Starkings & Watson Poringland reviews

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

S&W have been brilliant from start to finish. Chris Starkings valued our property and gave some great advice. The service received from everyone has been second to none. Photography was excellent and we feel it really helped to sell our house. Carl the branch manager contacted some prospective buyers who had viewed other properties and suggesting that our property might match their requirements. He was right! They were the first people to view. Harry did a great job showing the couple around our property and they made an offer the very next morning. We accepted and our house went sold subject to contract within a week. Caroline our sales progressor then took over. We could not have been happier. Every week we received an update. Communications were great throughout. Things got a bit stressful as we were trying to exchange contracts but Caroline with all her tenacity and firm grip on the whole chain helped to get things over the line. She has such a good relationship with other agents in Norfolk and with her confident and friendly approach, she gets things done and made a real difference. We almost went with another agent at the start of the process but we are so glad that we chose S&W. We would strongly recommend this estate agency. Every single person who we’ve had interactions with have impressed and done a fantastic job. Thank you!!!

Noeleen · 17 August 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Chris and his team provided us with an exemplary service from start to finish. They genuinely understood our needs and aspirations. They offered fantastic advice in both how to present the house and who could assist to get it up to standard. Their presentation for sale and flexibility with viewings, was excellent, keeping us informed throughout. They kept their eye on the ball to keep the process moving. We are very grateful for their help. Thank you Chris.

Dave · 27 August 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Continually disappointed, from a poor launch, to ignoring specific instructions - I would never use this agency again. Over valuing the property initially then almost immediately encouraging me to take low offers, thankfully I held out for my minimum. I’ve had to be very hands on to get anywhere, I can’t wait for it to be over. EDIT In answer to your reply, you give yourselves too much credit. You were pushing me to take the lower offer. My house is immaculately presented so yes it secured interest, the first person through the door offered. However the price secured wasn’t in your valuation bracket. I instructed you not to mark at STC until they had instructed a solicitor, yet you did it immediately and you tell me they won’t instruct a solicitor for a month! NEVER AGAIN! Tip to everyone, if you agree a minimum term eg 4 weeks, please note there’s an additional 28 notice period, so my advice would be to give notice the day you sign contracts, that way if you’re not happy you can leave after 4 weeks (not 8) and if you are happy you can continue. Only time will tell if this sale actually concludes, if not we won’t remarket with this agent.

Laetitia · 17 July 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do, but Caroline made the whole process so much easier once my offer had been accepted. From the very beginning, Caroline was professional, approachable, and incredibly helpful. She kept me updated throughout the process, was always quick to respond to any questions, and nothing ever seemed too much trouble. Her reassurance, patience, and excellent communication made a real difference during what could have been a very stressful time. I can’t thank Caroline enough for all her hard work and support. She is a real credit to the team, and I would highly recommend this estate agent to anyone buying or selling a home. Thank you for helping make my move such a positive experience.

Lisa · 17 July 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Unfortunately, our experience with Starkings & Watson, Poringland, was extremely disappointing. We instructed them on 6 March 2026 under a 20-week sole agency agreement and relied on their professional advice regarding valuation, marketing and sales strategy. The property was initially marketed at £725,000 on their recommendation. When interest failed to materialise, we were advised to reduce to £700,000 and then £675,000, with the expectation that this would generate more interest and viewings. We followed that advice in good faith and reduced the asking price by £50,000. Despite this, after approximately 14 weeks we had received only two viewings and no offers. Our concern is not that the property failed to sell. No estate agent can guarantee a sale. Our concern is the level of communication, buyer qualification and overall management of the instruction. Much of the information we received consisted of online portal statistics showing how many people had viewed the listing. What we repeatedly asked for was meaningful analysis. How many were genuine buyers? How many were contacted? Why were people not booking viewings? Was the issue price, presentation, competition or something else? We never felt these questions were properly answered. We also made it clear that our preference was to accommodate viewers who had already sold, were sold subject to contract, or were actively on the market. On more than one occasion, prospective viewings appeared to involve individuals who were simply considering selling or looking around before listing their own property. When we challenged this and cancelled unsuitable appointments, the response from the office was noticeably negative. The feedback from the two viewings also raised concerns. One viewer wanted space to keep chickens and a larger garden. Another felt the property was overlooked. Both issues were apparent from the marketing materials and, in our view, should have been identified during the qualification process before viewings were arranged. As our concerns grew, we attended a meeting on 11 June 2026 to discuss the lack of progress and explore an early termination of the agreement. We left feeling even more frustrated. Despite raising concerns about communication, follow-up activity and buyer qualification, we were informed that we would not be released from the contract. We have since instructed that the property be removed from the market, yet remain tied into the agreement until the end of July. One final concern arose when collecting our keys. We observed keys being stored in an open basket within the office and labelled with property addresses rather than anonymous reference codes. As homeowners, this raised concerns regarding key security. The most disappointing aspect is the feeling that valuable time has been lost. Having followed the agency's advice, reduced the asking price by £50,000 and allowed them to lead the process, we reached the summer market with only two viewings and no meaningful progress. Based on our experience, we would not instruct Starkings & Watson again and would not recommend them to friends, family or other homeowners considering selling their property.

