Misrepresentation
Booked in to view a property through Stephenson’s, and what should have been a straightforward viewing turned into a far more difficult experience than it needed to be. We did the chasing to get the viewing!
The vendor’s wife showed us around and made a number of statements about work carried out on the property and disputes with neighbours which, following our own enquiries, we found to be inaccurate. We subsequently discovered that Stephenson’s had been formally notified about ongoing disputes involving multiple neighbours, as well as concerns regarding substandard work, but this information was not disclosed to us.
Had we relied solely on what we were told during the viewing, we could have made a very expensive mistake.
Our experience has left us with serious concerns about the level of transparency and professionalism. We certainly wouldn’t recommend taking everything you are told at face value when dealing with this agent. Buyer beware.
It is also worth doing your homework on the qualifications of the people you are dealing with. Stephenson’s makes a point of highlighting membership of the National Association of Estate Agents, but prospective buyers should understand exactly what that membership means and, importantly, check whether the individual dealing with their sale is RICS qualified.
For us, the whole experience left a very 1970s estate-agent impression — rather more Arthur Daley than professional property adviser.
Do your own checks, ask difficult questions and don’t assume the agent has told you everything you need to know.
