Trusted Agent profile · Swale
★★★★★
1,647 reviews across 2 platforms
7 Market Place, Faversham, ME13 7AG, Swale, ME13 7AG
Connells's office in Swale, at 7 Market Place, is rated 2.0 out of 5 across 1,647 reviews on two platforms, including 40 Google reviews rated 4.4.
Every review we hold for the Swale office, from every platform, shown as written. First names only.
1/5
TrustpilotGetting your deposit back is a struggle
11 days after the landlord instructed them to release the deposit with no deductions, I'm still waiting. Apparently they're having IT issues and can't send an email to some team for them to release the funds. Asked what the complaints procedure was and they refused to provide it. Stay clear if you're looking for a rental property. 75% 1 star reviews says it all....
1/5
TrustpilotThe most horrific experience of my life…
The most horrific experience of my life dealing with Connells. Terrible communication, rude, never apologise, they are currently withholding my money and won’t tell me when I can expect to receive it. This is renting with them in Manchester. Avoid like the plague!!
1/5
TrustpilotIt's as bad as it is possible to be
It's as bad as it is possible to be. Just awful in every regard. Do not give them your card details, no matter what they tell you to get the money out of you. I cannot believe they can still operate when they behave in such an appalling manner. All their properties are advertised elsewhere, so if you see their name against a property, just keep on looking and find a proper agent to rent through.
1/5
TrustpilotMy ABC Rule, Anyone but Connells!!
Having over 20 years of property experience I have seen Connells woeful standard on numerous occasions. I had such reservations that I listed various properties for an Agent to assess then as there was a Connells Valuer with 12 years’ experience in the same building, he cast his eye over the figures, before I relayed the information to my Lender. The result a different Connells Valuer with 3 months experience saw the places and these was a total drop in prices of £800:000!!2 years on and a house was valued at £1.25 million and £1.35 million by Local Estate Agents for Connells to thereafter turn up and say £975K!! 8 months later, a different firm values the untouched property at £1.45 million. Recently 4 and 5 bed flats were valued on the same development at 650K with rents strangely being stated at exactly the same level. As the rents were years out of date, bank statements and AST’s were evidenced to the Lender who subsequently decided to ignore Connells figures who rather than accept them preferred their fiction. To further damn them they valued a further 5 bed near Fulham at £500K again with ludicrous rents. Bored with their ineptness a new firm was commissioned and surprise surprise they accepted bank statements, AST’s and quoted 10 comps in the area. Result - the places valued shot up from £500K to £650K !!So, based on my experience, if you wish people to be unreliable, make up unrealistic rents and values then refuse to change their figures and hide when they are caught out - then I strongly recommend this organisation to you.
1/5
TrustpilotReally bad customer service
Requested some viewings on properties through Right Move with Connells. Promptly got a call back where I was asked about preferences and then suggestions were made in light of this. This was good and did listen to me and what i wanted in a house and made good suggestions. He then asked about mortgages and whether i had a mortgage broker already. I did explain that i already had one and had an appointment and that i had had a bad experience previously with a mortgage broker from Connells so wasn't keen to use them. The guy did get quite pushy and i did feel very uncomfortable and had to firmly say that i wanted to wait until I'd see my other mortgage broker. The next day I drove 25 minutes in bad traffic at rush hour after work to view a property that i had requested a viewing through Right Move. My partner and i got out the car, a few minutes letter, after the guy had finished texting or something he got out the car - not the best first impression. He knocked on the door of the property as apparently the homeowners would be in whilst the viewing took place. No answer. Five minutes later after still no reply, the guy said he didn't have the keys and was surprised the owners weren't in as they had been in on other viewings. You would have thought, to be prepared you that he would have the keys just in case of such occasions or phoning the homeowners the day of the viewing to remind them to be in etc... Quite annoyed as we had driven a long way in bad traffic. Luckily we had another viewing lined up down the road. Arrived there, again the guy stayed in the car a bit longer on his phone before getting out the car. As we approached the property, the guy asked why we weren't using their mortgage broker again being quite blunt, again had to tell him why. Let in the house, no information or details given about the house as we walked round!! We had to ask lots of questions such as where the parking was, price, double glazing, rooms for ourselves. he literally just said nothing at all about the house, he just followed us from room to room, quite honestly looking like he couldn't be bothered. To top it all off, on the way out the guy asked again, about booking an appointment with the mortgage broker at Connells. At this point my partner had to put in a firm word and tell him again about our mortgage broker we had already lined up. I understand they want the sale and customers, it was just the way and the amount of times we are asked - did feel like an ambush and quite uncomfortable. The guy speeded off half saying as he got into is car that he would give us a call with more properties and to re-arrange the first viewing. We have not been called back and this happened a week ago. Really unimpressed, disappointed and will avoid having anything to do with Connells ever again!!