Paul · 10 July 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

S&W have been fabulous. They understood that this was all new to me and carefully explained until I understood. They have kept me in the loop all the time, respecting that I work and can not always answer their calls. They knew when offers were too low, and secured a fairer offer. They did all the viewings(and there was lots!) and helped me out while they were they, like closing windows, picking up the post when I asked them too. They also took care of the tenants leaving so that the property became free to sell and gave good advice so my time was not wasted and I was not taken advantage of(the photos for the check out inventory were very detailed) You presented the house for sale online extremely well, taking them on more than one visit when that became necessary. The Street App you set up for me was very useful to keep a quick and easy show of what was going on If you reading this, don’t bother looking for another estate agent. From my experience this one has gone beyond ticking all the boxes.Harry and Jamie…thank you. You were always pleasant, reassuring, calm, committed and have taken great care of selling the house for me.

Deborah · 17 June 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We engaged with Starkings & Watson for both selling our house & viewing other properties. We have received excellent professional service with a friendly approach throughout from the staff at the Poringland office. Thank you Harry, Jamie, Carl & Chris for all your help in making my wife and I feel at ease during the viewing of properties and the selling of our house. We have to say a very Special Thanks to Caroline from the Progression Team who has been a star in communicating with the chain, chasing Solicitors, and keeping us updated. We ended up having a long drawn out chain over several months before we got to exchange and a completion date (no fault of Starkings & Watson). Caroline stuck with us throughout in a very cheerful helpful manner to which we are very grateful, she is a real star.

Paul · 10 June 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

The Solihull team are a lovely bunch! I had regular contact and updates from them. They were always around and helpful when queries or issues arose. House buying and selling is very stressful but they made the process go smoothly. So it’s a big thanks from me and a special thank you to Kiya who was my main point of contact. Will definitely recommend.

Lucy · 30 August 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Cannot recommend Starkings highly enough! Have used them more than once and they never fail to impress. Their service is impeccable and in stark contrast to the not so great experiences ive had with other agents. Jamie is highly efficient and keeps in regular contact with us. Harry is also excellent, both working for us as sellers but also in showing us round other properties he has been very professional and knowledgeable. We know we are in safe hands with Starkings, they work really hard for their clients and it is hugely appreciated. Caroline, our sales progressor, worked tirelessly for our us on our last attempt to move house. She went above and beyond to keep the chain together. We had a much simpler chain this but time round but Caroline deserves a huge amount of credit for the hard work she does!

Rosa · 10 May 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

From the moment we first made contact to arrange a viewing, we have been blown away by the level of service provided by the whole team. With other viewings already arranged, they managed to squeeze us in and made sure timings worked for us to travel between them and be on time. From making an offer to hearing the news we were successful, they have been quick to respond to calls or emails and nothing is too much trouble. A special mention to Harry Debbage who has been our principle contact and couldn’t have been more helpful.

David · 10 May 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Harry was great he knew lots about the property and was quick to reply when contacting. We have just exchanged contracts today and all members of the Poringland Office have been so helpful with great and timely communication 👏 we worked in particular with Caroline L, Jamie M and Chris S who helped things progress smoothly. Thanks again to all!

Louise · 3 September 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Cannot fault Starkings & Watsons, from start to finish they have been professional, informative and friendly. Chris was excellent at the valuation, Max, Charlotte and Daniel were always available to help throughout the sales process and great at communicating and supporting with viewings. Even when out chain fell apart, they pulled out all the stops to reconnect the chain and did so successfully in only 6 days! Janet Riches is an absolute credit to the business, from the moment we reached the after sales team she was a super friendly voice, superb at keeping us all in the loop and was excited as us when we exchanged. Thank you to you all, you made the process a breeze.

Maddison · 10 April 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We recently purchased our home through the Bungay office and couldn’t be happier with the service we received. From start to finish, every member of staff was professional, friendly, and incredibly supportive. Buying a house can be stressful, but the team made the entire process feel smooth and well managed. A special thank you to Will, the sales progresser, who kept everything moving efficiently and always kept us informed. His communication was excellent, and he was proactive in chasing updates and resolving any issues quickly. We always felt reassured knowing Will was on top of things. Overall, the Bungay office team went above and beyond to ensure our purchase completed successfully. We’re truly grateful for their hard work and would highly recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a property.

Bas · 12 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

The team at Starkings & Watson Bungay have done a wonderful job by supporting us in buying our first home. Being first time buyers, the prospect of buying was equally exciting and daunting but members such as Liz did an incredible job at putting us at ease and answering all our queries. Her support and quick replies gave us the clarity we needed and made the buying process an stress-free experience! Will Crawford was also a huge help with keeping us updated regularly on what the vendors solicitors were doing and how we were progressing with the purchase.

