Casadobe - Definitely not a reliable Real Estate Company you want to use

We had been in communication with an agent on a few properties. My partner had actually called to discuss available units and actions required where the agrent had confirmed that ground floor units were available. Upon the publishing of the Gazette last Thursday, we called the agent and she advised we submit the application before EOD on Friday, which we subsequently did.

On monday we called to follow up and she advised that she'd have a response and everything available by Wednesday the 13th of May. Upon enquiry on wednesday, the agent first of all didn't answer my partners calls and when i called she eventually answered and told me that she hadn't gotten to it and that she was only reviewing thursdays' emails at that time.

Thursday afternoon, she finally confirmed that our application was approved but proceeded to inform me that the ground floor unit was no longer available and that there were only 1st floor units. I then called to understand why this was not communicated when we spoke on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday morning and she said that the tenant only let her know that morning. A few minutes later, she came back and said the tenant is now moving and that we will have a ground floor unit.

I am utterly appalled at the level of service received from Casadobe Properties and find it exceptionally unprofessional. During this time we are very conscious of the limitations and restrictive conditions under which we need to work but this is just unacceptable. In all the time I've rented, Durban & Joburg, I have never received such low quality service from an estate agent and it is very unsettling to know I now have to relocate under these circumstances. Not only has the process been tedious but it has delayed our ability to get everything going in time. At this point we have no lease, there is no instruction to our removal company (who requires at least 2 weeks notice to get everything going), no permit which ultimately is the key to getting everything else done (which can only be actioned upon receipt of signed lease agreements).

We then waited for a response today and never got one until i called the manager and was advised that they currently dont have the unit we were initially advised was available. Hows that for service? All of that for nothing.