1/5
TrustpilotAbsolutely avoid like the plague
Absolutely avoid like the plague! From start to finish, I have never in my experience dealt with such uncouth, absurd and depressingly unprofessional agents. At the beginning of the sale, there was an air of niceness: when I was first shown the property, everything seemed OK. All questions were clarified and answered, brochures were given and information was made available. Or so I thought...The second I offered my selling price, I was immediately hounded for solicitor details. As a first time buyer, the process of buying was incredibly new to me and so I was very miffed at this strange pressure that I was facing. Then for a short while, everything seemed OK...surveys took place, the solicitors completed all the paperwork and the vendor and I (at the time) managed to secure a solid relationship to ease the stressful nature and process of buying...All of a sudden came the day of exchange and completion. This is where things went utterly wrong and woeful. The agent that had initially shown me the property uttered depraved slander about me to my Mother (who had collected the keys on my behalf) which utterly infuriated me. But worst of all was the management. Never have I had to deal with so many lies. It's actually laughable. After nearly 4 weeks after exchange, the "for sale" sign is still outside my door. I have contractors coming in to start work and that to me just spells absolutely disastrous customer service. Throughput this whole process, it has been a trainwreck and a nightmare. The process of buying is never easy and you need an agent that can soothe and ease all your concerns. That has absolutely not been the case for me whatsoever. If there is any final advice I can give to anyone, it's this: run. Run as far away as possible because this estate agent will just use and abuse. Take it from me, if you see a property you like, do not buy through them.
1/5
TrustpilotLook at the star rating...
Look at the star rating... it says so much From the moment I moved in, stains and filth were missed off the inventory and it took them 3 week (post moving in), to take an accurate description of the condition of the flat, baring in mind neighbours had warned me of underhand tactics The lettings management team don’t respond to correspondence, they took 17 weeks to fix a minor issue and then they’re now delaying on further more significant repairs and issuesAvoid at all costs
1/5
TrustpilotSkipton North Yorkshire Under valuing property trying to drive down house prices
Our business buys old run down properties, refurbishes the whole property then sells at the average value given from 3 local estate agents. Connell's were commissioned by the buyer to carry out a valuation and full survey. The survey came back with no problems but the surveyor then decided to undervalue the property by 40k. When we asked him to explain why, even though next door had sold for a higher price and had not been refurbished he would not discuss it with us and simply said its none of your business even though he had put an end to a 360k purchase. So if you have a Mr JOHN BENTLEY booked to come to your property to Survey / value your house then I suggest you cancel and ask for another company to carry out the valuation (which by law you are entitled to do) or you may as well wave goodbye to the sale. Its got to the point that if local estate agents hear he's been appointed by the lender then they cancel his appointment and ask Connells to appoint a different surveyor. Connells by law have no option but to appoint another surveyor from another company at the sellers request or buyers.
1/5
TrustpilotWe didn't appoint Connells and sold our …
We didn't appoint Connells and sold our house through another agent. Despite having sold the house in May and despite telling them that we have sold the house and no longer own it on numerous occasions, they continue to email and phone me and harass me and ask me if they can help me sell it. I have reported them to ARLA and TPOS and will report them to the Information Commissioner for misuse of personal data. Will never use Connells and would advise others to avoid using them in light of this appalling experience.
1/5
TrustpilotCaution should be taken if you end up in Connells
This review is based on my experience with the Weymouth branch. They are only interested in taking your money, nothing more nothing less! I have to say - and it's not often I name names - Tara in the lettings department is an outright liar and deceitful person. Unecessarily causes friction through lying and telling both parties two different stories to up her sales figures. A real shame because at the time she came across as a pleasant and knowledgeable young lady, she turned out to be quite nasty and underhanded in the way she manipulated all concerned. I wouldn't recommend connells to anybody, as a landlord or tenant. Seek your rental properties elsewhere because it will cost you stupid amounts and you will pay premium prices for rentals. Steer particularly clear of the Weymouth branch, not even worth walking through the door
1/5
TrustpilotConnells Letting Agents
DO NOT use this company. Their referencing process is poor and minimal. In my experience, they lack knowledge and training around landlord/tenancy law and seem to have little capacity to access professional advice about these issues. Their focus is to ensure a steady stream of income rather than offering an expected level of professional integrity. As a result, mistakes are made. As a landlord, this has caused me a good deal of emotional and material distress. There are some good letting agents out there and I reiterate, AVOID this organisation at all costs.