Hannah · 12 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Chris was excellent from start to finish. He took the time to get to know our house before even meeting us for the first time. His analysis of the market, his proposal on how to market the house from price, to photos, and written description was perfect. Within days we had potential buyers booking viewings. This was incredible given that we had been with a different - national - agent for six weeks and had zero viewings. Chris basically did everything the other agent should have done and the difference was remarkable. Everyone we spoke to was helpful, everyone who showed potential buyers around followed our instructions precisely, and within weeks we had sold our house. We received almost weekly updates and our calls were returned very quickly. We really have been very impressed.

PAPPS · 8 October 2026

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

First home purchase successful with Starkings & Watson! My sales progressor Janet was very prompt from the beginning and always communicated with me and kept me updated. She was a pleasure doing business with and helped me through the unknown for the first time. I did feel at times, when Janet was away, that my questions weren’t followed up on, on the property and I’m still left with some minor unknown questions that other agents said they’d find out and let me know so I feel somewhat disappointed in that regard. Despite this, I would recommend Starkings & Watson on the whole and Janet is definitely an asset to their team. Thank you again!

Sophie-Mae · 10 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Starkings & Watsons were incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. Their constant communication, quick responses, and overall ease made what can often be an anxiety-inducing and stressful experience feel genuinely positive and straightforward. The whole team were fantastic at what they do, in particular Coren and Liz, who were all professional, approachable, and reassuring every step of the way. Their care and attention made a real difference and turned the move into a smooth and enjoyable experience overall. I couldn’t recommend Starkings & Watsons highly enough.

ANDREW · 10 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We couldn't be happier with the service we received from the team during our house sale. Selling a property can easily feel overwhelming, but working with Carl, Jamie, and Harry made the whole process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Carl and Jamie were fantastic throughout, always remarkably calm, reassuring, and full of sound, expert advice whenever we needed guidance. A special mention has to go to Harry, who truly went above and beyond for us. He proactively reached out to vendors who had taken their homes off the market to see if they’d reconsider selling once we were proceedable, which showed incredible initiative and dedication. If you are looking for a trustworthy, calm, and hardworking team that goes the extra mile to get results, we cannot recommend them highly enough!

Claire · 10 September 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Fantastic customer service from initial enquiry through to completion. A special thanks to Jamie who kept us updated and reassured during the sale of our house. He went above and beyond, also helping us to keep a cool head when another agent was pressuring us to make an offer on our onwards purchase before we were ready. Caroline was invaluable during the later stages, she helped to move the sale along with solicitors and the rest of the chain, we never had to chase anyone for information thanks to her. We felt so well looked after by the team at Starkings at Watson Poringland, they took care of everything and made the whole process of moving house much less stressful than we imagined it to be.

Samantha · 10 January 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I would like to really recommend buying through Starkings and Watson. They were extremely professional, but friendly. All the staff I had contact with from beginning to end were fantastic. Harry did the initial viewings with me, and knew about each of the houses. He didn't rush the viewings, particularly important as I was moving from Kent and not often in the area. I dealt with Carl for the negotiations and he was really prompt at coming back to me with updates straight away. In fact any time I called the office, if they weren't available at that point they would always call back very quickly. And lastly both Janet and Caroline in the post sales office were excellent at keeping me in the loop of progress etc. I think the team offered a great service, far better than my estate agents in Kent. I wouldn't hesitate to use them to sell my property when that time comes. Thank you to the whole team.

Lizzy · 10 January 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent service, highly professional and supportive The team were incredibly helpful in assisting us to find a rental property in Great Yarmouth. From start to finish, the service was highly professional, efficient, and well organised. Communication was clear at every stage, and we felt genuinely supported throughout the process. All members of staff were courteous and responsive, but I would especially like to thank Sophie, who went above and beyond to ensure everything was handled smoothly. Her professionalism, patience, and attention to detail made the entire experience stress-free. I would highly recommend this agency to anyone looking for reliable, professional, and friendly support when renting or moving. A great team that truly cares about their clients.

Kaled · 10 January 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Starkings & Watson absolutely brilliant in making sure our purchase happened. All the staff including Harry & Carl but a massive mention for Caroline who made it all happen when it wasn’t really down to her. She truly is a diamond of a person and Starkings are lucky to have her. Thanks Caroline from the Hylton family x

Darren · 14 June 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Had multiple property viewings with Zack, really friendly and knowledgable, nothing was too much trouble. We were viewing properties in our hunt to purchase, but worth noting Zack was very professional and treated the properties he was showing us around with respect, which is exactly what I would like from an agent when selling my own home. 10/10

Gary · 10 June 2026

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

This is the third time we have used Starkings & Watson to sell our property. The sales team was faultless, and we could not recommend Carl and the team enough. We would not hesitate to use them for the sales side of things in future, but feel that the after sales let them down this time. There was a lot of miscommunication towards the end, and we felt that only receiving updates once a week (and only on a particular day of the week) for the majority of the transaction was not really sufficient. On two occasions, we were given poor excuses for not receiving a response to our email. We would like to shout out Sarah in the Brundall office who did go above and beyond towards the end of the transaction, and really helped to get things moving.

Elle · 10 December 2025