Jack Russel Estates

After South Africa went into lockdown and fully understanding what it means, I carried on my search for property. I found the perfect home, perfect location and perfect rental amount. I immediately sent through an enquiry directly off of the property website (enquiry requires name and surname, email address, phone number and message) which I duly filled out and hit send. I received a confirmation from the property website to confirm my enquiry was sent to relevant agent. (I have been searching for the perfect property for months so I know the drill)

As my excitement was through the roof, I followed contact details directly from same site (show agents phone number) copy and pasted - sent text messages to the number after dialing just gave me a weird engaged tone. I received no response and being reasonable, knew it must be chaotic with the lockdown, I sent an email to the general email address listed on the actual Jack Russel website. Still no response at all - not even an automated response? I then forwarded the email to the principal of this estate agency - Daryl. .... only to get a response from the info email address which read: “Well if you had left your number we could have called you.” Short and to the point? ****** rude and absolutely uncalled for as my email was in no way rude. Long story short - after explaining I had sent messages to the agent I was asked what number I sent the messages to because she received no messages - I went back onto the exact link to screenshot where I had found the number and low and behold - mysteriously removed - only office number remained. Luckily I could screenshot my actual messages to the number. I was asked to send my cell number - the initial enquiry on the property website had all these details on it and was sent to this agents email address, but sent my number anyway. STILL NO PHONE CALL. I then sent an email stating I would review this agency and I am no longer wanting to do business with them, I get a reply: “I asked for your number and you haven’t sent it, how am I to help you?” Huh? I had sent it... when it was requested... This morning I go back to searching for a home and low and behold I come across a few listings on the same property site, same agent and what do you know? Her cell number wasn’t removed from all listings, just mine (to protect themselves and their rude, bad, unprofessional conduct perhaps?) so I got my screenshot proving I am not a chancer Nor am I a lier. I still want the property so badly, but refuse to deal with this agency. I was willing to sign an application now already and once approved (before even viewing due to the lockdown) pay a holding deposit - I had my heart set on this house. I didn’t want to lose it...

Due to incompetence and not my own, I did lose it any way.

Their behavior is shocking and I felt it necessary to review them as many landlords put their trust into agencies, many prospective tenants or potential new owners take finding a home very personally and seriously... to receive such careless, downright ugly treatment is just not right. No apology nor a solution perhaps to mend the situation from a single soul at the agency.

One would think in current financial crisis and many businesses not able to trade due to Covid-19 lockdown - a business receiving keen interest would jump at the opportunity to generate some revenue and keep a potential client happy. Well, that’s what one would assume...