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We should have called Alex and Jane first. Here's why ??????
Selling our detached family home in Harlow (£700k–£800k range) was a long and frustrating journey until it wasn't.
We interviewed over 10 agents before appointing Fortune & Coates. Glossy brochure, compelling pitch but after months on the market, no offers, pressure to reduce and persuaded us to sign with them by asserting that they could achieve a higher sale price for our home.
We switched to Douglas Allen. Same story. More months, no offers and mounting pressure to drop significantly. We were deflated and questioning everything ??????
Then we found Durden & Hunt and everything changed for us ??????
Alex was exceptional from the start.
Knowledgeable, personable and refreshingly honest. He asked brilliant questions, listened carefully and gave us a clear-eyed read of the market with no spin whatsoever.
Alex explained that the strategies used by our previous agents were ineffective and crucially, he told us why. The optimal approach he advised is to list slightly below market value to generate strong interest and competitive demand allowing the market to determine true worth organically. He also cautioned that overpricing a property stifles interest and can lead buyers to question whether something is wrong.
?????? His assessment proved to be exactly right.
He has stayed in close contact and continued offering genuine advice on our next property purchase something he has absolutely no obligation to do.
In an industry where attention disappears once contracts are exchanged, that level of care is extraordinarily rare and deeply appreciated.
Jane Lewis is quite simply, a rare gem ??????
Exceptionally knowledgeable, wonderfully warm and so genuinely kind. She qualifies every opportunity meticulously, ensuring only serious buyers came through our door. Her approach, her manner and her dedication are things you have to experience to truly appreciate. Words don't do her justice ??????
We listed early October. Less than four weeks later we had multiple offers. By early November it was agreed at the price we had originally hoped for ?
Looking back, the lesson is clear??????
An overvaluation might feel flattering but it's a trap.
It stalls momentum, erodes buyer confidence and costs you time and potentially money that you can't get back.
Alex and Jane didn't tell us what we wanted to hear. They told us what we needed to hear and that honesty is exactly what sold our home at the price we always believed it deserved ??????
If you're in the Harlow or Epping area and serious about selling, please learn from our experience.
Don't make the tour of the market that we did before finding the right answer.
Go to Durden & Hunt first and ask for Alex and Jane. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them to anyone and everyone.
You will be in the very best of hands ??????
Five stars doesn't feel like enough. If Google allowed 10 stars, they would have them without hesitation.
Thank you, Alex. Thank you, Jane ?? ? ??????... Read more