I stopped answering my land line, and blocked their number on my mobile, as one Thursday I received five calls on each devoice during the day, and three calls on both that evening, up until 7.00pm! That is pure harassment! The only reason they do this, is to GET the instruction, by whatever means! And why? Because for every instruction a standard negotiator gets, he or she receives a payment at the end of the month. The manager also receives a payment. The area manager also receives a payment! But beware: they also have a tie in contract of 30 weeks! They will try and charge 2%. And they are reluctant to agree to multi agency, and if they do will word a contract misleadingly, so the vendor could be liable for two sets of commission! Let's say you have been hooked, as you fell for the 100th phone call! The will then all make money on a mortgage appointment with their, so called, independent, in house mortgage broker. They will push their panel solicitors, and all make commission when one of them is used, too. Oh, and before any of this, they will charge a fee, which actually is illegal, masked as ''Professional photographer, video, and EPC''. This is around £135.00, maybe more. But, of course, you can claim that back.... IF you fall for their offer of one of their solicitors! But beware there, too: they are conveyancing companies, with a huge number of faceless individuals, who are not solicitors, but handlers. This means it is a factory, but a factory that goes slowly due to staff not being at all bothered!This estate agent is guilty of harassment, and hassle, and needs to be stopped from these constant phone calls, and we all should be aware it is all based on multi layered commission, and this all should be transparent!

BlueSky · 21 May 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Matt has been incredibly helpful during multiple moves and William H Brown have provided an excellent service

Chris · 26 April 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

I have to chase them regularly for updates. Give you the spill at first. Toby was great but communication poor from the branch .

Tony · 28 November 2023

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

I would not recommend William H Brown

I would not recommend William H Brown. There is a complete lack of organisation between contractors and William H Brown, meaning there are long delays everytime there is a problem with the house. If you don't continually call the office they seem to end up forgetting the problem.A few problems we have had:1. Promised a removal of a bunkbed before moving in- took 6 weeks once moving in to change to single. William H Brown never removed the old bunk bed- so now we have an old mattress and wooden remains in our house.2. We were left without heating when it was snowing for 5 days. Clearly no sense of urgency from William H Brown (even after many calls)3. Monthly emails detailing that we haven't paid the rent. Every month we call and there is an error. They promise to remove this error on a monthly basis. They have not removed this error after 6 months.

Bethany · 30 March 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Shocking service full of lies and incompetence

William H Brown, MildenhallBuying this house should had been straight forward, especially as the seller was purchasing an empty house themselves. However this being in September 2020 we all thought this would be complete by December 2020, how wrong were we!Recently I finally pulled out of my purchase after 6 months of constant lies, no call backs, no updates, various stories from the agent.In their own words (and this is word for word from Becky that works there) "we only advertise and hold the keys, we just leave the solicitors to it"Wow, for an industry that involves commission you would think it would be the estate agents best interest to make sure the property they are selling all goes through?!?!?!Many occasions I was told I would receive an update, however several times over a week went by before I would have to chase myself.Daryl asked for my solicitors details after 5 months into the purchase, even though he had an email trail with my solicitor....Recently I asked the question if the resident would move into a family members house or rented while the sale progressed, I was told by Daryl that he had no family nearby and renting was out the question as the owner had a child. However, a week later I instructed my solicitor to pull out and in less than 24 hours Ben (the manager) called and advised the owner would move into a family members house or would I let him rent the property from me. Somehow suddenly the owner had family locally, a lie has been told somewhere there.Ben then also made me aware that there were works taking place at the buyers house they were purchasing, this was news to me and I questioned why has this only been brought up etc, I received the reply "it doesn't matter". Absolutely shocking answer to receive!Other examples of incompetence, passing my details to the wrong solicitor twice! I had already gave my details and the purchase was underway, however 3 months later the same incorrect solicitor got in touch with me, my details had been passed over twice by William H Brown.Daryl informed me that some document had been sent twice in December to my solicitor, this was 100% untrue as the documents eventually come mid January and were in fact signed and dated January.I would never recommend this estate agent to purchase through, I wouldn't dare sell through them as it would mean paying for their 'service'.Furthermore I was purchasing this property to let out, surely the estate agent would want to give a good impression so that I would consider (not that I would) using them as a management company. On another recent occasion I asked to view an additional property for myself and my fiance. I called Daryl on the Friday who said viewings were taking place on the Saturday, however he would arrange something for me.On the Saturday my fiance called and spoke to Tom, he was only capable of taking details and message as Daryl was currently at the viewings.Wednesday came and neither of us had received a call to which my fiance called and spoke to Daryl. Apparently Daryl had no details given and no apology was given as to why she wasn't called. On the same call she was then told an offer had been accepted!As for myself, I called on the Thurs/Fri and asked Daryl when my viewing would be. Daryl seemed to had forgotten I wanted a viewing and informed me an offer had been accepted.Right there you see 2 people called for a viewing and neither were called back, 1 was told an offer had been accepted while the other had to find out 2 days later even though they had called first.Again this is clearly an example of "we just advertise and hold the keys"

Daniel · 26 March 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Mildenhall office

Wanted to view a property as first time buyers, had the money to spend.. even would of gone over the asking price but the so called agent ( Daryl ) did everything possible to not let us view the property until we had spoken to “Their” broker. When we said no as already have it sorted then we was told we have to show an AIP just to VIEW the property! Which is completely false information !! I honestly thought this kind of pressure selling tactics and anything to up their commission died in the 80s along with there cut throat slimy image. Complaint has been made with head office but I don’t hold any hope of them changing ! No wonder the properties they represent in mildenhall have been up for sale for an extremely long time causing the vendors they so call look after to reduce asking prices. But this won’t make any difference if agents are blocking genuine buyers from just viewings !! Agents need to be re educated and dragged into 2021 !!

Mr · 24 March 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Fast, quick and seamless move. Makena and Dan were really helpful, patient and kind regarding any and all queries I had.

Abhijeet · 27 January 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Swaffham Branch

Cannot fault the team who handled our sale.Special shout out to Bradly and Tony.Very pleasant and professional service from start to finish.From Natasha who valued the property who convinced me our house was worth more than I thought.They sold our house to the first buyer in the door within 2 hrs of it going on the market :-)They also acted as a buying agent for us for our ongoing purchase (without charging more) negotiating on our behalf and achieving a discount and taking away a lot of the stress.Through to the property progression team who always kept us informed along the way.We were in a pretty stressful chain that unfortunately collapsed at one point due to someone in the chain pulling out at the last hour before completion, but Bradly was fantastic, speaking to the people in chain and getting everyone to take some breathing space whilst the chain was linked up again, which fortunately happened a week later.I really cannot fault the level of service that we received and would not hesitate to use them.Thank You William H Brown Swaffham

Matt · 10 March 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

William H Brown Dinnington

From start to finish they provided a fast efficient professional service. We dealt with Jane and Elle and both were excellent. Our buyer was constantly contacting them with questions (daily at some points) and they handled this excellently, kept us informed and our buyer happy making the process as smooth as possible. If the other estate agents in the chain had been as good we would have had a stress free sale and purchase. Cannot recommend them highly enough. Would happily use again

Richard · 22 February 2021