1/5
TrustpilotConnells waste of space
If I could give a lower score I would. They give it all the big potatoes that they are better then anyone else when in fact they just want to take your money and run for the hills hiding behind emails and answer phones. I have reported a problem in the property we are renting and todate nothing, we have no water in the property and are getting no help at all from connells so called support services. If you are reading this think twice before parting with your money totall useless waste of time happy to allow people to struggle and suffer
1/5
TrustpilotAvoid at all cost.
This company is the worse you could deal with. They would never stick to what they say. To get your deposit back even after your land lord has released it, it will take you ages. I am here calling them everyday to get my deposit back for past 2 weeks I been given lies after lies. Unprofessional service. The management on the top level is the worst. This company hasn't got a long road given the reviews it seems it's not only the bedford branch, they don't care nationwide once they have your money and tries to get away with it. Day light Robers. Please avoid dealing with this rubbish people altogether to save you from big stress in the future.
1/5
TrustpilotSuch a terrible experience
Such a terrible experience! Had no choice but to use them as we were buyers not sellers. Told us if we didn't take a mortgage with them they would tell the vendor not to sell with us! The vendor realised this was wrong and sold to us anyway but Connells repeatedly tried to sabotage our sale causing huge amounts of stress and money loss. Took them to the ombudsman but hard to prove as all their threats were verbal. Estate agents are mostly awful but these guys are a whole new level!
1/5
Trustpilottravelled 1 1/2 hours to viewing and no agent to be seen....
I never have thought that an estate agent would simply not bother to turn up at a viewing . The owner was in when arrived and was invited in after 30 minutes of waiting outside, but kindly refused thier hospitality as it was awkward for both parties, and also not appropriate that the owner feels they should have to invite the viewer inside to have a look around the property without an accompanying agent. Travelling from another county taking 1 1/2 hours travelling time to get to the viewing appointment after work,... tired and then to be let down,....... no communication from the agent to at least make contact if there was a problem at any point,...and not to mention the time and money wasted to get there. The next working day made a call to the agent's and knew nothing of the appointment so was told that the agent who made the appointment would be in the next following day, and was told that they would make contact and said it appeared thier was some kind of mix up. The next day, still no contact from them. As a cash buyer,... the owner of the property may have a different perspective on who to market thier property....
1/5
TrustpilotUnprofessional letting agency
Absolutely useless people. Such an unprofessional letting agency. They agreed with the new tenant when he is going to move in which was by the way overlapping our contract as we payed for the whole month, and they have not even notified us about this. After realising that they messed this up these two people tried to force us to move out within 2 days. No communication, no response and 1 month later they still owe us money. I definitely take this case to the court. Not recommended!!!
1/5
TrustpilotCONNELLS LEAVESDEN....DO NOT GO WITH THEM!!!!!!
My partner and I made the unfortunate decision to try and sell our property with Connells Leavesden (another branch in watford). First we were sent their evaluator Bee....he assured us he could EASILY sell our property for the amount we were going to put the property on the market for. We signed the contract with nothing being explained (we are amateurs as we do not have the first clue about selling a property), not knowing we were tied in for 6 months with them as sole agent. Initially we had plenty of viewings but then they slowed down alot.....we reduced the price several times at the advice of connells and still nothing. Major issues we had were that we were told by Bee that he would be dealing with this and never heard from him since signing a contract, Shorab a member of staff also did a viewing one day and left our front door unlocked and expensive blinds trapped in our balcony door. When I came back home to this after being out all day I tried to call connells but because they were closed I resulted to emailing the branch manager Max and all he did was send an email apologising....no phone call. We eventually met with Max to discuss all our issues and he agreed that he would have been unhappy with the service if he had experienced what we had and agreed to reduce the FIXED fee to 1000 less. I don't think that they wanted to get us the best price as they were getting a fixed fee and I think they knew that they were ripping us off. We then decided to give our notice....no attempt was made by Max to try and keep us and he agreed but we had to stick to the 4 weeks, we have requested as a gesture of goodwill that he allow us to leave earlier but I suspect because this is a new branch with people who don't seem to know what they are doing they will say no. BOTTOM LINE DON'T GO WITH CONNELLS LEAVESDEN IN WATFORD, STAFF LEAVE THE DOOR UNLOCKED AND DON'T CARE ABOUT SELLING FOR THE PRICE THEY QUOTED.
5/5
TrustpilotDo it once and do it right
Great professional and friendly service. Steph and Steve managed the whole transaction for me. Dealt with all the other parties and achieved a very good price. I have extensive experience of estate agents and property transactions and can honestly say that Connells in Horley provided me with first class service from start thru finish. Yes, I could have used someone like purple bricks or one of the other online agencies and could probably have done it cheaper, but I would have had to do a lot of the work. Connells room all the pain away and I just left them to it. If you want to take a risk and do it on the cheap, use one of the online companies. If you want it done right, use Connells in Horley. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.
