"Did NOT meet expectations, at all!"

First impressions of Ashbrookes were great. We viewed a property, received quick responses to our interest, putting down a holding deposit to secure the property, and organising a tenancy and move-in date.
Communication was so quick during this stage that we simply expected that to be the standard service. We could not have been more wrong.
On moving day, after having handed back keys to our previous home, we were called first thing on the morning to ask if we could delay moving in because a number of repairs and cleaning had not been completed. I'm not sure where they expected us to stay, but we informed them it was impossible, that vans were literally on their way with our possessions and that we would be happy to have repairs done once we'd moved in. The cleaning crew were late, or hadn't been organised, I'm not sure which. But we arrived to find them still mid-clean and the removal men (paid by the hour) had to work around them for the first hour to get our things in.
The agent who handed us keys said to make a list of all the items that needed to be addressed and then we'd work through them over the coming weeks and months.
I'm so glad I did make that list. I'm pleased that we copied in the agents, and even offered to get quotes for the work with a friend in the trade, forwarding all of this on to the agents AND the landlord directly.
Not only were there cosmetic issues, but we had to provide our own smoke alarms as the hard-wired ones were missing, and there were a number of urgent repairs that were spoken about before we signed a tenancy, after signing, and in many emails and telephone calls.
Months later, literally nothing had been done: I had to source keys for windows that wouldn't unlock, including in the kitchen; the handles on those same windows turned out to be broken, so needed replacing. It was 7 months before we could open a kitchen window and two others in the house.
What was so frustrating about the whole process, wasn't the fact that 5 of the doors in the place wouldn't close (talk about a fire hazard); or that the shower door on the en-suite was propped up; gaps in the shower cubicle tiling were gradually turning everything mouldy; or that there were stains from a previous boiler leak; wax stains from candles burnt by the previous tenant on the walls; unsafe paving to the front door; and a fence in the back garden that was just waiting for a gentle breeze to blow it down on one of the neighbours walking by - it was the total lack of communication from the agent throughout the whole process. Their seeming inability to get the landlord to do ANY work on the property at all, and on the two occasions when we did finally manage to get their maintenance guy to look at a problem, it would often take weeks to get it sorted, and quotes from him to the agent/landlord went ignored.
When we finally decided enough was enough, we found a house that we took on two months before the tenancy was due to finish because we just couldn't bear to live there anymore.
And just when we thought we'd freed ourselves from all the stress, we were then told that the landlord was trying to claim our entire deposit for all the repairs that were needed before we moved in!!! Plus he wanted to paint the whole house because apparently WE had damaged so many walls. Thank goodness a lot of the issues would have never been considered tenant responsibility, but there was no way we were paying to have him paint that house.
We heard nothing from the agent after sending them ALL the emails and WhatsApp messages we had exchanged with themselves and the landlord including pictures wherever we had them.
There was no response from them after we'd requested the deposit back through TDS after 30 days, and so we had to submit a Statutory Declaration. It took a further two weeks of waiting before their time ran out to dispute our claim and finally TDS paid us the deposit in full.
To say this has been the most stressful tenancy I've ever had in 34 years of renting, is a huge understatement.
I appreciate that landlords are not always quick to respond to requests for work to be done. It's a money game and I'm not oblivious to that. But that's what the agent is there for, to be the go-between to protect both the landlord AND the tenant.
Ashbrookes failed at every step, in every conceivable way.

"Choose Ashbrooks Yarm"

For the sale of my property .
Initially I was unsure of an estate agent in yarm selling a property in Darlington . However the agent Helen made me feel welcome and had the knowledge and the confidence to engage my interest.
From the photographer & brochure presentation to the customer support and attention to detail I cannot fault the service. Nothing was too much when it came to the bespoke support I was given from Helen .
Well done Ashbrooks 5 star

"Fantastic service "

Very happy I chose to go with Ashbrookes Yarm office. Amy was my first point of contact and carried out the valuation & onboarding, with Helen managing my viewings & sale. Both very knowledgeable, and ultimately felt in safe hands from start to finish. 5 offers in the first week and the sale complete within 10 weeks of accepting an offer. Would definitely use them again.

"Ashbrookes 🤩"

I am over the moon with the prompt efficient service that I am receiving from Ashbrookes Estate Agents, which has just recently opened their lovely office in Yarm high street.
The whole team is so friendly and professional.
They have gone above and beyond with the sale of my property.
I would thoroughly recommend them. 😁

"Friendly and knowledgeable."

Friendly and knowledgeable.
Easy to deal with and would recommend 100%

"Great service "

Always attentive and have provided us with a very respectful tenant, very happy to continue using the services they provide for both sales and lettings.

"My experience so far with Lottie and…"

My experience so far with Lottie and Jasmin from the Sunderland branch has been exceptional. They have been highly attentive and answered any questions I have had to guide me through the stressful process of selling my property. My property went live on Friday and by Monday morning they both contacted me to ensure the 5 people that wanted to view the property were booked in. I could not fault their service! My property has sold within 4 days of being on the market.
Thankyou very much I am sure the process moving forward will be swift with their guidance ☺️

"The service I received from Ashbrooks…"

The service I received from Ashbrooks was professional, friendly and helpful. As I live overseas Amy made the process seamless, even handling the viewings for me. Sale in six days!!!I would recommend Amy for any real estate business.

"Good efficient friendly valuation…"

Good efficient friendly valuation service offering helpful local knowledge and relevant advice relating to the market and our property. We were grateful that our visit was arranged quickly and was at a time convenient for us.

"Good experience"

Good experience. All questions answered promptly both face to face and electronically.
Onthe ball !