2/5
TrustpilotWas told if we were to use there …
Was told if we were to use there mortgage advisor and there services we would get a buyers incentive of £1000. So we did but near the end we lost the property on the survey saying steel construction and not mortgageable fair enough just look again. Found another house and put in a bid on the assumption we would get the buyers incentive like we were told and we even asked before we put the bid in then was told the property owners haven't signed up to this so we wouldn't get the incentive. We were told from the start if we use there services we would get it but what they didn't say was you only get if if the seller signs up to it. Think they have been misleading in not telling us this and getting to sign up to use there advisor. So we might lose the next house now.
1/5
Trustpilot£1000 Buyers Incentive
I've just been bought through connells. Unknown to them we had met the vendor. We put in an offer, and got a phone call from the vendor. He had been passed on the offermminus £1000. He contacted them find out why....very interesting explanation. (We weren't going to use in-house solicitors and had our own mortgage broker. Why on earth would I take their offer of £1000 Off when I would pay their broker more than mine? )Anyway, buyers incentive goes like this, according to vendor. I haven t seen the paperwork, so don't know for sure. If we accept in house broker and solicitor we get £1000 off the asking price. And give connells full control and sight of all our correeponce too...... BUT as we didn't do that they then increase their fee to the vendor by £1000 ostensibly as it's takes much more effort to check our finances and identity as we are not using their in house companies.....So it's a rubbish deal for the vendor and buyer. I also got told they couldn't accept an AIP from my bank! As The EA didn't understand the document and needed us to go through their broker. That's their job, isn't it?So anyone looking to sell their house, read the small print, buyers incentive makes your property less attractjve.
1/5
TrustpilotConnells Southville: a buch of friendly but incompetent people
I wanted to sell my flat in Bristol. Connells found me a buyer pretty quickly. So far so good. But although I asked them councel if/when I should give notice to my tenant, I was told that to proceed further, the buyer wanted to know the end of the tenancy. So I gave notice, the buyer bailed out and I found myself in deep S... Connells said they would find another tenant in no time and still look for another buyer... 2 months later I decided to stop working with them, as nothing since had happened. Bad counselling, poor communication, inefficiency: just to avoid.
1/5
TrustpilotPoor, Lazy, misinformation **AVOID USING THIS COMPANY**
I recently paid for a top end survey to be completed on a house I wanted to by in February (the top survey you can get)I received my report and decided to go ahead with the purchase, however upon entering the property I could instantly tell that the survey had not been completed to a high standard (there are 4 floors and I was advised by the previous owner the surveyor spent less then 30 minutes there)On my report it advised that the property had a combination boiler, no hot water tanks with instant hot water.Upon entering I found that it was NOT a combination boiler, the hot water tank was less then 3 foot away from the boiler itself, the boiler was in a dangerous location (right next to the shower)I was also advised that he had checked for damp with a machine, however upon entering the property I found evidence of damp, the area manager came around to check this and advised it is where there was damp but it now looks like it has been fixed and is purely decorative, a couple of weeks later my decorator came in and advised it most certainly was not just decorative and needed fixing urgentyThey advised that ALL windows had been checked and other then misting on one window and the fact that some of the locks were a little stiff and needed loosening.When I arrived I found several locks were actually broken and windows had dropped meaning they could not be opened, the area manager wouldn't test any of the others because in his own words "he was worried the locks would fall off and wouldn't be able to close again" (so rather then being "stiff" they were indeed nothing of the sort.I paid £495 ON TOP of what my mortgage lender already paid them to complete a top end survey but it seems the surveyor just stood in the middle of each room for 5-10 minutes chatting to the previous owner and then left saying everything was ok.At the end of each section of the survey they put a "disclaimer" saying "we are not qualified gas boiler/damp/whatever the issue is engineer, we advise you to get a qualified engineer if you wish to have more detail"I can appreciate they are not qualified engineers but not seeing this such a massive 5 foot water tank in front of their eyes and presenting false information is going a bit far and because they put this disclaimer on everything you can not pursue any of the complaints via the ombudsmen
1/5
TrustpilotJust an awful experience
Just an awful experience. Senior surveyor Mr Andrew Spalding turned up to my home which was his first appointment after a bank holiday weekend. Stayed for no longer than five minutes, stank of stale booze, and the result was a very inaccurate valuation. Undervalued property over twenty thousand pounds. Stated we had made no improvements on the report despite the fact we have spent over 50k on the house! This was just a man who had no interest whatsoever. Disgusted.
1/5
TrustpilotDon't Buy a House Listed by Them
A warning for anyone about to trust them with one of the biggest decisions of your life.
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.
